Waste Evacuation & Environmental Awareness
Environmental Advocacy
Client: Down-Quarters Community of Kaduna State
Skills and Proficiency: Leadership, Team Management, Interpersonal, Collaboration, Communication, Project Management, Problem Solving, Project Proposal Writing, and Report Writing Skills.
Problem: Evacuating heaps of waste/refuse dumped indiscriminately in a corner of the community, and also creating environmental awareness.
Process: As an Environmental Advocate, I had realized that in a middle-income country like Nigeria, the percentage at which wastes are being generated can’t be overemphasized, which calls for exigent need in addressing such menace that posed a serious threat to human health and ecosystem. I thought to myself - something needed to be done to halt this practice.
Days later, I hinted my fellow Community Development Service Executives on my plans for addressing this threat. We all agreed since it was part of our humanitarian services. To extend the flow, we also agreed to partner with two other Community Development Service Clubs – Sustainable Development Goals, and Charity Clubs. As the Project Director, I understood the pros and cons of project management; the relevance of a Project Proposal; and the transition between initiating & closing of the project. Since I lived in the concerned community, I went on a fateful Sunday to have an informal meeting with the community leader, Alhaji Mahmud Abubakar, outlining the club plans to him. He was indeed happy seeing young persons’ willing to effect change. In a blink, I left promising the community leader that my team and I will return to submit a project proposal to him establishing our assertion to implement.
I quickly reached out to my team, and we helped in identifying project stakeholders that will aid in reaching the project objective & project deadline. We identified – Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority and CapeGate Investment Services. Without feigning ignorance of my certification in Project Management, I started developing a Project Proposal with a two-day deadline submission. It was done a day after, then my team and I went on to submit some printed copies of the project proposal titled – Waste Evacuation & Environmental Awareness - to the identified project stakeholders. Days later, representatives of the identified project stakeholders called in, promising to take part. Three days to the project execution day, a call came in from a representative of Nigeria Breweries. They called to inquire if they could participate in the project, with a promise to bring in a press to film, and to assist us with snacks and sodas. I agreed since that was a plus. I informed my fellow executives about it, on which they were happy.
Before the project execution day, I had picked a location for all Youth Corps Members to convene on or before 8:30 am since the project stakeholders promised to be on the ground before 9:00 am. Two hefty compact trucks signalled the arrival of the two major project stakeholders. The project execution started with the community leader and I breaking the ground with a succinct speech that was filmed. As a servant leader, I was keen on establishing direction and providing strategies. In no time, while the waste evacuation phase was being carried out by CapeGate Investment Services, I led my fellow Youth Corp member in championing the Environmental Awareness Campaign alongside the President with our solidarity voices hitting every corner of the community, and our placards, hovering under the cloud. The whole exercise was completed by 4:17 pm.
Result: In completion of the project, the two major project stakeholders promised to keep evacuating the community’s waste monthly, which they have been doing. This experience improved my interpersonal skill in aligning with others and motivating & inspiring others to do more, not just by words but by example.