Judith
Nankunda

Class of 2026, BSc (Hons)EntrepreneurialLeadership (BEL)

Internship Story

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Expectation vs Reality

Landing a new opportunity in Kenya was incredibly exciting, especially since it was in Kilifi County, right on the coast! As someone from Rwanda who had never seen the ocean, I was thrilled. While I had some nerves about the unfamiliar sea creatures and the Kilifi heat, those concerns quickly faded upon arrival. The Oceans Alive Hub was fascinating and full of knowledge. The first thing that struck me was the information regarding permaculture and coral restoration. The first week was busy, with introductions to everyone who ran the projects.

Finding My Passion

One project that particularly interested me was the permaculture initiative. Its core purpose truly resonated with me. Permaculture, a sustainable living design system, tackles food insecurity through ‘climate-smart backyard kitchen gardens.' This approach empowers land-poor coastal fishing communities by equipping them to cultivate indigenous vegetables for household consumption and income generation. These gardens are essential to all the women, but the biggest challenge is water scarcity and constant maintenance of their gardens because of competing activities. As someone interested in this project, I came up with solutions.

Addressing the Challenge

I am conducting a research study about the minimal amount of water spinach needs. Spinach is one of the leafy greens the communities in Kilifi consume, and it is affected by arid conditions. Knowing its water requirements will inform the farmers of the least amount of water needed for its growth and teach them how to use the little water they have effectively. I am empowering women through technology and collaboration. To solve the lack of consistent maintenance of the women's gardens, I am currently creating a solution where these women will receive monthly reminders on ways to maintain their gardens, like how to control pests, generate biofertilisers, weed, water, and other supportive systems through simple automated text messages on their phones. Lastly, I am encouraging these women to work together in their respective groups to achieve high yields and maintain their gardens consistently. This will bring social cohesion, continuity in farming, and encourage other neighbors to adopt this system of farming leafy greens.

Other Experiences

My work at the marine hub is like a beautiful picture of many different experiences. One important part is writing reports after visiting communities near the ocean. These visits taught me about the way of life in these communities, their challenges, and how they celebrate successes. This firsthand experience helps me write clear reports that ensure people hear the communities' needs, which can help with future plans. Another part of my work is helping at the Bahari Hai Education Centre. Here, I get to help plan activities that teach kids about the amazing creatures in the ocean and the importance of taking care of our planet. Seeing how excited the kids get when they learn new things is incredibly rewarding..

I also help clean the corals by carefully removing any trash or junk stuck on them inside the ocean. It's a way of giving back and ensuring these underwater cities stay healthy. And that's not all; I even learned and helped make coral bricks out of cement mixed with sand that gives fish a place to live and helps the reefs grow bigger and stronger.

The best part, though, is exploring the underwater world by snorkelling. Every time I go under the water, I see amazing colors, from the bright fish to the cool patterns on the coral. It reminds me how beautiful and delicate the ocean is and makes me want to protect it even more. The most enveloping part of this whole experience is engaging with people from different cultures and connecting with them.

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