The Great Taka Reef
BY ALI B
A mural on plywood made purely from the plastics collected on the roadside including plastic bottles, old nets and so much more. We also created a song in our language – Kiswahili – about the art piece we created.
My name is Ali Bahman. My favourite subjects are Science, English, Maths and CRE. I like learning these subjects because when I grow up I want to be a Doctor.
I live with my mother and my four siblings, three brothers and one sister. We all live in Mbaraka Chembe village. During the holidays, I normally go to Jacaranda Community Library where I get a chance to read and learn new words.
I can feel and see the effects of the ecological crisis in our community through changing weather patterns, water shortages, pollution of the land and ocean, deforestation and rising temperatures. As a young African person, this makes me concerned about the kind of future the next generation will have.
WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND FEARS AS A YOUNG PERSON IN A TIME OF ECOLOGICAL CRISIS?
As a young person I am hopeful because young people in the world and also in Africa are speaking out and taking action. I believe we must not be observers but take a lead in addressing the ecological crisis. The children in my community have taken an initiative to do weekly beach cleanups and use the litter to make ocean art. I am worried about what climate change may mean to the future generations of human beings. I am worried about the ocean pollution and what it does to the creatures. I expect the Kenyan policy makers to pass rules that protect our ocean, forests and other natural resources. They should share information about climate risks with the public and engage youth in planning decisions. I don’t litter around because I believe my litter is my responsibility. I participate in beach cleanups and lead our art group in recycling plastic bottles collected for beautiful art pieces. Art raises public awareness about climate change and pollution sparks social action. It helps people care for non-human life, oceans and forests.