The Schneider Electric Foundation, in partnership with the Teresia & Fidelis Foundation, has officially launched the Conserve My Planet program at St. Augustine Secondary School in Nairobi as part of our Youth Education & Entrepreneurship program. This initiative is part of Schneider Electric’s global commitment to sustainability and environmental consciousness among young people with the Youth Impact Through Learning Initiative.
Designed to equip students in high schools in Kenya with knowledge and practical skills in Energy conservation, Renewable energy, and Environmental responsibility, Conserve My Planet aims to empower the next generation in the country to become proactive stewards of the environment.
At St. Augustine Secondary School, the program will involve students from Form 1 to Form 4 (ages 15-18) through interactive hands-on learning experiences that will be educating students on climate change, energy efficiency, renewable energy, and conservation practices
Having successfully been deployed in Thailand and executed India, Conserve My Planet has educated thousands of students on climate change and the importance of energy efficiency and sustainable practices.
The program will train students to assess and optimize energy consumption in their institutions, assigning roles such as Green Cops, Green Detectives, and Green Ambassadors to champion eco-friendly initiatives, teaching responsible disposal and recycling of electronic waste, and introducing solar-powered lighting and energy-efficient alternatives in schools.
Speaking at the Launch Ceremony Country President, Schneider Electric Kenya Ifeanyi Odoh “The newly launched program in Kenya will put the students in the driver’s seat helping them understand how they can make changes today that will help everyone tomorrow. Following the program, the students will be able to conduct environmental conservation assessments and take on a personal responsibility at home and school on matters sustainability.”
“By bringing this initiative to Kenya, Schneider Electric aims to expand its impact and inspire more young minds to take an active role in shaping a greener future,” he added.
The program will involve impactful out of class activities, community engagement visits, and industrial excursions, providing students with real-world exposure to sustainable energy practices. Participants will also receive a customized learning kit to enhance their understanding and engagement.
This program will be implemented through the Teresia & Fedelis foundation. Terri Nthanga, Founder at the Foundation also expressed her excitement in the program’s objective. “Climate change poses significant challenges to education. For instance, flooding can render classrooms uninhabitable or even wash them away, causing disruptions to learn. Recognizing that our students are unintentionally bearing the brunt of these challenges, Conserve My Planet seeks to educate and prepare them to mitigate and adapt to these impacts.”
“We firmly believe that effective action against climate change starts with collaborative efforts, ensuring that no one is left behind,” she noted.
In Kenya, the program will run for a period of 2 years and will train a total of 3500 students in schools across Machakos County.
St. Augustine Mlolongo Secondary school becomes the first beneficiary of the program, actively contributing to localizing the curriculum to match the local realities. Speaking on the expected impact to the school, Victor Maina, one of the Lead STEM Teachers at St. Augustine’s highlighted that conservation of climatic change has previously been limited to adults and communities and with this program, students are now empowered to actively play a role.
“As a teacher who worked on customizing, we know that environment is the source of life, and a healthy environment is one that is sustainable for a long period of time. In Physics, Albert Einstein reiterates that ‘energy cannot be created but only transformed from one form to another’ therefore conserving energy is the best way to have it more for use’.
“The most exciting part of this program is in the green competitions where the students in their groups innovate on more ways of conserving our environment which will be followed by awards, certificates and trophies,” he added.
The core messages of the Conserve My Planet program resonate deeply with the urgent need for action in the face of climate change.
The significant impact of this initiative has been acknowledged by the UN Women’s Generation Equality Action Coalition on Feminist Action for Climate Justice, as one of the 55 stories of change in 2024. This recognition underscores the program’s role in driving collective and impactful environmental action for young girls.
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