Facilitating learning exchange across continents and countries is part of the work we do in ICDI. In 2024-2025 young people in Nicaragua shared their ideas about sustainable waste management with a group of young waste workers in Kenya through the means of a story. Read how this unique initiative came about.
As part of the From Waste to Work (W2W) project in Kenya, ICDI took the lead on the Research & Learning (R&L) Agenda. One of the goals of the Agenda was to draw on the learning gained throughout the project to create a common vision on how to create decent jobs in the waste sector in Kenya. Youth participation was at the core of the process. Through a series of learning spaces the young people from youth-led organisations participating in the project came together to share experiences, reflect on challenges, and co-develop ideas on how the W2W could be improved in its design and delivery.
The insights gained from these sessions were recently presented in the webinar “From Waste to Work Webinar: Sharing lessons on creating inclusive pathways to green jobs in the circular economy” (available on YouTube), which featured speakers including waste workers, county representatives, and specialists in entrepreneurship and youth engagement in Kenya. The participatory evaluation approach used in the project was also presented during the ANDE Metrics Conference in Kenya earlier this year.
In the same period, ICDI was marking its 30th anniversary. As part of the celebrations, the organisation supported ten mini-projects on climate action, each designed and led by children and young people. One of these initiatives, Cuenta Cuentos Sostenibles (Sustainable Storytelling), was developed by three teenage girls in Nicaragua. Their project encouraged children to identify environmental issues in their communities and take meaningful action. The outcome was a beautifully illustrated storybook entitled The Kingdom of Trash: a thoughtful and creative narrative about waste, responsibility, and the importance of caring for the planet.
Recognising that environmental challenges are global (as are the solutions) and in the spirit of learning exchange, ICDI shared this Nicaraguan story with young people in Kenya. Our aim was also to spark creative problem-solving and highlight the power of youth participation in climate change.
The book was translated into English and distributed to primary actors engaged in the learning spaces of the W2W project, particularly those working directly with children. They were enthusiastic about the book and expressed their interest in receiving more materials on children’s development and circular economy. They advocate for teaching about climate change and introducing sustainable habits from a very early age.
ICDI extends its gratitude to Gabriela Elizabeth Laguna, Yunaysi Daniela Chavarria, and Emerith Danelia Palma, the authors of The Kingdom of Trash, as well as to their advisor organisation. Special thanks also go to the young people in Kenya, who are helping shape a more sustainable and cleaner world for children to grow up in.
