#Its4U - Be like the hummingbird, with Timothy Ndgewa

Meet Timothy Ndgewa, the African representative of Rethinking Choices. He’s a finance professional who moved into sustainability, and he is a voice on the ground in Kenya, driving awareness and action. He is driven to support his community and environment, especially those who do not have access to technology, so they don’t get left behind. 

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Transcript

0:10

Welcome to 12 Days of Cop. My name is Andrea Edwards, and we've been in the UK. We've gone to Norway, and now we're in Africa, in Kenya. And I'm so delighted to to welcome Timothy Negwa. I know I've got it right this time. Right? And he is the African representative for Rethinking Choices. And you're really you're you're thrilled to be part of all of this. So let's just start, Timothy, with who you are, what you care about, and why you do what you do. Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Andrea, for having me here. My name is Timotheindego, as, you've just said, and, currently working with Choices As a global outreach, and, it's been it's an amazing journey, I will say. My background is finance. I've done a financial engineering, And I practiced it for 2 years and then shifted to, this environment space where I worked with, Another organization where I was the partnership manager, and that's where we met with David. I know doing his music here in Kenya, and after that, you know, the rest is history. Here we are. And, Other than that, I volunteer, as an environmental marshal, in the world rally championship In Kenya during the safari rallies. So enrollment for me is something that, it's dear to me. Other than my day to day job, It's also something that I I I have at I have I, I passionately do it. So, yeah, that's me, and, looking forward to do to Have an engaging conversation, an interesting one. Thank you, Adi. So, no, it's really good to have you here. It's, it's really good to hear finance People moving over into the climate and the environment space. So for you, what what what was it that drew you? What is it something that you were seeing in your environment around you? Was it some the news? What what what what drove you to make that move? Okay. What made me drive what's what's got me here He's, during my volunteer at World Rally Championship. Then I was I used to volunteer as As, in the finance docket. And, it was at this time when Safari Rally, for a very long time, had not come had not been to Kenya Because we had not, fulfilled the FIS standards on matters to do with enrollment. So we were tasked, and the the then president, wanted Virani to come to Kenya. So we were tasked to, you know, learn about the FIA, environmental standards, and see how we can implement them. So It was a rigorous, activity where we had to research, do proposals, and whatnot, which finally we were able to, you know, get to understand what the environmental standards are, and it was it was through that that Safari was brought together. So that's where my passion for environment, you know, started after doing the research and everything. That's when I I had I started having that desire, You know, to explore this field. So that that's how and then the rest is history. Yeah. So the what what what's the what's the event or the it's called the safari. Safari Murray. And when would you say? It's a motorsport. It's a Oh, right. Okay. Yeah. It's a it's it's when, you know, very motorsports companies. We talk about, Toyota. We talk about, Ford, you know, they come and. They come and compete as a way of trying to market themselves. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Cool. And then, as far as, like, the community around you, you know, in Kenya, the awareness, what what's it what's what's it like, you know, in many, many parts of the world where, I know so many, especially in the wealthy countries, they're not they're not experiencing the the the the terror that's happening on the front lines and, you know, I I sometimes I was talking to people recently, and I think a lot of people in Western countries, wealthy countries, they're still speaking climate And biodiversity loss from a theoretical perspective. Yeah. But then when you come into the when you live in the global south like we both do, We're actually seeing it before our eyes, the impacts of what's happening, and it's increasing. So what's what's what's what's it like on the ground for you? What are you seeing? I think awareness, as you put it, is one of the biggest niche In my previous work, I was more involved, in creating awareness. So we had this online platform That businesses will come and, you know, showcase what they're doing on, in in the sustainability field. And, also, we'll also highlight the stories that grassroots communities are doing, you know, that that includes the success story and also the challenges that They're facing. So and it was during that time that, you know, I I I understood or rather I came I came I came to the reality that, indeed, the people out here who are facing dire As far as the effects of climate change is concerned. And most people here, for example, from where I am, most people, practice farming. And so you have this farmer who have, this is what he has this is what he has brought up his family with, you know, the family activity. When you realize that, they he or she faces 3 consecutive, you know, droughts, and they can't put food on put on the table. And it becomes so bad that, at some point, you know, they go out starting asking for a new food. So but now They can't be able to comprehend what is actually happening. They don't know what is resulting to them not. Right? So and that's when I realized that, Awareness is is key. You know, letting them know that, the reason as to why you're not you've not been experiencing rainfall, And, that's making you not be able to have produce during these 3 seasons. It's because, We have fossil fuels with collision environments. We've we've cast down trees and was not. And in the realization of what has caused that, you see the enthusiast, from them to try and respond nature. And that for me is, something so I think I had seen A a 70 year old granny, you know, mobilizing people to plant trees knowing that she might not benefit from that tree. But for the sake of nature, for the sake of generations She has to do what ought to be done. Yeah. Yeah. Beautiful. And and that's something that's really prevalent for me across the global south is, You know, we all take it for granted that we've got technology. We're we're able to talk. The people who can't listen to us are the people on the front lines. They don't have access to technology. They don't have mobile technology, so they're not able to even be aware of what's going on in the wider world. So fantastic work that you're doing. Yeah. So it's for you. What does it it's for you mean to you? It's for you, for me, means that, You know, bringing it home. Like, just at times, we work. At times, we at times, we and we We go to work, and we engage in activities which, you know, probably we we are doing, so for example, case scenario. I had campus buddies who we school with, and they they, they are not happy about the course because, probably, it was, recommended by the by the parent. So they were not doing it for them. They're doing it for the parent. And after he graduated, you know, he explored a different line of career. So it's for you. It's, we're inviting people to do the things that, relate with them at an individual level. And one of the things that we invite our people to do is, to redirect their spending And, during this 12 during this 12 days of COP, whereby, I I have I I I don't have to probably fly to Dubai, But I can use those resources to the people that I feel they are making the world a better place for everyone. So with that, that that includes that, you know, That woman who sells tomatoes next to the road is because that is a person I I have a personal, I've developed a personal relationship with. So when I direct my resources to to to her project, it's for it's for heights for me because that, in case I have anything with you, in case maybe I have a problem, it could be the 1st week I can reach out to. And, Also, you know, a lot of people are doing amazing stuff that end up not being highlighted so and and that calls for people to, know that speech recognition brings highlights those things, highlights those things to to the world global skill, and, we're giving them that opportunity to share those amazing stories they're doing as far as conserving environment is concerned. That's why we are calling. We are calling it if it's for you. It's about the things that really matter to you. Yeah. Yeah. No. I love that. And The idea of, you know, the lady selling tomatoes by the side of the road because you have a relationship with her, but versus buying from the big chains where the profits might not even stay in the country. Right? But the the the simplicity of that message, you know, we've got a you know, if we're in Western countries where We go to farmers' markets rather than going to the supermarket. Any any, I have friends who've got fashion boutiques, you know, buying from them rather than the big brands. You know, anything you can do to support the local business and, yeah. And then there's the other the other side, you know, that and I I I love the concept of the dignity that's at the center of It's For You. That's that's something that really resonated with me. Did it does it resonate with you too? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Because, we say that, it has to start from dignity. You know, dignity is what gives us, Our identity, if I may use that word. And, bringing it to context, so is that, like, right now, I've just read, a tweet That, UAE that said in Dubai, they committed a 100,000,000 USD dollars, to loss and damage fund. And to me, I don't know how much it might sound, a a reason to marry. For me, it doesn't make sense because, the money, Quote, unquote is meant to rob us to rob nature dignity because as because because they've given that money, Then continue exploring hell, and it's just the same way that, for example, if I can be able to infringe pain on you and give you something small, then I drop you the dignity. So any other time I want to infringe pain on you, I will do it because I can pay for that, And that's it will continue for forever and forever, and that is the scenario that we are in right now. That's where the world is right now. But, you know, the biggest polluters, they're just Dropping a pinch of their revenues, you know, to try and sort of, gain the privilege to continue polluting the environment. So from where I from where I stand is that, we should allow nature have its dignity. We should, we should preserve its dignity. We shouldn't compromise it. That's the same way you can't you can't put a price tag on your mother. It's the same way we ought not to put a price tag on our mother and each other. Yeah. And bring that service Yeah. No. I love that. Alright. So how can people get involved with, It's For You And, you know, being part of this program and spreading our broader message to the world to you know, it's it's it's not about hope. It's about positivity And remembering what we're fighting for. Right? Yeah. So, how people how can people get involved? Again, as we've said, it's for you. So, on what to do on a on a day to day basis. For example, I could I could maybe be engaged in activities. Maybe I'm I'm saying merchandize. And, you know, As a way of marketing use, I post those I I take posts. I have my social media platforms. So one way you can be able to to, engage you that on your social media, posts, you can include include the hashtag leads for you so that you can be able to, Attract as many people as you as you can. Also, during this time, on the 12th days of COP, you can be able to redirect your spending as I had said earlier. You know the people that you think are making this world a better place. So you can choose to, you can choose to We direct your spending. We were talking with, the chief environment officer, Safa Yari, and then she shared with us an amazing thing that she She pledged to do during these 12 days of CO. She said that she will not fuel her car and use those funds and channel them to a project, in Mathare Islam, you know, to just and, improve their lives. So that is one way that you can do that. That's one way you can do. Direct your spend to the people you feel that They really matter, and they need the money, and they are doing they are exploring the Awasikos for the planet. Also, you can share The good things, the the the initiatives that you do, you can, highlight them. It will help you upscale them, During these 12 days of call, we just highlight them because, again, many stories end up not being told, and we are there to ensure that, you know, Every voice counts as far as the undertaking to environment is concerned. Yeah. Yeah. That that absolutely perfect. And and I that that that I think was the first point you raised. Really raising your voice, Speaking up, sharing a message, talking about what you're doing, and and just the idea that for 12 days, if everyone just focused on Putting their money where where where where there's real value in supporting the people, but also support the people like Timothy who are out there really fighting. I think that's another thing that We can all do, you know? Support the activists, support the people on the ground doing the hard work. So, we've been really quick here today, But, is there anything you wanna leave everybody with before we say goodbye? So maybe just to Invite us all, to a story called given by Nobel Nobel Prize winner, two zero four, Wangari Mathai, and she gave this story about the hummingbird. The story goes that there was fire that broke. It's a Japanese story. So, the story goes that there was fire that broke in this forest, and all the animals were running for their lives. And, there was this small bird called the hummingbird which would go down the stream the river and use its beak to try and put the fire down. Whereas other animals, you know, The likes of elephants, with huge trunk which would have carried huge amount of water or just this, watching the the Their home coming down, being burned down, and as this small bird was, you know, making many rounds, you know, Down the stream to the forest using its small beak to to carry water. These animals asked this band, what do you think you're doing? And it is a response that, this band gave to the animals that has always kept me moving, and the response was, it's at at least I'm doing something. And, that should be our attitude, irrespective of, our social status In terms of the community, irrespective of our age, there is that one thing that we can do, to make sure that we have Sustainable and conducive environment. So get that 1 thing that you can do to improve the environment and pursue it. Thank you so much. Been nice, Anthony. Yeah. Yeah. It's been nice too. So everyone, be a hummingbird. Yeah. They're beautiful, and we need to save them too. Alright, Timothy. It's really great to speak to you. Thank you so much. You're welcome. And and and good luck. I I hope it's an amazing 12 days of COP for the whole team. Thanks. Thank you. Okay. Thank you.