EBU Awards 5,000 Scholarship to Environmental Conservationists

By Julius Mwabonje

A Malindi community based organisation is in the forefront in promoting environmental awareness has got a major boost after awarded 5,000 free scholarships from the European Business Institute of Luxembourg (EBU).

The scholarships shall be awarded to Progress Welfare Association of Malindi (PWAM) to benefit all volunteers who take part in the monthly clean ups, organisations and people living with disability to impact their skills through education.

Dr James Mulli, the President of EBU, said the institution’s mission was to empower people with education including those who cannot afford that’s why they were offering the free scholarships.

Speaking in Malindi during one of the monthly clean ups he said the 5,000 scholarships would also help address the problems of environment by empowering the community with education.

“We are trying to make sure that these 5,000 scholarships are distributed here to everybody who is available and organisations who share theinterests and mission of Progress Welfare Association of Malindi,” he said.

Malindi Subcounty administrator Juliet Mapenzi thanked EBU for offering the scholarships saying they would go a long way in supporting education to the local communities.

She said the scholarships did not also leave out the people with disabilities which was a good empowerment move to support all.

“So, through the organisations that are here today I wouldlike to thank the EBU for offering the scholarships and urge everyone to comeout and take advantage and our children grab these chances to study,” she said.

While thanking the EBU for offering the scholarships the chairperson of PWAM, Kate Mwikali said they were keen in ensuring segregation and proper management of wastes in the resort town of Malindi for a cleaner and healthier living.

She said PWAM was also organising the first ever Wets and Marathon to campaign against plastic pollution from River Sabaki to the Indian Ocean in November 28 this year.

Mwikali said the Inaugural Estuary Marathon dubbed ‘Running Against the tide of Plastic Pollution’ shall start from the sand dunes of Mambrui across the Sabaki estuary along the beach to the Malindi marine park.

PWAM which was started in 2019 has been organising monthly clean ups to sensitize residents against waste and pollution in the ocean and initiated the Estuary Wet Sand Marathon, a flagship initiative designed to spotlight marine plastic pollution while catalysing long-term systemic change.

The chairperson of PWAM said the inaugural event would transform the Sabaki Estuary and Malindi beach into a powerful global stage where sport, environmental advocacy and economic opportunity converge while raising funds for a permanent Circular Economy Hub in Malindi.

Mwikali said the exercise was part of preparing the trackwhere the marathon would be held along the beach.

“It is a very Unique Marathon, because we will be running onwetsand, it has not been done anywhere else,” she said.

Mwikali said the wastes from upcountry in Nairobi ends up inthe ocean through the Sabaki estuary and through their efforts even the Environment cabinet Secretary has begun intervention which is part of their expectations for action to be taken to reduce the wastes.

PWAM is a community-driven, non-profit organization dedicated to building a cleaner, safer, and more resilient Malindi.

Founded by local residents, PWAM serves as a collaborative platform bringing together communities, government institutions, and the private sector to address key environmental sector to address key environmental, social, and urban development challenges.

The organisation focuses on sustainable waste management and circular economy solutions, public health and sanitation advocacy, climate-resilient urban planning, community livelihoods, public safety, and good governance.

Through hands-on action such as monthly beach and town clean-ups, policy engagement, and innovative community programs, PWAM promotes environmental stewardship while empowering local communities.

Guided by principles of transparency, inclusivity, and impact, PWAM is also governed by a dedicated board of professionals and community leaders committed to evidence-based advocacy and participatory development.