#Youth4Soil Presents the First Youth Soil Health Solutions Showcase
By Sussana Phiri, CA4SH Coordination Intern, YPARD Zambia Country Representative
The Coalition of Action for Soil Health (CA4SH) #Youth4Soil Working Group held its inaugural Virtual Soil Solutions showcase on Thursday, 6th March 2025. The event was dubbed “We Grow We Eat” to celebrate soil as a growing medium for 95% of the world's food. The showcase provided a platform for #Youth4Soil members to exhibit the soil health solutions they are already implementing in their local contexts and interact with key stakeholders to grow those solutions.
#Youth4Soil at a Glance
In setting the tone, Joyce Wambui Njuguna, a member of the working group from Kenya, gave an overview of #Youth4Soil as a program designed to highlight the crucial role that youth can play in soil health advocacy. She appreciated the benefits she has seen and those she anticipates enjoying as a member, and gave a resounding call for non-members to join this noble initiative.
Improving Soil Health with Biochar
We learnt about the Biochar Initiative for Soil Health and Sustainable Agriculture showcased by Jeancy Ntuka, head of Agro Smart Consulting. The initiative has been impactful in improving the soil in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is degraded by erosion, deforestation and unsustainable agriculture practices. The project has been rolled out among many youth and farmers who have acquired new skills and learnt to prioritize soil health for the success of their agricultural ventures.
A slide from Jeancy Ntuka’s presentation showing on-the-ground training of biochar production to enhance soil health in Democratic Republic of Congo.
Hope for the Congo Basin
To showcase hope for biodiversity in the Congo Basin, Executive Director Josue Aruna exhibited the work of the Congo Basin Conservation Society. The Society implements soil health solutions to restore the balance amongst three factors; tropical forest conservation, food sovereignty and human rights. Citing youth engagement as a strong voice that can influence policy and practice, Josue called on initiatives to empower youth through three pillars:
Supporting youth as advocates in political spaces at all levels,
Capacity-building starting with small-scale and family farmers and extending to all actors in food value chains, and
Underpinning youth as key actors in the agroecology and restoration movement.
On the ground activities with Congo Basin Conservation Society - image shared in Josue Aruna’s presentation.
Worms for the Win
Upendra Bhusal, YPARD Nepal Country Representative and a vibrant member of #Youth4Soil showcased project vermicompost as his Soil Solution. The project involves cultivating worms for their beneficial effects for soil health and human use: worm castings form a rich organic manure! This project is cheap, efficient and promotes life in soil that has been depleted by the extensive use of fertilizer in Nepal. It is also a good source of income for rural families.
Slide from Upendra Bhusal’s presentation on Project Vericompost, Nepal.
It Takes a Village
Clemence Mnyika, an agricultural extension officer in Taita Taveta County, Kenya with CIFOR-ICRAF and member of #Youth4Soil, jumped on the showcase train by giving a brief overview of the gender and social engagement work being implemented in the coastal areas of Kenya for landscape restoration. Clemence’s work applies a critical gender lens to restoration, meaning a deliberate means to be inclusive of all key stakeholders that work with the landscape. This work involves bringing different community members together to come up with affordable and varied soil solutions for the community because a single solution wouldn't be able to restore or uphold healthy soil on its own. From promoting practices such as contouring and tree planting to social media awareness, Clemence anticipates improved soil health in the project areas.
Soil Time
In a two-minute video, Sussana Phiri, CA4SH Coordination Intern, #Youth4Soil Member, and Country Representative for YPARD Kenya, showcased Soil Time, a moment she spends with young children as part of their education. The children interact with soil as more than just dirt, enjoying sensory stimulation, improved motor skills, enhanced creativity and a deeper connection to nature, while at the same time learning to differentiate it by colour, texture and appropriate uses. She described this as a moment of inspiration for the time she has to write about soil, and announced her upcoming children's books Soil Time, The Soil Factor and Everybody Loves Soil. Sussana gave credit to her interactions with the #Youth4Soil mentorship initiative and YPARD colleagues for her improved writing skills.
A Call to Action from #Youth4Soil
Ivy Gloria Atieno, YPARD Kenya, gave closing remarks with a call to action, inviting youth working in the same countries to partner in implementing projects. She referred to the soil solutions showcased as game changers for soil health and further encouraged other young people to join the movement and take similar initiatives for soil health, reiterating that all initiatives regarding climate change and the environment start with the soil.
“Soil is the backbone of everything”
The #Youth4Soil Solutions Showcase was the first of its kind. The #Youth4Soil Working Group endeavors to continue showcasing more soil solutions being implemented by its members.
In the words of Upendra Bhusal, “It's time to take action!”. This virtual event is meant to showcase that action.
