The Eco-earth Environment for Peace Initiative

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The Eco-earth Environment for Peace Initiative (also referred to as TEEP Initiative) is a registered indigenous Community Based Organization (CBO) in Wakiso district, Uganda-currently operating in Gombe Sub County. As a CBO, we promote sustainability consciousness and awareness through participatory involvement in environmental conservation initiatives. We recognize that environmental concerns of resource scarcity and environmental degeneration are among the leading causes of community conflicts. This being the case, we champion community development and environmental conservation activities that promote a peaceful co-existence between humanity and nature.

VISION
To play a leading role in the restoration and preservation of the functionality and integrity of the ecological systems and natural processes that sustain life on Earth.

MISSION STATEMENT
Peace advances environmental integrity, while environmental stability enhances the prospects for peace.
Our mission underscores the need to promote:
•Community understanding of the importance of conserving the environment as a means of fostering peaceful co-existence with nature.
•Ecological restoration by integrating indigenous conservation approaches and contemporary methods.
•Sustainable harnessing of nature as a means of reducing household poverty.
•Environmental and social justice as a means of fostering ecological sustainability.
•The propagation and dissemination of endangered indigenous flora.

OBJECTIVES
(a)To unite and work with persons and organizations that stand for the environmental cause.
(b)To organize local communities and institutions (in areas of operation) to participate in planning and execution of the Initiative’s activities.
(c)To cater for the welfare of all members of the TEEP Initiative.
(d)To provide training and sensitization about sustainable resource use in institutions and communities of operation.
(e)To champion environmental rehabilitation initiatives like re-afforestation
(f)To establish a centre for the propagation of indigenous tree species, especially those that are endangered.
(g)Acquiring land for afforestation of all possible indigenous species, giving attention to endangered flora (This will be called a Green-Peace museum).
(h)To be a pinnacle/model of environmental-care approaches in daily life dealings.
(i)To co-operate with other organizations for the purpose of environmental rejuvenation and peaceful living.
(j)To promote use of renewable energy (green energy solutions)
(k)To conduct research on the contribution of vegetational environment (flora) to peace and peaceful living and disseminate the findings.
(l)To spearhead tree planting (and flower planting where appropriate) campaigns along highways, roads, streets, town squares and village squares.
(m)To encourage proper garbage disposal
(n)To establish a demonstration/learning centre of conservation work

CORE VALUES
-Environmental consciousness of and respect for nature
-Live and work for peace through peaceful and environment-sensitive means
-Embracing sustainability as a way of life

GOVERNANCE AND LEADERSHIP
TEEP is headed by three founding members, namely: the Partner in-charge of environmental justice and social development, the Partner in-charge of ecosystem conservation and ecological restoration and the Partner in charge of environmental entrepreneurship. These are assisted by community representatives who are identified from the project area.

Below are the details of the core steering committee and their competences;
a) Mr. Benedicto Kabiito: Partner in charge of environmental justice and social development. Professionally, Kabiito Bendicto is a conflict transformation expert and currently teaching at the Department of Good Governance and Peace Studies (Uganda Martyrs University). He is a graduate of Sustainable Peace and Conflict Management (UMU) and B.Phil (Urban). Kabiito is a researcher in peace and conflict issues, and an environmental conversationalist. He has five years of hands-on engagement in conservation work and a key pioneer of the Equator Greenbelt Project (of Uganda Martyrs University).

b) Mr. Leonard Ssozi: Partner in charge of ecosystem conservation and ecological restoration. He is TEEP's Managing Partner.
Ssozi is a development and sustainability professional. He is a researcher in indigenous knowledge and ecological sustainability, and has published in this area. He has six years of solid administrative work, knowledge management and financial services experience obtained from Educational and Banking Institutions. He is experienced in managing community environment programmes. Ssozi holds a MSc in Education for Sustainability (LSBU), MSc in Development Economics (UMU) and a Bachelor of Information and Office Management (Mak). He is very passionate about sustainable development and cultural ecology.

c) Mr. Willy Kanatta- Partner in charge of environmental entrepreneurship
Willy is a social scientist. He has over ten years of administrative experience as a Local Council Executive where he has been involved in implementation of government agricultural and health projects. He holds a BA (Mak), Cert in Law (LDC), PGD and MA (Mak) with a bias in social work and social administration.

d) Mr. Kefa Kalanzi: Kefa holds a Diploma in Animal Husbandry and a BSc in Organic Agriculture (UMU). He is an experienced Agriculture Extension Officer. He currently serves as a Field Officer in the Faculty of Agriculture at Uganda Martyrs University.

e) Ms. Agnes Kabalyanga: Project Accountant and Procurement Officer. Agnes holds a Certificate in Agro-ecology & BA in Business Administration and Management (UMU). She has ample experience in financial services and logistics management obtained from financial institutions and the conservation sector.

VILLAGE RESOURCEFUL PERSONS
-Mr. Ntege Godfrey-community mobilization
-Mr. Sita Joshua
-Mrs. Kajubi Florentina
-Mrs. Gubula
-Mr. Robert Ssewanonda
-Ms. Angela Namusoke
-Mr. Livingstone Sserunjogi

HOW TO BECOME PART OF THE TEEP CAUSE
There are various ways in which you can identify yourself with the TEEP Initiative. You can be an;
-Intern/Volunteer:
Self-motivated persons, who are passionate about TEEP’s activities, are welcome to participate as interns or volunteers. Such activities may include but not limited to tree planting, sensitization campaigns, clean-up activities, sustainable environmental undertakings

-Advisor:
TEEP values and welcome advice from persons rich with indigenous sustainability knowledge, traditional ecological knowledge, indigenous technologies, and those skilled in contemporary sustainability practices.

-Activists:
TEEP appreciates persons willing to articulate and voice environmental concerns to a wider audience, with a view of fostering, awareness, participation, and change in the course of action.

-Academic/Researcher:
The importance of research in both the academia and social life has always remained critical to many improvements. In this very spirit, TEEP cherishes the practice and aspires to embed research into its sustainability endeavours for better results. Thus, the Initiative will collaborate with students and researchers (wherever and whenever possible), to achieve its objectives.

ORGANIZATIONAL FOCUS
-Ecological restoration
-Ecosystem and biodiversity conservation
-Sustainable energy
-Sustainable agriculture
-Sustainable environment and social enterprises

ALLIANCE BUILDING AND PARTNERSHIPS
Owing to the fact that environmental concerns have local, regional and global implications, multi-dimensional responses to mitigate their adverse effects remain imperative. The TEEP Initiative is passionate about environmental restoration and is committed to forging strategic partnerships and alliances. To this end, it aims at establishing linkages with local, national and international partners with a similar cause.

ABOUT THE SUSTAINABLE PIGGERY PROJECT
The sustainable piggery project, for which we are seeking assistance, was suggested by the community during a needs assessment exercise, as an alternative income generating activity to exploitation of household woodlot/forest resources. The community saw this as a way of ensuring that the newly restored household woodlots are conserved. The project builds up on our recently concluded project titled ‘Drawing on indigenous Knowledge and Cultural Meanings to Restore Family Forest Groves In Gombe Sub County’, that was implemented with support from the Rufford Foundation in the UK. We carried out afforestation on household acreages as well as training the community to make energy saving stoves from locally available materials.