Masika Melve is a refugee youth from the Democratic Republic of Congo, currently residing in Katwe Kibuye I, one of the suburbs of Kampala. Masika is a young change maker who mobilizes her fellow refugees for developmental activities, such as running savings groups and actively engaging in community work.

She recently took part in a community clean up activity in Kibuye. The activity was organised by the Network for Active Citizens, with its partners the Sustainable Community Initiative for Empowerment and local leaders. Leaders, including the Speaker of Makindye division took part in the exercise. They cleaned up their community, desilted the water channels and created awareness about climate change and the effects of poor garbage disposal. The group partnered with the Kampala Capital City Authority officials, as well as garbage collecting company, Homelkin, for the garbage collecting trucks.

Masika encouraged her fellow young people to protect the environment by recycling what can be reused and properly disposing of their garbage. She also encouraged them to take part in community activities aimed at combating the effects of climate change. 

by Nakandi Mastula