A UNIQUE COALITION FOR THE SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE PROJECT

The Seeds for the Future initiative began in early 2023 under the Rejoice Africa Foundation's guidance, encompassing endeavors such as kitchen gardens, agroforestry, women's sensitization on family planning, and child savings, all in response to signals of climate crisis and evolving family planning policies. Employing an Afrocentric model of Women Care groups within a decentralized system, our foundation laid the groundwork for transformative change.

Driven by a fervent determination to ensure no one is left behind in sowing the seeds for the future, we forged a distinctive coalition comprising organizations from Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, and now India. This coalition shares a singular mission: to revolutionize family planning systems, prioritizing the equitable distribution of resources to ensure every child is born and nurtured in conditions that uphold the ideals of the Children’s Rights Convention, both ecologically and socially.

. Esther's UN work and Esther's ICCR research underscores the urgency of our mission, particularly in light of the dire impacts of the climate crisis on children, even before their birth.

However, amidst the challenges lies an opportunity for transformative change. As momentum builds for reparations from wealthy nations to the Global South and evidence mounts regarding the efficacy of investing in young women for sustainable development, our coalition stands at the vanguard of progress. Unlike conventional non-governmental organizations, we reject the outdated Cairo Consensus on population and development, recognizing its inadequacy in addressing the twin perils of the climate crisis and economic inequality.

Fundamental justice means changing the way we plan our families and raise our children in the News letter

Our response is anchored in the introduction of a seeds for the future and equitable family model, aligning with the principles of the International human rights regime and its commitment to self-determination. This model has garnered acclaim through successful peer-reviews and extensive coverage in global news outlets. It resonates with calls from UN leadership for a paradigm shift in population and development policies, emphasizing the value of each child's life.

Dickson from Kenya Amboseli love organization echoes the plight of marginalized communities like the Maasai in Kenya, underscoring the historical injustices that have stripped them of their land and livelihoods. The failures of the Cairo Consensus to address such injustices only exacerbate the climate crisis and inequity, burdening the most vulnerable. He said and I quote “Kenya recognizes over fifty tribes of native people. The Maasai were the dominating tribe at the beginning of 20th century. They are one of the very few tribes who have retained most of their traditions, lifestyle and lore. In common with the wildlife with which they co-exist, the Maasai need a lot of land. Unlike many other tribes in Kenya, the Maasai are semi-nomadic and pastoral: they live by herding cattle and goats.

Ashoka from India said ….” The move follows on two letters to Prime Minister Modi urging him to take action to ensure the nation complies with human rights requirements, as detailed in a recent filing before the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The new organization argues that India is out of compliance with human rights requirements, and in a way that risks countless lives.

●India faces unprecedented future deaths, in the millions of those least responsible, due to a combination of the climate crisis and current family planning policy.

●A new NGO is challenging the status quo family planning policy, urging India to get ahead of the curve and comply with human rights systems that correctly base political legitimacy on birth equity-based family reforms using the Children's Convention as a guide.

●The reforms would entitle massive family planning entitlements to make sure children are only born in safe conditions and use climate loss and damage liability to start the process which could save countless lives.

The organization further argued that given calls for population policy reforms, recent attempts to reform family planning systems, the call for family reforms made by the Supreme Court, as well as the import of its rulings on access to family planning, this is an issue that should not be ignored. India should consider itself bound by international human rights and obligations to future generations when devising a new policy, which it needs desperately. The best human-rights based guidelines for that policy are described in filings now before the United Nations, and which treat Article 16 of the International Bill of Human Rights as the most basic norm – or Grund norm – around which all family and population policy must orient.” 

Ayubu from Tanzania said…….” Women and children are considered to be among the most vulnerable groups of people in the

World, especially in the developing countries. The challenges faced by women and children are unprecedented and often worsened by extreme situations such as climate change. Climate change is one of the leading causes of food insecurity. Food-insecure areas are often drought-stricken and hard to live in because of the shortage of food and water. For women in

Tanzania most especially, this is a big challenge because they are often left in charge of feeding their families. This means that the absence of water or food makes their lives more complicated as they have to travel long distances or spend more to purchase foodstuffs and water. For the children, this affects their health and nutrition needs. It also puts them at risk of missing classes due to hunger or because they have to fetch water from far places.

 Sometimes food insecurity leads families to move to other food secure places which is often cumbersome for children who have to leave during school times. Therefore, food insecurity brings about a lot of uncertainty and affects the lives of women and children who are already affected by climate change results.

Esther from Nigeria said “…….in a slum, where many children live below the poverty line, education takes the back seat. Poverty, underdevelopment, mass illiteracy, ignorance, urban backwardness and conservatism has caused many in slums to be deprived of their basic right to education and limited access to education means many children will be stuck in a cycle of poverty.

In many slums around the world, children are unable to attend school regularly due to a lack of resources, including school supplies. Without these resources, children are unable to participate in classes and may fall behind their peers. Additionally, a lack of access to education can perpetuate the cycle of poverty in these communities.

in conclusion

In rewriting the narrative, we envision a future where balanced ecosystems and equal opportunities prevail. By embracing an ecocentric family planning system aligned with the Children’s Convention, we can mitigate the crises we face today and cultivate a more just and Sustainable tomorrow. Through our coalition's collective efforts, we sow women care group in the seeds for the future project of hope and equity for next generations.