Voix du Paysan: Informing and Empowering Citizens for Social and Climate Justice.
Amid the calm waters of Lake Kivu, the islets and the island of Idjwi are home to communities deeply rooted in nature. Yet these communities face growing environmental threats: deforestation, pollution, erosion of farmland, and the depletion of fish resources. In response, the organization Droits Environnement et Citoyenneté (DEC-Organisation) has launched a targeted ecological education campaign by directly engaging with islanders — farmers, fishers, herders, teachers, and students — placing them at the heart of change.
DEC’s approach is grounded in local realities. Rather than imposing external knowledge, it aims to co-create solutions based on traditional wisdom, daily observations, and concrete environmental challenges. Through community workshops, school awareness sessions, intergenerational dialogues, and local radio broadcasts, DEC empowers islanders to rethink their relationship with land, water, and biodiversity.
A key element of this campaign is reshaping collective imagination. The environment is no longer seen as an infinite resource or mere backdrop to life, but as a living heritage to protect for future generations. By drawing on local stories, educational games, elders’ testimonies, and the active involvement of youth, DEC transforms ecology into a matter of culture, legacy, and shared responsibility.
This campaign, led by www.dec-rdc.org, is more than a temporary initiative—it is a pathway toward social transformation. By helping the people of Idjwi and the Lake Kivu islets integrate environmental education into their everyday lives, DEC-Organisation lays the foundation for a people-powered, inclusive, and lasting ecological transition. An ecology of the people, by the people, for the planet.
The Editorial Team
Raising awareness in the heart of lake Kivu: www.dec-rdc.org reaches out to the island communities of idjwi for sustainable environmental education
