Young Champ Mariama Mamane tells her story!

Mariama Mamane, 2017 Young Champion of the Earth for Africa, shares her experiences implementing a project to create fertilizer and bioenergy from aquatic weeds.  

July 2018

The solution is in nature

Today, everyone is talking about climate change and water, air or soil pollution. But I think we have alternative solutions right before our eyes already, in nature. Nature has always had an ability to heal itself. We can help it by using science and technology.

My project, JACIGREEN, builds upon this realization. After conducting a lot of research, I came across a solution to some of these problems, in the form of the water hyacinth. Through JACIGREEN, I hope to address the issue of insufficient energy. In Africa, more than 700 million people, mainly in rural areas, do not have access to electricity.

At the same time, we cannot continue with our current agricultural system that destroys our soils, contributing to global warming and causing health problems. Farmers need organic and sustainable agricultural inputs. In fact, my daily inspiration for this fight comes my desire to prevent overexploited and abandoned ecosystems.

My daily life as an entrepreneur involves braving hurdles, trying out new scientific approaches to obtain conclusive results from products that I develop. It's mostly passion of discovery that drives me to always go further.

I aim to bring with key players with me in this great adventure. This requires investing a lot, managing and restructuring the business model of my company, and conducting feasibility studies. As a young woman, my challenge is to be a role model to inspire young girls to become more engaged; to dream and convince themselves of their role in the development of our countries. Nothing makes me happier than being useful, and action towards a better environment is very fulfilling.

We all have a role to play in sustainable development! See you soon, with more news from my fight to encourage young people to commit to the protection of our environment.

March 2018

 

February 2018 - "The Student Entrepreneur"

Science has always been part of my life. In elementary school, I spent hours browsing my mother’s natural science books, who at the time was a natural science teacher. To be honest, I couldn't see my life without science, because I was convinced that science had the power to change things and I wanted to be part of those people who bring change. After my baccalaureate in 2010, I chose to study Biodiversity and Environmental Management at the Faculty of Science and Technology of Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey. I watched the Niger River every time I went to university, and decided I couldn’t remain indifferent to its silting and pollution. That's how I started looking for answers from my uncle, a forester, and institutions in charge of the protection of this river. At the same time, I learned about water hyacinth during a "Conservation in situ" course,  which is linked to the deterioration of the Niger River.

After obtaining my Bachelor degree in 2013, I was accepted at the International Institute of Water and Environment (2IE) and very soon, I discovered that the reservoirs of dams in Burkina Faso are infested with water hyacinth, as well as the Niger River. I soon realized that several other countries in Africa are affected with the same problem of water hyacinth. Seeing the disastrous consequences of this plant on the ecosystem, it was essential for me to think about it and find a lasting solution. I then joined the Entrepreneur Path organized by 2iE every year to benefit students with entrepreneurial ideas with a strong environmental and social impact. In 2016 I began my project JACIGREEN. Originally I wanted to start this project with friends, but came to the realization that we didn’t have the same vision and that they weren’t ready to balance the responsibilities of the project with our courses and exams of the last year of school. However I was able to combine these two activities, because my ultimate goal was to get a well-designed project with which I could approach a partner for its realization.

Thus, I launched myself alone in this adventure. There were countless sleepless nights and I eventually ended up in the hospital two weeks before the end of the Entrepreneur Path program. After a week's treatment at the hospital I was released, but people encouraged me to take a break from the project because of my health. I decided to do the opposite because I was so attached to this project that I couldn’t even consider dropping it. I plunged again into writing my document for the final stretch of the path. Then came the day of this final.. At the announcement of the results by the jury, I was surprised to learn I had received the 1st prize of the Entrepreneurship of 2iE, as well as another prize for the project with the best Social Impact. This is one of the best experiences I had to live in my life, I was a winner on all fronts. This path has allowed me to have more confidence in myself, to turn my idea into a scientific and ecological innovation but especially never to give up our efforts will be rewarded in one way or another.

To be continued...

 

The Young Champions blogs and vlogs are collated with the support of CoalitionWILD.