Charmante Espoire Nduwayo
2025 Eco-Hero
SECOND PLACE
Charmante Espoire Nduwayo
Age 15
Bujumbura, Burundi
Saving the Gikoma River: From Erosion and Pollution to Community Action
Driven by a deeply personal connection to her environment, 15-year-old Charmante Espoire Nduwayo launched a vital project to protect the Gikoma River, a lifeline for her community in Bujumbura, Burundi. Growing up, Charmante witnessed the dual threats of severe erosion, which jeopardized homes along the riverbanks, and widespread pollution, particularly from discarded sanitary waste, which contaminated water used for irrigation and posed health risks. This daily reality, as she explains, fostered a sense of "fear that led her to act."
Charmante's project began with extensive research into suitable tree species for riverbank stabilization. Collaborating with her school's biology group, she spearheaded the planting of bamboo and eucalyptus trees along the Gikoma's vulnerable banks. Beyond this crucial physical intervention, Charmante tackled the sensitive issue of sanitary waste directly. She held open discussions with girls in her neighborhood, educating them on alternative, sustainable disposal methods and fostering a sense of shared responsibility for the river's cleanliness. To amplify her message, she leveraged her passion for journalism, creating informative articles and videos that she shared on social media and in her classroom.
Over two years, Charmante's persistent efforts yielded tangible results: the riverbank significantly stabilized, and the amount of sanitary waste entering the water visibly decreased. This has made the river safer for both the community and the vital rice fields it irrigates, directly impacting environmental justice by safeguarding farmers' livelihoods and ensuring equitable access to clean resources. Her mentor, Don Divin Bizimungu of UNDP, notes, "The riverbank is now visibly more stable... Her efforts in menstrual hygiene awareness have restored dignity to many girls in her community."
Charmante's journey has been one of inspiring leadership and resilience. She faced challenges ranging from persistent sand miners damaging riverbanks to people cutting down newly planted trees for firewood, yet she persevered. She learned that "collective action can bring change, and even small steps lead to significant results." Her work has not only transformed her local environment but also cultivated environmental awareness among her peers and neighbors.
Beyond her remarkable eco-heroics, Charmante is an accomplished young journalist, serving as a young reporter for DW (Deutsche Welle) in Burundi and having won an award for an environmental video with the local platform Yaga (if this is the correct URL). Looking ahead, she plans to study environmental science, expand her awareness campaigns to nearby communities, introduce composting techniques, and establish a youth-led environmental club in Carama. Charmante embodies her powerful message: "there is no 'too young' for the issues we're facing. Anyone, no matter their age or how small their actions are, can help restore the environment."
