By Irene Best Nyapendi
In the dry, dusty village of Iriri in northern Uganda’s Napak District, water is scarce, but bushfires are common. Sharon Longora grew up often seeing thick smoke from burning bushes, a quick way her community cleared land for farming.
But she says that hurt her as much as it hurt the environment.
“People seemed not to know how their actions harmed the environment,” she explains. “Someone might cut and burn a tree without understanding the damage.”
These challenges planted a seed in Longora’s heart, leading her to pursue a Bachelor of Environmental Science in 2019, and, later, a Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Business and Renewable Energy in 2023 – both at Uganda Christian University (UCU).
After graduating with her postgraduate diploma, she joined a group that was planting trees back home but noticed that something was missing.
A trip to Sapienza University of Rome, Italy, and University of Cadiz, Spain, for a UCU study exchange program in 2023 opened Longora’s eyes to how the world tackles climate change.
“I came back thinking I should share stories to inspire others,” Longora said. “If we do not teach people about sustainability, laws and policies will not work.”
So, she turned an old YouTube channel she had created into EcoRise 256, with “Eco” standing for nature and “Rise” standing for uplifting stories of Ugandans fighting climate change.
The channel can be described as a hub for inspiring stories of environmental action, hope and community-driven change. She uses it to explore climate change and mitigation solutions for a sustainable future, ranging from solar-powered homes to community-led eco-projects.
Her videos show simple ways to protect the environment, like managing waste or using clean energy.
Longora’s videos are easy to understand and full of ideas. One shows how to turn farm waste, like leftover crop bits, into briquettes – clean, cheap fuel for cooking that doesn’t require cutting trees.
Another video teaches how to recycle plastic waste and sell it for money. Her goal is to lead each person to care for their environment, explaining that the Bible teaches people to be caretakers of the earth.
And people are listening to her gospel. Pacific Joshua Okwera from Kitgum in northern Uganda says Longora’s videos changed his life.
“I stopped using charcoal after watching EcoRise 256,” he says. “Charcoal is messy, has soot and dirties my kitchen. Briquettes are cleaner and better for my health.”
Winnie Iriama, a student at Makerere University Business School and Longora’s friend for over 10 years, says: “When I watched Longora’s video about briquettes, I started using them. Briquettes are clean, easy to carry and save money compared to charcoal. I even want to start to make my own.”
More than 10 people, Longora says, have called her to buy briquettes, and others want to sell their waste to briquette-makers, showing how her work is spreading.
Some people did not take Longora’s gospel seriously, thinking she was just trying to make money.
When she visits projects, some think she has come to spy on them or to profit from their efforts, she says. She had no equipment for producing the videos, except her phone which she used for recording and editing. She says she learned to make videos on her own. There are times she says she had to ask strangers to record her, especially if she wanted to be in the videos.
Her hard work paid off when a resident of her village in northeastern Uganda saw her videos and invited her to join his group, Atedo, which helps women fight climate change.
At UCU, Longora says she found mentors in Prof. Sarah Nkambwe and Dr. Miria Agunyo, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Design and Technology. They have guided her, taught her and still check on her to date.
She is grateful to UCU for the exposure and for the opportunities to grow, including the trip to Italy and Spain.
Longora says members of her family have been her biggest cheerleaders. Her father watched one of her videos and called her to say how proud he was of her. Longora, the third of four siblings, says her family has encouraged her to follow her passion.
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