June Bartuin wins the Youth Peace Challenge 2024

June Bartuin, a 28-year-old member of the Endorois community, belongs to an indigenous community residing in Baringo County. Historically, this pastoral community has experienced many challenges: cattle rustling, adverse and weather patterns. On one hand, dry seasons lead to severe water shortages, leading to crop failure, livestock losses, and conflict over scarce resources. On the other hand, heavy rainfall leads to devastating floods, causing property damage, livestock and crop losses, displacement, and public health risks. As a community that places more value on men than women, education for girls is not prioritized; it can be delayed or, in some cases, denied. Because of this, as a girl, June joined school late. Beyond having an education, June was determined to provide solutions that would support her community, build resilience, and become a voice for the community on local, regional, and global platforms. 

June is the founder of Indigenous Peoples for Peace and Climate Justice (IPPCJ), working to support marginalized Indigenous communities in Kenya’s North Rift Regions. She also represents Baringo County as an ambassador for Kenya Ni Mimi (KNM) and a volunteer with Alpha Team Organization’s Climate Education project in the Philippines. Additionally, June is a budget champion with the Kenya Indigenous Youth Network, she coordinates projects for Koimugul Indigenous Women and she works as a trained Indigenous Community journalist with Jamii Asilia Centre (JAC), documenting Endorois elders’ traditional knowledge through the Revitalize the Roots-Biikap Torois project. She has participated in various activities, including panels at the Women with Disabilities Dialogues and consultations to develop shadow reports for the UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) and the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). These experiences have deepened her knowledge on the importance of youth and women, including those with disabilities, in peace-building and sustainable development.

June’s engagement with CEMIRIDE has been instrumental in broadening her understanding of indigenous rights and climate change. She has gained valuable insights in articulating issues, decision making, and representing indigenous peoples’ rights. This has brought her global recognition by winning the Global Youth Peace Challenge (2024), which is a significant achievement for both herself and her community.

Winning the Global Youth Peace Challenge (YPC) 2024 has inspired and empowered her to train fellow indigenous youth, women, and people with disabilities in peace-building, mediation, and leadership. This achievement creates an opportunity to enhance Kenyan indigenous youth’s involvement in peace processes and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as outlined by the United Nations Security Council Resolution (SCR) 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security