Initiated by:
ISCOMS
ISCOMS is one of the most leading (bio)medical student congresses, organized by students, for students from all around the globe. Besides organising the conference, we are committed to a better, healthier and more sustainable future, hence this year's theme: ‘Harmonious Healthcare’. Through Justdiggit, we hope to make a part of the world greener again and contribute to the SDG!
We are on a mission to regreen Africa and cool down the planet. Together with millions of farmers, and together with you.
How it works: digging bunds for a cooler climate
Benefits of regreening
Did you know: by bringing back vegetation, we can reduce the effects of global warming by 37%? Regreening has a positive effect on nature, biodiversity, people, and the climate. And... all you need is a shovel.
01
Digging
In order to regreen and restore degraded land, we dig water bunds (or “Earth Smiles”). We dig these half-moon shaped pits together with local partners and communities in Kenya and Tanzania. This way, we allow the hard top layer of the soil to be cracked open again.
02
Capturing rainwater
The bunds slow down and capture rainwater running downhills. This prevents erosion of fertile soil. By capturing the water within the bunds, rainwater has more time to enter the ground, which restores the water balance within the soil.
03
Vegetation grows within the bunds
Thanks to the rainwater and the opening up of the top layer of the soil. The seeds still present below the surface now get the chance to sprout, which means: regreening! Sometimes we give the regreening process a little push, by sowing extra (grass) seeds within the bunds
04
Vegetation spreads outside the bunds
Not only will vegetation grow back inside the bunds, eventually the area surrounding the bunds also gets increasingly greener over time. This way the whole area becomes lush and green again within a few years only!
About Justdiggit
Justdiggit is on a mission to cool down our planet by making dry land in Africa green again. The projects that they initiate together with local partners in various African countries have positive effects on the preservation of biodiversity, livelihoods and climate. Justdiggit uses the power of communication and (mobile) technology to scale up the regreening process. Their ultimate goal is to eventually have African farmers themselves regreen their own land, and thus mitigate 37% of global warming.