*24 June 2026*
STTA Young Change-Makers Outdoor Connect at TakaTaka Solutions
The STTA Young Change-Makers Programme launched its bold new Outdoor Connect activity on Wednesday, 24th June 2026, with a visit that set the tone for everything to follow. The destination was TakaTaka Solutions, East Africa’s largest waste management company, and the experience proved to be a powerful opening chapter. This first-ever Outdoor Connect demonstrated exactly why the programme is committed to taking learning far beyond the classroom walls.
Outdoor Connect was designed to turn the long university break into a season of real-world discovery. The visit to TakaTaka Solutions delivered on that promise immediately, and the insights gained by the Young Change-Makers were both practical and profound.
Arriving with Open Minds
From the moment the cohort arrived at the facility, they understood this was not a typical field trip. The Changemakers toured the entire operation, following the journey of waste from collection through sorting, composting, and recycling. They saw first-hand how up to 90% of all waste received is diverted away from landfill. Instead of passive observation, these students asked probing questions about operational efficiency, community engagement, and the role the tourism industry can play in waste reduction. This is the curious, solution-oriented mindset that the initiative cultivates in all its participants.
4 Eye-Opening Insights from the Outdoor Connect Experience
Here are four transformative takeaways that emerged from the day, insights that will resonate with any emerging tourism and sustainability leader.
1. Waste Is a Resource, Not an Endpoint
The most immediate lesson was a fundamental shift in perspective. At TakaTaka Solutions, waste is not something to be discarded; it is a valuable input that can be sorted, composted, recycled, and sold. The group saw mountains of plastic, glass, and organic material being transformed into reusable commodities. This circular economy thinking is exactly the kind of sustainability knowledge the programme helps students internalise.
2. The Tourism Industry Has a Massive Role to Play
A recurring theme throughout the visit was the connection to hospitality and tourism. The Changemakers discussed how hotels, restaurants, and lodges generate enormous amounts of waste, much of which could be managed far more responsibly. They identified opportunities for tourism businesses to partner with companies like TakaTaka Solutions and to educate guests about sustainable waste practices. This sector-specific application reflects the practical focus embedded in all the training provided.
3. Operational Challenges Require Creative Solutions
The students did not just admire what was working well. They also observed where the system faced bottlenecks and limitations. Sorting mixed waste is labour-intensive, contamination remains a problem, and public awareness is still low. These honest observations led to a rich discussion about innovative solutions, from better source segregation to community education campaigns. The initiative encourages this kind of critical, problem-solving analysis.
4. Young Professionals Can Lead the Circular Transition
Perhaps the most empowering outcome of the visit was the recognition that the next generation does not need to wait for permission to lead. The open discussion that followed the tour buzzed with ideas for waste audits at tourism sites, youth-led recycling initiatives, and social media campaigns to raise awareness. Within the programme, observation is only the first step; action follows quickly.
A Genuine Professional Exchange
True to the Outdoor Connect model, this was never a one-way lecture. After the tour, the students sat down with an industry professional from TakaTaka Solutions for an honest, wide-ranging conversation. They asked tough questions about business viability, scaling challenges, and the company’s relationships with hospitality clients. They received unfiltered, practical answers. It was a genuine professional exchange that builds both confidence and clarity, and it exemplifies the kind of learning environment the initiative creates.
This dialogue is what sets the activity apart from a typical field trip. Participants leave not with a worksheet, but with the ability to articulate informed opinions in public. Following the visit, each Changemaker published at least one social media post sharing personal insights, gaps, and solutions. The authentic voices that emerged from TakaTaka Solutions filled LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter, proving that these young professionals have something valuable to say.
Connecting the Dots Across Outdoor Connect
The STTA Outdoor Connect journey began with this powerful immersion into the circular economy. This first visit now stands alongside later experiences at Nairobi War Cemetery and Nairobi National Museum, each building a more complete understanding of what sustainable tourism truly means. The approach is deliberately broad because the tourism industry is multifaceted, and its future leaders must be ready for every dimension.
Image: STTA Young Change-Makers during the Outdoor Connect tour at TakaTaka Solutions.
(Alt text: STTA Young Change-Makers and Changemakers at TakaTaka Solutions observing waste sorting processes during Outdoor Connect)
Looking Ahead
Founded in 2017, the STTA Young Change-Makers Programme remains steadfast in its mission to mentor emerging African sustainable tourism leaders. By equipping students with sustainability knowledge, practical skills, and the confidence to express themselves publicly, the organisation is nurturing a generation ready to lead.
For further information on the company’s innovative waste management model, visit the TakaTaka Solutions official website.
The long university break had just become an extraordinary classroom. If you are a tourism, hospitality, or wildlife management student in Kenya, follow our channels closely. Your own Outdoor Connect experience, and your chance to become one of the Changemakers shaping African tourism, could be next.
Welcome to Outdoor Connect.
Follow STTA Young Change-Makers on social media to see the first student posts from today’s visit and to stay updated on future activities.
