Fiona Konchellah - Miss Earth Kenya 2012 Profile

Fiona Konchellah

Miss Earth Kenya 2012

BIO:
Age: 23
Height: 5'9.5"
Weight: 123lbs.
Vital Stats: 34"-26"-38"
Hometown: Nairobi
Profession: Finance Controller
Notes: Competed in Miss World 2009 and Miss International 2010

INTERVIEW:

What environmental project will you create to promote the protection of Mother Earth and why?
I am an ambassador to the “Tree is Life” campaign. This campaign is in line with the UNEP 10 Billion Tree Campaign project. The main objective of this Project is to restore forests, natural resources, and improve community livelihood within forests in Kenya and Greening of Schools in the country. This will be through the 10 Million tree is life Campaign and Greening Schools Program. This Campaign was founded due to the fact that in the past two decades, Kenya forests have experienced severe destruction as a result of several factors which have in turn affected the hydrological cycles in the water towers and resulted in water shortages across the country.

What makes you proud of your country and what can you promote about it?
I come from the beautiful country called Kenya. I am so proud and I do not take for granted the fact that I had not asked to be born anywhere else in the World. I love everything about my great country, from the hospitable people, the diverse cultures/tribes, beautiful landscapes as you drive across the Rift Valley, Wildlife- our country has the big five animals, food and dance. We have amazing beaches, beautiful coastal reefs that will take your breath away. I am honored to be from a country that is known for its marathon runners and record holders. Kenya is a blessed nation with hardworking people. It is a country whose motto is ‘Peace, Love and Unity.

Describe your childhood/growing years (8-13 years old)
I grew up in the coastal part of Kenya. I am the first born of six children. I am from a community that is very cultural and though I was brought up in the city, my family still preserved our culture. My family also is a Christian family, therefore going to church was and still is a great part of my life. I was a tomboy in my early teen years as I was taller than everyone in my class. I fitted in well with the boys.

What lessons did you learn from your childhood/growing years?
My parents have instilled values and principles that will last me a lifetime, some of which include honesty, good morals, hard work and religion. I also had to learn to be responsible at an early age as I had many siblings whom I needed to be a role model to. Coming from a large family, I had to learn to share and be accommodative. I learned to be independent at a very young age as I went to boarding school during my high school days. Most importantly, I learned to fight for what I believe in. Even as a teenager, I took up leadership roles on my own initiative. I was always a sports captain or a class prefect.

What is your most memorable moment?
I cherish every moment that gives me an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life. Being able to work for the Masai Mara Marathon Ltd, allowed for me to be apart of a greater cause which is to ensure that the girls within the Mara Ecosystem are able to get education. There is nothing greater than being able to build and expand schools, provide sanitation and at the same time educating them about the importance of environmental conservation. All this for me is memorable.

What is your environmental advocacy and why did you choose it?
My environmental advocacy is the Youth Going Green Initiative. This initiative aims at involving the youth in environmental education, tree planting projects. This allows college going students to channel their energy for the good of the environment. The response to my initiative has been overwhelming and it is amazing to see how much young people want to play a part in making a difference.

What tip can you share to promote sustainable energy for all?
Kenya has a potentially large untapped non-fossil energy resources, but so far the nation has been heavily dependent on imported petroleum oil. As a country, we need to ensure that we use energy from renewable resources which is inexhaustible and clean, and that we invest in renewable energy which will create jobs, foster economic growth, and improve energy security. This can be done through the use of geothermal resources, wind and solar energy.

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* See also Miss Earth 2012 Special Coverage