Charles Mugarura

Kampala, Uganda                                  SEE OTHER BIOS HERE
Age: 28

Charles is a social entrepreneur, designer and tutor working at level national and global level, advocating for climate change adaptation and mitigation through permaculture education.

Tell us about yourself!

I am a permaculture social entrepreneur, tutor, designer, and innovator with 12 years of experience in permaculture eco-system design and a background in computer science. I have served at the national and global level, and I am a policy advocate for youth empowerment, gender equality, and transforming systems to be healthy and sustainable through efficient alternatives that are inspired by our environment. I am also a strong believer in adopting indigenous technologies using a permaculture approach.

I am the CEO and director of Broadfield Enterprises Uganda (BEU), focusing on creating, implementing, and using innovative climate change adaptation strategies through the ethics and principles of permaculture. For example, our Sabina Food and Water Security Permaculture Project works to improve the diets of 385 students at the Sabina Home & School. Additionally, we offer permaculture classes for children, and have developed excellent facilities where we teach and implement the essentials of permaculture design – including food forests, rainwater catchments, and other features – to turn it into an ideal training center.

Finally, we offer a Permaculture Design Certificate, which consists of an 80-hour intensive training program that develop permaculture teachers and environmentally sensitive leaders. In this way, permaculture is an effective tool to enable and empower individuals who can be catalysts for positive change in their own communities, setting a positive example for social, ecological, and economic leadership through the daily practice of permaculture.

What inspired you to become a champion for environmental education?

I am inspired by studying and teaching integrated permaculture because it connects to a wide range of programs. Professors at universities, specialists, and practitioners around the world express interest in working with us towards climate resiliency and making a positive change for nature. I believe that it is possible to live in a free world – one with improved livelihoods, food security, universal peace, and healthy soils, water, rivers, lakes, and oceans for all species. Together we can realize this. I believe in permaculture – every problem is a solution.

What keeps you motivated, inspired, or hopeful for the future?

All of the following keep me inspired: the success of my work with young people, improved livelihoods through permaculture solutions around the world, and positive examples of exchanges between students, universities, and communities. All to make this world a better place.

Who do you look up to as inspiration for your work?

Bill Mollison, founder of the permaculture movement, and others who implement development solutions that are socially, ecologically, and economically balanced to make this world a better place for all species.

What pro-environmental behavior do you think would make a big impact if everyone in the world started doing it?

Here are just a few!

• Cooperatively planting permaculture food forests at big and small scales
• Composting and reusing waste
• Respecting nature and all species
• Renewable energy production
• Ecological systems of waste water cleaning and rainwater harvesting
• Eliminating plastic pollution on land and in rivers, lakes, and oceans
• Going vegan
• Eliminating pollution from travel and transport
• Using ecologically grown bamboo instead of wood

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