Post-Event Report June 2026 · Art & Conservation Conversations
ACC 2.0 — The Art of
Sustainable Living
Sustainable Living
A full account of what happened on 6 June 2026 at Naishola Gardens, Tigoni — what we set out to do, what the data showed, and what comes next.
What happened on the day. Guests arrived later than planned, so the team waited for quorum before starting — resulting in a delayed kick-off well past midday. The day opened with introductions, then moved into an aromatherapy sensory garden walk at Naishola Gardens. After lunch, KEPRO led an experiential waste segregation session — teaching the role of PROs, waste typologies, and how to segregate correctly, with a live sorting challenge where volunteers stepped up. This was followed by somatic movement with Femme Pilates (mindful stretching and yoga), then an art therapy painting session by Usahili Arts where participants visualised their origins, present states, and aspirations. A sustainable fashion show by Miss Earth Kenya closed the programme before the ACC Village experience and dispersal.
From the day — ACC 2.0 in pictures
Welcome to ACC 2.0 · Naishola Gardens
#SisiNiACC
Registration & baseline data collection
ACC Village experience
Community & connection
Sensory garden walk · aromatherapy
Garden walk · joyful moments
Lunch · Gathamana Catering
Waste segregation challenge · KEPRO
My Waste, My Responsibility · Taka Yangu, Wajibu Wangu
Somatic movement · Femme Pilates
Mindful movement · meditation
Art therapy · Usahili Arts
Art therapy · creative joy
Sustainable fashion · Miss Earth Kenya
Upcycled fashion · circular design
Miss Water Kenya
ACC 2.0 · Naishola Gardens, Tigoni · 6 June 2026 · World Environment Day Weekend · ~70 attendees
Before the event — what we navigated
Context. ACC 2.0 came together through real momentum and goodwill — a strong team, generous partners, and growing visibility — alongside a confluence of last-minute setbacks. The team adapted in real time and the day was a success. Both sides of the story are documented here so future editions can build on what worked and shore up what didn't.
What went well
An 11-person superstar team, diverse by design
We recruited a team of 11 brilliant young people from diverse backgrounds — tech, design, media, sustainability consulting, event management, mental health, fitness, and health and wellness — to help bring people together. The event would not have been possible without any of them.
Unlocked networks that gave the movement traction
Team members shared their relevant networks and created opportunities that extended ACC's reach well beyond the event itself — including an NTV interview and access to the Nairobi Startup Summit.
Secured partners and vendors from the Startup Summit
At the Nairobi Startup Summit we connected with some of our most impactful partners and vendors, including a data collection partner, a food and beverage supplier, and an insurance partner who educated attendees on health and life insurance as part of thinking about sustainable living.
National media coverage on World Environment Day
Because ACC 2.0 was aligned with the 2026 World Environment Day, we landed a national TV interview on the Friday night before the event — a chance to tell the world about the movement and how it brings young people back to environmental conservation.
Corporate pitches that stress-tested the model
We pitched to a few corporates who loved the concept behind ACC and offered monetary commitments. None were able to contribute this time round, but the process helped us stress-test our model and gave the team real encouragement. We're grateful for the engagement.
Lean, low-emission team coordination
Most planning meetings were held online despite the team's different schedules and time zones — a sign of strong team dynamics, and one that kept our own emissions footprint low.
A generous and supportive venue partner
Naishola Gardens were fully supportive of the mission and offered a significant discount on the use of their grounds for the event. The team was well taken care of throughout.
The Challenges
Team drop-outs, days before the event
Two key team members withdrew close to the event — one was responsible for event planning and set-up, and the other was the designated MC. Rembesha Events was brought in as a replacement to cover event set-up at very short notice.
Committed sponsors did not come through
Partners who had confirmed financial support were unable to follow through. The team covered costs personally, incurring debt to ensure the event happened. While most event obligations have been completed, the team is still in the process of settling outstanding arrears with a few vendors as part of post-event financial close-out.
Attendance overview
~70
Total attendees (55 captured + ~15 buffer)
55
Baseline surveys completed
24
Post-event surveys returned
44%
Post-survey response rate
92%
First-time ACC attendees
65%
Female participants
Data collection methodology
Baseline survey — pre-event
Data was collected through Biztimam Technology's Easy Q&A platform. Participants scanned a QR code on arrival to register and complete the baseline survey digitally. Each user was identified by their unique MAC address, ensuring one response per device. 55 responses were captured in-room during the introductions session. An estimated 15 additional attendees did not complete the form.
Post-event survey — from home
The post-event survey link was shared via WhatsApp after the event concluded. Because the event ended late, participants were asked to complete it from home. 24 responses were received — a 44% response rate of the 55 captured. This approach, while deliberate, resulted in significant drop-off and is documented as a lesson for future editions.
Core assumptions
MAC address identification is treated as a reliable proxy for unique participant identification, though device-sharing cannot be fully excluded.
The 15-person buffer above the 55 captured represents attendees who were present but did not engage with the digital survey — likely due to late arrival or device constraints.
Post-event responses are self-selected. Those who completed the survey from home may reflect a more engaged sub-group, meaning outcomes data may slightly over-represent committed participants.
Baseline and post-event responses cannot be matched at individual level (no shared unique ID across both surveys), so change scores are population-level comparisons rather than individual-level tracking.
Objectives vs. outcomes — how we did against what we set out to do
| Objective | What we set out to achieve | What happened | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Awareness & understanding | Increase awareness and understanding of sustainable living practices | Baseline showed only 42% were aware of waste management processes. Post-event: 92% committed to improved waste practices; participants named specific new knowledge (8 Rs, bin colour-coding, non-recyclable items) | ✓ Met |
| Circular economy appreciation | Greater appreciation of circular economy principles and responsible consumption | Baseline circularity knowledge score was 2.48/5 — low. Post-event: 67% committed to at least one sustainable practice; 14/24 committed to recycling and segregation at source | ✓ Met |
| Nature connection | Strengthen emotional connection between participants and the natural environment | Aromatherapy garden walk and somatic movement were among the most enjoyed sessions. Breathing, stretching, and grounding techniques were the top mindfulness practices taken home | ✓ Met |
| Reduce eco-anxiety | Reduce eco-anxiety through restorative nature-based experiences | Art therapy and pilates sessions received the highest enjoyment ratings. 83% would return monthly — a signal of psychological safety and restored agency rather than overwhelm | ✓ Met |
| Creative outputs | Creative outputs demonstrating the value of waste as a resource | Art therapy session produced participant paintings; sustainable fashion show demonstrated upcycled and circular design. Physical outputs created and displayed on the day | ✓ Met |
| Community building | A growing community committed to conscious and sustainable lifestyles | Yearning for community scored 4.27/5 at baseline — the highest of all scales. 92% want to join the ACC community. 83% committed to monthly connects. Community formation is active | ✓ Met |
| Attendance target | 150–200 participants from Nairobi and surroundings | Approximately 70 attendees — below the target range. Strong engagement quality compensated; the proof of concept holds even at this scale | ~ Partial |
| Behaviour change measurement | Pre/post survey framework to capture change | 55 baseline + 24 post-event surveys completed. MEL framework functional. Post-survey response rate (44%) is the data collection gap to close in future editions | ~ Partial |
| Sustainable funding | Partnership and sponsorship to cover costs | Committed sponsors were unable to come through. Team covered costs personally. Outstanding arrears for some vendors remain. Membership model being activated for ACC 3.0 | → Next edition |
What the event confirmed — five tested hypotheses
ACC 2.0 was not just an event. It was a live test of five assumptions at the core of the ACC model. Here is what the data confirmed — and what it means for the case for ACC as a platform worth investing in.
H1
There is genuine, unmet demand for this experience among young people
92% of attendees were first-timers — ACC didn't rely on a loyal base, it pulled in new people cold. Community yearning scored 4.27/5 at baseline, before a single session had run. The appetite existed before ACC showed up. The event didn't create demand — it found it.
✓ Confirmed
92% first-timers
Community yearning 4.27 / 5
H2
Young people have reduced bandwidth for sustainability — but this is a capacity problem, not an apathy problem
Circularity knowledge was just 2.48/5 at baseline, and only 42% were aware of waste management processes. Yet 73% had been in nature the previous week, and 69% already engaged in creative activities — the disposition is there. The post-survey drop (55 baseline → 24 post-event, 44%) isn't failure; it is the evidence. People filling a survey at home, with life crowding back in, face the exact bandwidth problem ACC exists to solve. The gap proves the hypothesis.
✓ Confirmed
Circularity score 2.48 / 5
44% post-survey return rate
H3
Intentional bandwidth creation drives real behaviour change — not just awareness
92% committed to better waste practices. 67% to at least one new sustainable behaviour. Participants didn't just report learning something — they named specific commitments: segregation at source, recycling, breathing techniques, pilates moves to use at home. Specificity matters. Vague intention is cheap. Named behaviour is evidence of change.
✓ Confirmed
92% committed to waste practices
67% new sustainable behaviour
H4
ACC can be financially self-sustaining through community membership — independent of sponsor dependency
83% said they would attend monthly Baada ya Kazi connects. Median willingness to pay was KES 1,000 per connect. At 1,000 members paying even KES 500/month, that is KES 500,000/month — enough to run the event series, pay vendors first, and build reserves. ACC 2.0 had to be funded personally because sponsors didn't come through. The data says the community would have paid instead, if asked. That changes everything for ACC 3.0.
→ Strongly indicated
83% would attend monthly
Median WTP KES 1,000
H5
The ACC model is replicable and scalable — it doesn't require perfect conditions to work
Two team members dropped out days before. Committed sponsors pulled out. No dedicated catering liaison. A late start compressed every session. And still — 92% wanted to join the community, people left with named practices, and the biggest complaint in feedback was wanting more time. A model that delivers under those conditions is a model worth backing.
✓ Confirmed
92% want to join community
Delivered under adversity
Demand exists → bandwidth is the barrier → ACC removes the barrier → change happens → and the community will pay for it to keep happening.
That is the throughline. Five hypotheses, one argument. ACC 2.0 is the proof of concept.
Programme flow
Late morning
Arrivals, Introductions & Baseline Survey
Delayed start — waited for quorum. Guests trickled in past midday, compressing the schedule downstream. Baseline data was collected during introductions using Biztimam Technology's Easy Q&A platform, capturing 55 responses.
Post-arrival
Aromatherapy Sensory Garden Walk
Nature-based opening — grounding participants in the Naishola Gardens environment before programming began.
Eco-therapy
Early afternoon
Lunch
Social eating and informal networking break. Catering by Gathamana.
Afternoon
Waste Segregation Session — KEPRO
Interactive, gamified learning on PRO roles, waste typologies, and bin colour-coding. Volunteer-led sorting challenge was a highlight.
Conscious Living
Afternoon
Somatic Movement — Femme Pilates
Mindful stretching and yoga sequence. Equipment-free pilates introduced as a home-accessible practice.
Eco-therapy / Wellness
Late afternoon
Art Therapy Painting — Usahili Arts
Participants painted images representing their origins, present states, and aspirations. One of the highest-rated sessions.
Art Therapy
Evening
Sustainable Fashion Show — Miss Earth Kenya
Demonstration of sustainable and upcycled fashion concepts. Lost momentum due to time pressure from the delayed start.
Art / Circular
Close
ACC Village & Dispersal
Open networking and community interaction before guests left.
Baseline knowledge — captured during introductions via Biztimam Technology's Easy Q&A
Scale scores — self-reported baseline (out of 5)
2.48 / 5
Circularity knowledge
2.96 / 5
Involvement in sustainability decisions
4.27 / 5
Yearning for community
The high community score and low circularity score is a meaningful gap — ACC is reaching the right audience at the right moment.
Post-event outcomes
92%
Committed to better waste management
67%
Committed to at least one sustainable practice
92%
Want to join ACC community (newsletter / WhatsApp)
83%
Would attend monthly Baada ya Kazi connects
Waste practices committed to (of 24 respondents)
Willingness to pay — Baada ya Kazi connects
Average KES 946
Median KES 1,000
Range KES 300 – 2,000
Most enjoyed
Art therapy & painting
Pilates / yoga session
Sensory garden walk
The community & people
Waste management session
Food & scenery
Know your neighbour networking
New things learnt
The 7/8 Rs of waste management
Bin colour-coding system
Dry waste can be separated
Sweet wrappers aren't recyclable
DIY recycling sacks at home
Art as therapy
Pilates without equipment
Mental & environmental wellness are linked
Career opportunities in sustainability
Improvement themes from feedback
⏱ Time management (most cited)
The dominant theme. A late start compressed every session that followed. Requests for an earlier start and a finish before dark came through repeatedly.
📢 Transition clarity
After the art session, many attendees were unclear whether the event had ended. Clearer MC-ing and deliberate transition cues would help significantly.
⏳ More time per activity
People wanted to go deeper — longer painting, more yoga, more structured networking. The programme felt rushed given the compressed afternoon.
🎮 More games & interaction
Kahoot-style quizzes, group challenges, and dedicated socialising moments were explicitly requested. Gamification is already in ACC's DNA — the appetite is there.
Mindfulness takeaways — what participants carry forward
Lessons going forward — building ACC 3.0 on stronger ground
01 · SUSTAINABILITY
Start collecting membership — let the community fund ACC 3.0
Target is 1,000 members before the December event. A membership base means ACC 3.0 funds itself whether or not a sponsor comes through.
02 · FINANCIAL
Pay vendors first — build budgets that protect partners
Vendor payment becomes the first line in every future budget — non-negotiable.
03 · PARTNERSHIPS
Use this event as proof of concept for major partnerships
This debrief, paired with tailored proposals, will be shared with interested parties. Structured conversations to follow.
The future of ACC — what comes next
ACC 2.0 has proven the concept. The community hunger is real — 4.27/5 on the yearning-for-community score, 92% wanting to join, 83% committed to monthly connects. The data and the energy both point in one direction: it's time to build.
01 · Membership
Launch ACC Membership & Begin Registrations
Formalise the community that already wants to be part of ACC. Open registrations for founding members, establish a tiered membership structure, and activate the WhatsApp community and newsletter. This converts event energy into a durable, owned community — the foundation for everything else.
02 · Monthly Connects
Begin Baada ya Kazi at 3 Zero House
Launch the monthly Baada ya Kazi evening connects at 3 Zero, Nairobi. These after-work sessions serve as the reinforcement layer between annual events — keeping the community active, building habits, and generating the consistent touchpoints that sustain behaviour change. 83% of post-event respondents said yes; median willingness to pay is KES 1,000/month.
03 · Partnerships
Secure Anchor Partnerships for ACC 3.0
Use this report and the proof of concept it represents to enter structured conversations with prospective partners who have expressed interest. Formalise at least one anchor partnership before ACC 3.0 planning begins, ensuring the financial model is sustainable from day one.
ACC roadmap — the arc ahead
Partnership targets to activate
Corporate sustainability partners
Development & financial partners
Health & wellness partners
We are in active conversations with several prospective partners across these categories who have expressed interest. This report, alongside a tailored partnership proposal, will be shared with each as the immediate next action.