Moja Collective - nature, mindfulness and building community outdoors with Shukura Babirye

Recorded live at Camley Street Nature Park, in collaboration with Open Area.

Moja Collective founder Shukura Babirye sits down with Ijaz Kato for a warm, honest conversation about how an Instagram page celebrating diverse experiences in nature unexpectedly grew into a monthly walking community - and why slowing down, paying attention and sharing access matters.

They explore how Moja Collective’s walks evolved from social hikes into mindfulness-led outdoor experiences, what it means to “lead” as a facilitator rather than a figurehead, and the practical realities of making nature feel safer and more welcoming - from risk assessments and group size, to storytelling, land stewardship and the subtle ways we can reduce our impact on wildlife and other visitors.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why Moja Collective started - and how it evolved “by accident”
• Making nature feel closer than people think - from London to the North Downs
• Turning a hike into a mindfulness practice - silence, senses and slowing down
• Community building without burnout - and how to design for longevity
• Safety on walks - preparation, accessibility and helping people feel settled
• Storytelling, land oversight, and what stewardship looks like in practice
• How Moja Collective signposts other groups and opportunities (no gatekeeping)
• Balancing people’s wellbeing with respect for place - sound, space and wildlife

Guests:

• Shukura Babirye - Moja Collective founder
  
  
• Ijaz Kato - interviewer
  
  

Find Moja Collective events:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/mojacollective-76841278903

Recorded at: Camley Street Nature Park
In collaboration with: Open Area

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