In the dry, dusty landscapes of Makueni County, where every drop of rain is a blessing, a young boy named Mark and members of the environmental club are planting seeds of hope. When Mark is not playing football, he is busy taking care of the trees he planted at his home. This is in addition to the five trees he has planted at school, which he diligently tends to every day.
Driven by a passion to care for his environment and ensure his family enjoys the shade, fruits, and the rains that come with trees, Mark joined the environmental club at Uthangathi Primary School. “I am planting trees to ensure that the environment is well conserved and that we can attract rain so that we can have many fruits and shade when it is hot,” says Mark with a gleam in his eye.
Makueni County, one of Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL), is characterized by irregular rainfall patterns and frequent droughts. These climate variations have led to water and food insecurity affecting the overall wellbeing of the population.
Through the PAMOJA project, we have trained and resourced environmental school clubs in the area to plant and grow both indigenous and fruit trees. This is a first step towards ending the harsh effects of climate change. “We were visited by the EDCA team, who trained the students on tree planting—how to set up a seed bed, water them, and even transplant the seedlings,” says Mr. Josephat, the environmental club patron at Uthangathi.
School clubs are the basic units of any school when it comes to grouping children with similar interests. Through this school club, students like Mark, Anastacia, and 54 others are engaged in environmental conservation and climate action advocacy. “I love planting trees so that I can make my environment clean and beautiful. I have planted two trees so far here in school, and I always look forward to games time so that I can visit my tree and see how it is doing,” says Anastacia, a club member.
Adopt a Tree is a method Mr. Josephat is implementing in the environmental club. He has engaged his learners to each own a tree by identifying a seedling in the seed bed, planting the tree, and taking personal responsibility for its growth. This includes daily watering and mulching, if needed. “I have seen this technique working because even after they finish school, they can identify with the trees they have grown. It’s also a way of ensuring that learners are responsible. My students have shown a lot of responsibility because they began the same at home. It’s the only way we can make the environment green,” adds Mr. Josephat.
The PAMOJA project is supporting child friendly capacity building on environmental conservation, climate change and advocacy for climate action. Through 10 school clubs, students are being resourced to carry out environmental conservation activities that will contribute to growing more than 2000 trees. Tree growing is essential in protection of water resources and catchment. By involving children and youth in tree growing and climate action advocacy, they become agents of change, society can harness their energy, creativity, and passion to build a more resilient and sustainable resources for all.
A thriving planet is something that lasts forever, and just like the students are doing in their school clubs, we too can show love where it truly matters. If you love clean air, plant a tree or better yet in the words of Peter, a club member “I encourage you to plant at least three times every year and take care of them”
