Environment in Education: Planting 100,000 Trees

Greetings from the green side! 

Thank you for your continued support towards our projects. We are glad to share exciting updates from all the activities we’ve been up to since our last report. Read the insightful report on Gardening & Mindfulness with updates from our Climate Action workshops here: Nurturing Nature & Young Minds

In the new report, we are sharing a further update from our most recent Climate Action workshops and a garden update from Elimu De Ark Primary School, where we started a garden in 2022. You can check out this report from 2022 if you need a refresher: Garden Transformation at Elimu De Ark

Inspiring Change Today for a Better Tomorrow

During each of our Climate Action workshops, we introduce the students to Climate Champions. One such champion that we highlight isGreta Thunberg, who began learning about climate issues at age 8 and, by 15, sparked global attention with her ‘School Strike for Climate,’ which led to the‘Fridays for Future’ movement, urging action on climate change. We also feature our own national shero, Prof. Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize, who founded theGreen Belt Movement. Her initiative to plant trees across Kenya not only promoted environmental conservation but also alleviated poverty and empowered women. Through this movement, more than 51 million trees were planted and her efforts inspired the UN to plant over 11 billion trees worldwide.

We share inspiring stories about these climate champions with the students in the hope of inspiring them and igniting a passion for environmental stewardship and a commitment to taking meaningful action for a better and brighter future.

We also have follow-up questions where we ask, “What actions can you take to become a Climate Champion?” Their responses are often insightful. Students suggest actions such as “plant more trees”, “maintain cleanliness by ensuring waste is properly disposed of and areas are kept clean”, “educate others about the importance of environmental conservation”, and many more impactful ideas.

Since our last report, we have carried out three workshops which were attended by 62 students. Each student also receives a seedling to plant and nurture.

Our Garden is Blooming

In partnership with APA Insurance’s Kisumu branch, RKF developed a vibrant school garden at Elimu de Ark Primary School. This inspiring journey began in May 2022 with Climate Action Workshops for Grade 4-8 students at Elimu. Later, we visited a lakeside garden where the students expanded their understanding of plants and biodiversity. The beautiful day concluded with a boat ride along the shores of Lake Victoria, the second-largest freshwater lake in the world. 

Read more details here: Growing from Strength to Strength: Elimu's Story.

This incredible journey and partnership brought to life a project that featured the creation of circular flower beds that double as student seating during their breaks, the establishment of a dynamic kitchen garden, recycling and much more . In total, we planted over 50 trees, 600 shrubs, and a variety of flowers. To read a detailed report on how this project came to life, click here:Garden Transformation at Elimu de Ark

Two years later, we are thrilled to share the progress and showcase the transformation with before-and-after pictures below.

We (You + Us) Can Build More Gardens!

Our goal is to inspire students and establish green spaces within their schools to continue fostering a culture of climate action. By planting more trees and creating sustainable environments, we fulfill our commitment to protecting the natural habitat.

With your support, we can achieve even greater impact. Become a recurring donor and join us in making a difference today.

Links:

• Just Released: Check Out Our Newsletter!
• Read the latest report from our Main Project!
• Let's Build More Gardens