Climate Action Sudan Project #51573

Healing the Desert with Trees in Darfur

by Kids for Kids

Project Report | Apr 13, 2024
Our Baobab Trees - Africa's iconic "Tree of Life" - Really Do Save Lives

By Charlotte Allum | Fundraising and Outreach Coordinator

In 2007 Kids for Kids first reintroduced Baobabs

With Darfur being at the forefront of global warming and temperatures soaring to over 50 degrees in the summer months, all surface water evaporates by February each year, leaving the land parched and scorched. Land that was green with trees and water early last century is now a desert for most of the year.

For the past 17 years, Kids for Kids has been planting drought-resistant trees in an effort to improve the environment for the long-term and hold back the Sahara which is creeping south inexorably.

In 2007 we were the first organization to experiment with reintroducing the Baobab tree to Darfur. Baobabs now transform the landscape in our villages and save the lives of starving children.

Baobabs can live up to 5,000 years, reach up to 30 metres high and grow up to an enormous 50 metres in circumference. They can provide shelter, food and water for families and their animals, and during the rainy season, they absorb and store water in their vast trunks, enabling them to produce a nutrient-dense fruit in the dry season when all around is dry and arid. This is how the Baobab became known as "The Tree of LIfe".

In fact, every part of the Baobab tree is valuable to communities. The bark can be turned into rope and clothing, the seeds can be used to make cosmetic oils, the leaves are edible, the trunks store water and the fruit is extraordinarily rich in nutrients and antioxidants.

One of the first Baobabs we planted is now called the Love Tree of Darfur as people carve their initials and hearts into it.

At Kids for Kids, we're not just planting trees—we're planting hope, resilience, and a brighter future for the families of Darfur.

Our tree initiative isn't just about greenery; it's about transforming landscapes and saving lives one tree at a time.

We would be so grateful if you could help us plant more Baobabs to transform the lives of children and their families in our most recently adopted villages in Darfur.

Just imagine the impact your Trees will have - providing shade from scorching desert sun, fresh fruit for desperately hungry children, and vital resources for communities facing environmental challenges.

Please could you donate today so we can give hope to more families living in the deserts of Darfur?

The Love Tree of Darfur with carved names & hearts

Our first Baobab planted now stands tall & broad

The nutritious fruit of the 1st Baobab we planted

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Dec 18, 2023
For every Tree you donate, we will plant Two Trees

By Charlotte Allum | Fundraising and Outreach Coordinator

Villages in Darfur are so dry with very few trees

Recent reports from our villages tell a devastating story.

The rainy season has failed, harvests have been very poor.

Security is still unstable and there has been conflict and some clashes between herders and farmers due to the scarcity and shortage of crops.

It has been reported that the situation in the villages has been very difficult due to the population increase of displaced people from El Fasher and other villages due to the violence. There is a severe shortage of food for both humans and animals, as well as water and medical and veterinary drugs.

But, your donations have meant that we have emergency sorghum, mosquito nets, veterinary drugs, and other essentials ready to go.

Thanks to you, since 2001 we have distributed 250,000 seedling trees and establised four community forests in Darfur. These trees help to stabilise the sand, combat desertification and provide much-needed food and by-products for the local communities.

But we are desperate to plant more Trees.

Could you please donate a little more to help us plant more trees for the future?

Anything you donate this month will be doubled, thanks to Dame Joanna Lumley FRGS and three wonderful friends who have pledged to match your December donations up to a total of $35,000.

Tree seedlings start at just five for $12.73 (£10) - and for every Tree you donate, we will plant TWO.

Together we can help turn Darfur green again - just imagine the lives we will change.

Please do donate today and make DOUBLE the difference in Darfur. Thank you.

Harvests are poor, few crops are able to grow

But trees we plant provide shade from the hot sun

Trees produce seeds and fruit for families

Trees allow other crops to grow in their shelter

And for every Tree you donate now we can plant TWO

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Sep 5, 2023
Help us look after our Magic Moringa Plantation - & plant more trees!

By Charlotte Allum | Fundraising and Outreach Coordinator

Children help to plant Moringa seedlings

With the appalling fighting ongoing in West and South Darfur, we are relieved to report that our villages have not been touched in North Darfur, but every single family is suffering from the effects of the attrocities. Starvation and deprivation were already serious worries even before these terrible attacks. Now normal life is almost impossible.

We are told, however, that is now possible to deliver aid - seeds, medicines, sugar, oil and other basics. It has been very difficult as the banks across the whole of Sudan have been closed for months but thankfully they are beginning to open.

We can start planning again. Kids for Kids cannot walk away as so many other organisations have done.

You may remember that we had just planted a Moringa plantation last year?

Planting trees increases soil moisture in the area, which reduces temperatures by creating a microclimate leading to a more fertile environment for crops to grow. Planting trees in Darfur not only provides shade but they stabilise the soil and hold back the ever-encroaching desert. Kids for Kids has been planting fourteen different varieties of drought resistant trees since 2007. Our community forests have a massive impact on a village and planting trees by families straw huts and around the village provides a green canopy which transforms the environment.

The Moringa tree is a fast growing tree which provides shade plus a livelihood for the people who care for them. The leaves are rich in vitamin C, even exceeding the levels in kiwi fruit. In a region where crops are scarce this is an invaluable asset,. But the Moringa has another asset!

The seeds of the Moringa tree purify water.

Kids for Kids is asking for help to look after our Moringa Nursery and plant more trees. Our hope is that we can grow a tree farm and introduce a pilot project to teach people how to harvest and use the seeds to cleanse water. This will be a home grown readily available resource, unlike all other water purifying methods which needs filters replaced etc. When crushed, the Moringa seeds act as a natural binding agent that clumps together salts, sand, 90 to 99 per cent of present bacteria, and other impurities in unfiltered water. This makes them sink to the bottom so that they are simple to strain out.

How well will it work? Research shows that the effectiveness of this low-tech purification method is comparable to using expensive chemicals like aluminum sulfate, which can be toxic to people and the planet. The amount of moringa seed powder necessary depends on the beginning water quality, but a single ground seed can treat up to four litres.

With your help we have worked hard to plant trees in every village that we adopt at Kids for Kids. It is such a simple yet effective way of supporting the communities in Darfur but also to combat the greater threats that can be caused by Climate Change. Trees impact not only the lives of the villagers, but the environment they live in and the animals they take care of. Now we are caring for our Moringa Plantation as well. Please can you help?

By supporting our Trees project you will help to ensure our Moringa Plantation is a success. We will plant more trees and we will train our villagers to purify water?

Families will have clean water in Darfur at last - can you imagine how many lives you will help us change? Thank you!

Moringa Plantation - Women are in Charge

Moringa seeds growing

Picked Moringa seeds can cleanse water

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