Greening Public Institutions "Adopt a Tree Week"

Today the ‪#‎YouthBaton‬ Kisumu core team went out to meet different stakeholders in regards to the forthcoming activity which is the Greening of Public Institutions. The core team visited the Member of County Assembly, Kondele Ward office (we could not get him in a photo), the Chief Officer, Ministry of Environment Kisumu County and Kanyamedha Youth Group. The Chief Officer Dr. Loice Mildred Akinyi Omoro has promised to support the process by giving us 300 tree seedlings and has promised to attend the tree planting exercises at the community. The MCA, Kondele Ward Mr. Gabriel Ochieng has equally promised to support the process. Kanyamedha Youth Group that deals in tree nursery has promised 50 seedlings towards the exercise and have planned to attend the activity. The Ministry of Environment Kisumu County has promised to join the course and reach out to the other six Sub-Counties with the tree planting exercise targeting the youths. We are moving forward. The fight against climate change is still present. ‪#‎YBAfforestation

‬We believe that the most appropriate and sustainable solution is to support and encourage school, churches, mosques and administration centres is to establish their own tree planting initiatives with a view to achieving improved tree cover in numerous slum areas Owing to the fact that most institutions have land around their areas where planting trees can take place, #YouthBaton will strive to encourage planting trees in these areas by reaching out and creating awareness. 

The Major advantage of working with schools in terms of tree planting is that they are permanent institutions with adequate land, labor (especially students), and management capacity from principals and teachers. Tree planting is also a practical way of introducing and integrating Environmental Education in schools. Churches and mosques have been mobilized and will be trained fairly quickly, with minimal logistical/administrative cost implications. Other value adding activities here is the administrative centers, since they will legitimize the process. 

The Exercise is scheduled to Commence on the 9th-11th September. in Kibera and Kisumu Simulteniousely. 

The Implementation of the "Adopt a Tree Week" will be Implemented by Amazon Theatrix, Pamoja Youth Foundation, Langata Youth Network and Tujue Katiba Initiative Under Umande Trust Nairobi and Kisumu.