200 ‘green’ teachers, including school principals, from 100 schools in the semi-arid counties of Embu, Kitui, and Machakos, benefitted from a three-day capacity building workshop held at various institutions from January 31st – February 2nd as Phase IV of the Schools Green Initiative Challenge kicked off in earnest.
KenGen Foundation’s Snr. Programs Officer Anthony Igecha welcoming the ‘green’ teachers during the tree-planting capacity building workshop.
The Foundation Senior Programs Officer, Anthony Igecha, says that the first capacity building workshop is crucial in laying the foundation for the successful setting up of the school woodlots.
“The overwhelming enthusiasm shown by the new teachers during the capacity building sessions is an indicator that schools participating in Phase IV of the challenge should brace themselves for stiff competition in ensuring the maximum number of seedlings survive and grow into mature trees after two years”, said Anthony.
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The 100 new GIC schools will compete in nurturing drought resistant Terminalia brownie, Senna siamea and Melia volkensi tree species in 0.5 acre plots at their institutions. The project aims at greening over 500 acres of the semi-arid counties of Embu, Kitui, and Machakos.
Julius Mwanyalo, Better Globe Forestry forester and GIC Monitoring & Evaluation Officer during the capacity building workshop.
The training, facilitated by the sponsors KenGen Foundation, Better Globe Forestry and Bamburi Cement, empowered the new ‘green’ teachers with technical knowledge on good tree nursery management, planting methods and seedling nurturing practices. They will in turn transfer the skills to the students involved in the afforestation competition.
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Apart from gaining in-depth knowledge of the characteristics of the GIC tree and fruit species, participants also learnt various nursery management practices including weeding, seed propagation, pest and disease control, and best practices in sustainable water harvesting.
At the end of the competition, the best performing schools stand to benefit from education scholarships, infrastructural developments, educational tours, water tanks, rainwater-harvesting structures, and cash awards.
100 new ‘green’ teachers have pledged their commitment to the Schools Green Initiative Challenge Phase IV.
Best performing ‘green’ teachers from the three counties also stand to win prizes including sponsored trips, cash prizes, shopping vouchers and certificates.
The GIC is the Foundation’s flagship environment project, managed and implemented in collaboration with Bamburi Cement Ltd., and Better Globe Forestry.
GIC Phase IV will be officially launched on February 28th.
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–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer