Curtains Close on GIC Phase VII as Phase IX Launched
Musingini Primary School, Embu County, was recognized as the winner of Phase VII of KenGen Foundation’s flagship environmental conservation programme the Schools’ Green Initiative Challenge, a school based afforestation competition located in the semi-arid counties of Embu, Machakos and Kitui on 22 March.
Musingini beat 99 other competing schools in the two-year competition that saw them record the highest survival rates of indigenous tree seedlings provided by project partners KenGen PLC and Better Globe Forestry.
The second runner up was Kionyweni Primary School, Machakos County, with Mbingoni Primary School from the same county in position three.
KenGen Foundation’s Managing Trustee Mr. Anthony Igecha, lauded the efforts of the winning schools saying, ” As we celebrate our achievements in GIC it is important to recognize the devastating effects of climate change on the environment and livelihoods and to also note that through such positive actions KenGen continuously renews its commitment and goodwill towards sound environmental management at all levels”.
“The Schools’ Green Initiative Challenge exemplifies our commitment to SDG 4 on Education and SDG 13 on Climate Action. Together, we are not only greening schools but also nurturing a generation of environmental ambassadors who will drive positive change in their communities and beyond”, he added
The Schools Green Initiative Challenge project is designed as a challenge to participating schools, mainly due to the dry weather conditions in the areas, with prizes awarded based on the highest survival rate of seedlings and use of innovation with the best performing schools standing to benefit from education scholarships, infrastructural development, water tanks and rainwater-harvesting, and cash awards, among others. This encourages school children and communities to sustainably manage the woodlots, which provides the schools with renewable sources of wood fuel, reducing pressure on surrounding vegetation and forest resources.
Implemented by Kengen Foundation and Better Globe Forestry, GIC is a 10 year program that enrols schools in arid and semi arid areas to green a total of 460 acres. The programme includes 2 capacity building sessions annually for all participating schools and continous Monitoring and Evaluation from the Foundation and Better Globe Forestry.
The Phase VII Awards are a culmination of activities that began in 2022, with the enrolment of 100 schools from the three counties.
Mr. Igecha emphasised the organization’s commitment to environmental conservation through afforestation.
“Through the Foundation, KenGen as a company is committed to environmental conservation and has put substantial resources to sustainably safeguard the environment it shares with other communities at around areas of operations and the country at large.
It is with this in mind that the company continues to invest in long-term programs such as the GIC, which is dedicated to environmental conservation by promoting a tree planting culture with particular emphasis to the school children, who are indeed, the transformational agents for a better environment.”
During the Award Ceremony, the partners also announced the launch of GIC Phase IX, which brings on board 100 schools from Kitui, Machakos and Embu Counties. This addition brings to 900 the number of schools participating in the project since its launch in 2013.
As part of the Phase IX activities, 100 “Green Teachers” and 100 Headmasters from the 100 recruited schools underwent a capacity building training on managing and nurturing their woodlots in various centres across the three counties.
The trainingempowered the new ‘green’ teachers with technical knowledge on good tree nursery management, planting methods and seedling nurturing practice. They will in turn transfer the skills to the students involved in the afforestation competition.
Participating schools plant drought resistant – multi-purpose Senna siamea (Muveshi), Melia volkensii (Mukau) and Terminalia brownii (Muuku) tree seedlings on their specially designated 0.5 to 1 acre plots. Once maintained, the trees accord the schools an opportunity to diversify their income through sale of timber as well as non-timber products.
“The overwhelming enthusiasm shown by the new teachers during the capacity building sessions is an indicator that schools participating in Phase VIII 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”, noted Elishibah Msengeti, KenGen Foundation’s Principal Programmes Officer.
The event also recognized the efforts of the “Green Teachers” from the three competing counties, with the most innovative teacher hailing from Karaba Primary School, Embu County.
The ultimate goal of the GIC is to raise the awareness and participation of school children in environmental conservation. The project also contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gases through carbon sequestration, and the control soil erosion by increasing topsoil infiltration and reducing run-off.
So far over 800 schools have been involved in the GIC since inception, with trees survival rates standing at 50%.
