Schools Tree Planting Awards Come of Age.
Each year, the Schools’ Green Initiative Challenge tree planting project recognizes the winners in each phase. Various prizes are awarded for the top three institutions to appreciate their efforts in mitigating the effects of climate change through sustainable environmental management.
The GIC is KenGen Foundation’s flagship environmental conservation programme, and is structured as a competition for participating schools in arid and semi-arid areas.
Currently in phase 5 with over 600 schools involved, the afforestation project recognizes outstanding institutions at the end of two-year cycles based on the survival rates of distributed tree seedlings.
The GIC winners are young environmentalists who have gone above and beyond to achieve their prizes – perhaps when others thought they might fail.
The grand prize is an educational trip for the environmental champions to Bamburi Cement’s Haller Park, inclusive of a sight seeing excursion in Mombasa, a 20,000 ltr. water tank, schools infrastructure support, cash prizes and certificates.
READ: Thrilling Mombasa Trip for GIC Phase III Winners.
The runner’s up gets a chance to tour KenGen PLC’s Olkaria Power Station, a night of camping at the shores of Lake Naivasha, a 16,000 ltr. water tank cash prizes and certificates, while number three visits Gitaru Power Station, and receives a 10,000 ltr. water tank, cash prizes and certificates.
So far, the project has awarded 9 schools, with over 300 students appreciated for their efforts in tree planting.
The awards mean different things to different people. The GIC awards are not solely for tree seedlings survival rates achievements – they also recognize the most innovative “green teacher” from each county involved in the competition.
ALSO READ: Olkaria Tour and Camping for GIC III Runners Up
These patrons personal involvement ensured the success of the project at their institution right from the start. Nine green teachers have so far joined the winning schools on their educational trip to Mombasa, and have received shopping vouchers, certificates and cash prizes.
A unique feature of the recognition is the awarding of scholarships for selected students from the top two schools. The choice is open for a limited number of bright, but needy pupils. Currently the project is sponsoring eight secondary students, courtesy of Bamburi Cement Ltd.
The awards have proven to be a big motivator in the development of the project, as each year the competition for seedling survival rates becomes tighter. The students involved act as change agents through the transfer of knowledge on proper trees and woodlots management. Ultimately, communities living within such environments benefit from alternative sources of timber, fruits, and wood fuel.
The success of the GIC reflects on the company’s brand image as a responsible corporate citizen, and positively impacts on the overall business performance and outputs.
READ MORE: Kyusyani Primary School Tours Gitaru Power Station
The Schools’ Green Initiative Challenge not only address poverty alleviation through social entrepreneurship, but also creates entrepreneurship opportunities, while conserving hydro buffer zones for stable power production.
The GIC is a partnership involving the KenGen Foundation, Better Globe Forestry Ltd., Bamburi Cement Ltd., and KenGen PLC aiming to green over 500 acres with indigenous tree seedlings in Embu, Machakos, and Kitui counties.
The project has so far expanded with pilot programmes in Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale, and plans to upscale to West Pokot and Turkana counties.
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–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer
