100 schools from the semi-arid counties of Embu, Kitui and Machakos are set to be the new rivals in growing drought resistant tree species in Phase VI of the Schools’ Green Initiative Challenge following the 1stcapacity building that concluded on 7th February.

READ: Schools Tree Planting Awards Come of Age.

200 ‘green’ teachers, including school principals, from 100 schools in the semi-arid counties of Embu, Kitui, and Machakos, benefited from the three-day capacity building workshop held at various institutions from February 4 as Phase VI of the ten-year tree planting competition kicks off in earnest.

Green teachers Embu County at a demonstration site with GIC project Monitoring & Evaluation Officer January Muthoka from Better Globe Forestry Foundation during the workshop.
KenGen Foundation's Esther Kamaara registering green teachers and school heads at Kathigagaceru Secondary School, Ishara, Mbeere North.

The KenGen Foundation team comprising of Ernest Nyamasyo, Dorcas Arama, and Esther Kamaara prioritised the first capacity building workshop at the beginning of each GIC project phase as crucial in laying the foundation for the successful setting up of the school woodlots.

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KenGen Foundation's Dorcas Arama taking the workshop participants through the objectives of the afforestation project.
Green Teachers and the capacity building facilitators enjoy a light moment during the course of an interactive session.

“The overwhelming enthusiasm shown by the new teachers during the capacity building sessions is an indicator that schools participating in Phase VI 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”, says Ernest Nyamasyo, the GIC project and Foundation’s Communications Officer.

KenGen Foundation's Ernest Nyamasyo engages with the green teachers and school heads during the course of the 3-day workshop.
Better Globe Forestry Officers Samuel Kariuki, Daniel Ndolo and John Njenga acknowledge the participants during the first day of the workshop.

The ten-year afforestation project, now in its fifth year, has so far seen the greening of over 500 schools in the three counties. GIC Phase VI has 34 schools from Kitui County, 33 from Embu, and 33 from Machakos counties.

READ MORE: Scholars Impressed by School Based Tree Planting Competition

The team’s sentiments were echoed by their counterpart from Kenya Forest Service, Embu County Ms. Ruth Njeru who reiterated the need for sound environmental management, pledging technical support throughout the new phase for the new schools.  

Ms. Ruth Njeri from Kenya Forest Service Mbeere North advised the participants to work hard on the project and strive to leave legacies at their institutions.

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 three semi-arid counties.

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The workshop coordinator Ms. Dorcas Arama from KenGen Foundation urged the participants to take advantage of the oncoming rainy season to establish their woodlots.

“It is crucial that we apply the tree growing and nurturing lesson in the participating schools to ensure the success of the project after the two year period”, said Ms. Arama.

Fresh Look For Schools Involved in Tree-planting Competition.

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.

KenGen PLC Senior Environment Officer Hussein Somow during the GIC workshop session, KItui County.
Better Globe Forestry Foundation and GIC project M&E Officer Daniel Ndolo explains the technicalities of growing trees in ASAL areas.

The Foundation’s team was joined by their counterparts from KenGen PLC Eastern Region Senior Environment Officer Hussein Somow and Better Globe Forestry Daniel Ndolo, Stephen Kariuki and January Muthoka to deliver a series of lectures and presentations on the dynamics of the afforestation competition, and the contributions the project makes in the overall fight against climate change through sustainable tree growing.

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.

Samuel Kariuki, M&E Officer addressing teachers' concerns on the right tree management techniques for Mukau trees.

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.

Business Value of KenGen’s CSI

Outstanding ‘green’ teachers from the three counties also stand to win prizes including sponsored trips, cash prizes, shopping vouchers and certificates.

The GIC project Technical Manual. You can download a copy here.

The GIC is the Foundation’s flagship environment project, managed and implemented in collaboration with Bamburi Cement Ltd., and Better Globe Forestry.

GIC Phase VI will be officially launched on February 28th, culminating with the awarding of the winners of GIC Phase IV.

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–Ernest Nyamasyo, Communication Officer