Green leafy Mukau trees sway slightly at the odd breeze, as if in defiance of the scorching mid-morning sun at Kyusyani Primary School, Kitui County. The surrounding environment is in stark contrast to the school’s compound, with bare trees covered in fine dust. Yellow stunted maize plants in the nearby shambas tell of a tale of despair.

Yet despite the grim situation, Kyusyani Primary School is another example of how the Schools Green Initiative Challenge is reversing the effects of climate change. The institution was the venue of the awarding ceremony of the project’s Phase III winners and simultaneously the launch of Phase V on 6 March.

Wikithuki Primary School in Kitui County emerged top followed by Kwawanzilu Secondary School, Machakos. The host school, Kyusyani Primary was the second runners-up.

Competing against 99 other schools, the top three schools in Phase III recorded the highest number of trees surviving after a two-year period. They employed various management techniques on their 0.5 acre woodlots such as mulching and pruning, and further involved the collaboration of the students, teachers, Board of Management and neighbours.

READ: Exciting Mombasa Tour for GIC Phase II Winners

Speaking during the event, the guest of honour and KenGen’s Chairman, Joshua Choge said, “We’ve all witnessed the ravages of drought and we know part of this phenomenon is brought about by climate change caused by environmental degradation.

It is with this in mind that the company continues to invest in the GIC, which is dedicated to environmental conservation by promoting a tree planting culture with particular emphasis to the school children. These are indeed the best transformational agents for a better environment”, he added.

The KenGen Foundation, in partnership with Better Globe Forestry and Bamburi Cement Limited, implements the School’s Green Initiative Challenge, an ambitious 10-year afforestation project. Rolled out in 2013 with 81 schools in the semi arid counties of Embu and Machakos, the project has so far expanded to include Kitui, West Pokot, Turkana, Kwale, Mombasa, and Kilifi counties. It currently has over 500 school subscribed.

In her speech read by the Director of Corporate & Regulatory Eng. Simon Ngure, the MD and CEO of KenGen PLC Rebecca Miano said “It is worth to note that this unique program encourages environmental consciousness and conservation awareness among school children right from an early age to encourage and sustain their enthusiasm in caring for their environment as they grow to adulthood”.

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