Greening school

Overall Project Goal: To increase forest cover through the adoption of agroforestry and
afforestation technologies.
Objective:
1. Creating a microclimate environment in the learning institutions
2. Establish young environmental stewards and champions in 10 project sites

CONCEPT PROPOSAL SUMMARY

The introduction of Growing Trees and Fruits with children offers a unique chance to teach
them about the importance of a healthy environment, foods, and nutrition at an early age. The
school greening program is an environmental program that has been designed by KDC as a
means of conserving the environment with a particular emphasis on the change of altitude in
schools and the communities around them.

This program is made to address health, water, and
environmental awareness, tree planting with particular emphasis to multipurpose trees and
species, especially fruit trees for nutrition in schools. The project is an upscaling of over 300,000
purpose trees which was planted in schools and surrounding communities from 2021 to date
with support from the International Tree Foundation, CISCO, and other like-minded institutions.

There has been massive deforestation, and in many schools, expenditure on firewood accounts
for approximately 30% of the total school’s kitchen budget. This project will encourage more
children to embrace environmental protection.

The most appropriate and sustainable solution
is to support and encourage schools to establish their tree woodlots to achieve self-sufficiency
in firewood supply, improve on nutrition, and make schools lovable places for studies

In 2025, the project will facilitate the planting of 300,000 trees in Kitui County, with more
emphasis on public schools and other public institutions in Kitui Central and South sub-
counties. Each school will plant a minimum of 300 mixed species of both fruit and shed trees.
Four (4) community tree nurseries will be supported to supply tree seedlings, with an
estimation of 100,000 seedlings annually per nursery. Environmental Champions will be trained
at the community level, and over 100 young environmental stewards in schools through the
establishment of environmental clubs.

Through the environmental clubs, the schools will adopt
an approach whereby each learner has to plant and nurture trees during their schooling period
leading to the learners having ‘pet- trees’ These interventions will continue to ensure
environmental conservation practices are entrenched in them and their communities as a way
of life and will help nurture a generation of passionate environmentalists for generations to
come.

An alternative livelihood will be introduced through the production of African leafy vegetables
and first-growing fruits (passion and paw paws). This will assist the community and the schools
to establish an orchard to get monies and save the trees.

Kitui has been cutting trees to burn charcoal as a source of income, though destructive. Both
the schools and the participating community will be introduced to energy-saving stoves, which
will reduce dependency on trees, therefore conserving the environment hence reducing land
degradation.

METHODOLOGY OF IMPLEMENTATION

There shall be commitment letters signed by the participating community/farmers and the
school communities. KDC will fundraise for the school's greening project, and the money raised
will be put in one account for easy accounting and transparency.
Fundraising activity will organize walk for trees, proposal development, request letters, support
from institutions/ individuals, sale of merchandise which includes Branded T-Shirts, caps, and
notebooks, among others.
KDC will provide the required Supply of high-quality, fast-growing fruit tree seedlings as well as
shade tree seedlings and, together with the local administration, will do publicity & awareness
creation. The line Ministry will provide technical support and oversight on tree planting and
management. This will also be a sustainability measure for the continuity of the project upon
the partner's withdrawal.

The community will dig the holes for planting, other well-wishers and partners will provide
funds for the greening school program, and the teachers and pupils will water and monitor the
progress. Water tanks will be provided in schools, subject to the availability of funds. The water
tanks will be branded with the partner's logo, and in cases where the partner is not interested
in publicity, the tanks will be branded using the KDC logo.

The expected results will be a Multiplier effect of the conservation knowledge to the wider
communities, a change of attitude towards tree growing / utilization green schools, and a
source of income to the schools through the sale of fruits. The project provides the opportunity
for well-wishers to give back to the community.
Past projects
 Kitui south – 5 schools benefitted, and African Development Group – Chorllestville
provided a 10-liter water storage tank to Kooma Primary School.
 Kitui Central – 21 Schools benefitted, and Kyambiti Primary School benefited with a 10-
liter water tank, which was supported by CISCO.
 Yumbisye Primary School benefited from a school gate funded by KDC and a water tank
supported by NG-CDF Kitui Central.

2025 projects targets:
 The project proposes to plant over 300,000 in public institutions and community farms

 Provide 10 water tanks (10 litres) in schools, both primary and secondary
 Sensitize the community on tree growing through radio talk shows, public barazas, and
organized community walks.
 Extend tree growing in Kitui East Schools

We welcome you to be part of this initiative
Budget estimates per school is 257,550 while each tree will cost ksh 65.00 which
is inclusive.