In 2020, the Global Forest Fund in collaboration with the FEE member Kenya Organization for Environmental Education (KOEE), launched a three-year project in Kenya.

Educating with Trees

KOEE assisted the schools in forming a team of students who would take charge of the project. In addition, students participated in a session led by KOEE about the economic, social, and environmental benefits of trees.

There have also been some sessions with teachers on how to incorporate information on trees within their lessons, while for parents, there have been sessions on how they too can grow and nurture trees within their communities and the benefits that come with it. For example, Githiga Boys High School is located in farmlands, and parents were trained on how agroforestry can be applied to their farms. 

Maintenance and Monitoring

During the initial tree planting, pairs of students from both schools chose a tree they would be responsible for monitoring. They then took turns watering the trees s well as pruning any weeds and undergrowth that could affect the growth of the trees. Full-time grounds staff also help care for the trees when the schools aren’t in session. To accurately monitor the trees’ growth, photos were regularly taken, showing how the land has changed since the first trees were planted.