RCE Greater Nairobi - 2022

Inspiring school children on trees for nutrition and environmental conservation
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Inspiring school children on trees for nutrition and environmental conservation
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Greater Nairobi
Contributing organization(s) : 
Strategic Innovative Solutions Initiative

County Government of Kajiado - Department of Environment, and Department of Early Childhood Development Education
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Dr. Esther Lesan Kitur
Organizational Affiliation: 
Kenyatta University
E-mail: 
kitur.esther@ku.ac.ke
Format of project: 
Manuscript, activities
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
National Climate Change Framework Policy
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
National Climate Change Responsess Strategy (NCCRS) 2010
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP) 2018-2022
At what level is the policy operating?: 
National
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Africa and Middle East
Country: 
Kenya
Location(s): 
Kajiado County
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Oloolera Primary School
Kajiado County
Ecosystem(s):
Dryland
Target Audience:
Primary
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Kajiado County is predominantly semi-arid. Livestock rearing and crop farming are the main economic activities in the county. Crop farming is mainly in the southern and western parts of the county along rivers and springs. The frequency and severity of droughts in the county have resulted in crop failure and livestock losses and triggered severe food shortages in the past. In 2009 crop failure in the county reported at more than 90%, while livestock losses were in excess of 70% in most areas within the county. The high level of illiteracy among pastoralists of Kajiado County also hinders access to information, speed of recovery from climatic events, and constrains options for livelihood diversification. This can be tackled through a change of mindset on the school children to become change agents for the future we want to see in the county.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
Majority of vulnerable members of communities experience food insecurity arising from impacts of climate change, lack of climate resilient farming practices and inadequate/lack of viable information and financial capacity to implement on mitigation and adaptation practices. More than 53% of the population lives below the poverty line and wood extraction for fuel has resulted in loss of tree cover and land degradation in a fragile environment. More so the big challenge in the area is water scarcity required for crop farming, livestock keeping and tree growing
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
July, 2019 to June, 2024
Rationale: 
Climate change and climate variability in Kenya continue to pose major threats to the environment and on the economic growth of the country. The adverse impacts of climate change result into reduced agricultural production, food insecurity, increased incidences of flooding and droughts, widespread disease epidemics, and increased risk of conflict over scarce land and water resources among others. That is why the project is impacting knowledge on the young generation so that they will be able to mitigate the impacts of climate change. This is in line with the theme of ‘hearts’ of inspiring the young generation to be the change agents for the world we want to see. Then there will be restoration of environment, wood will be available for fuel, good farming practices adopted and food availability, hence alleviation of poverty and improvement of the quality of life
Objectives: 
This Project is intended to strengthen resilience of vulnerable pastoral communities to impacts of climate change in Kajiado County, Kenya through inspiring the young generation. The activities are meant to contribute towards improving ecosystem and ecosystem services resulting with carbon sinks, improving food security and livelihoods. The project will create a platform for learning among community & learning Institutions to enhance skills and knowledge on environmental conservation

Activities and/or practices employed: 
Partnering with the county department of environment to establish community tree nurseries for afforestation and reforestation
Mentoring school children on the benefits and uses of various tree species
Inspiring school children to become ambassadors of environmental conservation in their community
Launch adopt-a-tree initiative in schools for children to nurture and grow trees
Size of academic audience: 
400
Results: 
Tree cover enhanced resulting in reduction of environmental degradation
Increased carbon sinks to compact impacts of climate change
Change of mindset and instilling knowledge on environmental conservation in young the young generation
Alleviation of poverty, hunger and improved nutrition through the growing of fruit trees
Availability of woodlot for fuel
Lessons learned: 
Lack of a forum, which would bring together all the players in the agricultural sector for the joint planning of activities, is among the major gaps identified. Adequate planning and preparation are required to respond to potential calamities such as drought. Coordination of activities by all stakeholders in agricultural production and climate change ensure coherence in implementation. The major challenges is lack of finances for project logistics, fencing land and transport, lack of certified tree seeds and scarcity of water

Key messages: 
Teaching and engaging the young generation are key to solving issues of sustainable development. They are more innovative and shall be in the space for a longer time in future
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
Conservation of wetlands through growing of trees (by SISI Kenya)
Restoration of riparian land through growing of bamboo trees (by Small Axe Environmental Youth Group)
Training community on making briquettes from biomass wastes (by HERI Foundation)
Funding: 
No direct financial funding, only in-kind support of tree seedlings, labour offered by school children and community

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon JPEG 1 - Department of Environment Tree nursery in Kajiado County.jpg (172.89 KB) Department of Environment Tree Nursery RCE Greater Nairobi
Image icon JPEG 2 - Staff and children preparing to plant trees(1).jpg (116.38 KB) Staff and Children preparing to plant tree seedlings RCE Greater Nairobi
Image icon JPEG 3 - Children planting trees.jpg (125.2 KB) Children planting tree seedlings in school RCE Greater Nairobi
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 1 - End poverty in all its forms everywhere 
Indirect
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Direct
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts 
Direct
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development 
Indirect
Theme
Forests/Trees 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 1 - Advancing policy 
state: 
Indirect
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
No