A green haven in the desert

School children are growing up in a climate crisis, surrounded by news of rising temperatures, droughts, floods, and disappearing wildlife. But when they plant trees, they become environmentalists, working to create a greener future.

One such school is Loglogo Girls Secondary School, where we have been planting trees together with local group, Napo Organization Marsabit.  

Not only are these trees providing shade, combatting drought and bring all the good things trees offer. They are also bolstering the school’s agriculture studies - a critical component of the syllabus.

We’ve been planting grevillea and senna siamea which are evergreen trees. They are often used in hedgerows as they are great as a windbreak and they provide shade, as well as combating soil erosion and improving soil health. The trees are also good for coppicing and they produces lots of leaves which can be used for biomass. 

Along side these, we planted grafted mangoes trees and green leafy vegetables which will provide delicious food and improve nutrition.

 Hands on learning

But the trees aren’t just improving the landscape. They have transformed the school into a hub of practical agricultural learning. The students enjoyed the opportunity to learn about and participate in planting and nurturing the seedlings. Giving them hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture.

And it’s paying off. The pupils achieved exceptional A grades in agriculture!

Water to thrive

Marasabit is an arid (dry) environment, so as part of the project, it was essential to provide a water storage tank to help the trees survive. The water tank enabled consistent irrigation, even during the driest periods, helping the little seedlings to grow and thrive in the harshest conditions. The schools has a borehole as well as tank for rain water storage.

At the last monitoring the survival rate of the trees was an amazing 86%.  

Beyond academic success, this initiative equipped students with practical skills, inspired environmental stewardship, and set a standard for sustainable education. And the impact is being felt beyond the classroom. The school and its surrounding community are embracing sustainable practices, leaving a lasting legacy of growth and collaboration.

In our last visit to Marsabit, the headteacher told us how much they appreciated the project. It has changed the face, climate and rating of the school.  It’s a green haven in the desert.

Donate today

Your gift today can help plant trees which transform a desert into a lush paradise. And equip schoolchildren to create a greener, brighter future.