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.

Nestled in the scenic Kapenguria Forest of West Pokot, Kenya, a quiet transformation is unfolding.

Thanks to your support of our 2021 Christmas Big Give Campaign, we’re planting trees to restore and protect the shrinking wetlands in Saiwa Swamp National Park, Kenya.

The Kenya launch of the 20 Million Trees for Kenya’s Forests Campaign was marked by spirit of celebration last week, with singing, dancing, poetry recitals – and the symbolic planting of the first 100 trees.

ITF’s 20 Million Trees campaign will play a vital role in helping to reverse deforestation and meet international commitments for sustainable development, Kenya’s ambassador to the UK, Mr Lazarus Amayo said last week.

The initiative will target degraded areas in all five of Kenya’s ‘Water Towers’, upland forests which are the source of all Kenya’s rivers and water supplies.

170,000 trees will be planted in projects led by three community youth organisations. In this article we feature the work of the Kangema Youth Group.

The project’s core activities included tree planting on public land, water catchment areas, dispensaries and community farms. Since the project started May 2011,  50,000 seedlings have been raised and planted on various sites.

We are delighted to announce that the project has made excellent progress in it’s first six months which looks set to continue as the scheme moves forward.

A big part of this project has been focused on training: agroforestry training for local farmers, environmental conservation awareness training for community members, sustainable land use and nursery establishment to name but a few.