Andgate Foundation set out in January 2024 to engage and support learners who were actively participating in our Adopt a Tree Initiative. The three-day intensive interaction with pupils, teachers and their guardians was filled with jubilation and excitement from the learners who were on their feet every time they spotted the Founder (Eng. Jared Ajwang'a) since word had spread that he had niceties for green champions.
The Foundation engaged and supported pupils to plant trees within their various Schools and at home in early 2022. This clarion call bore fruits and at the beginning of 2023, we were moving around to monitor their progress and engage them in discussions on their experience. The main objective was to encourage the pupils to actively take up their space in the restoration of the environment and its protection thereof since this was their future and inheritance. We were impressed when Mwalimu Khana reported that several pupils embraced the challenge and participated in the tree-planting marathon and this marked the first of the many journeys that the Foundation was poised to take; traversing the terrains of Asembo to recognize outstanding young green champions under the Adopt a Tree (Miti Mashinani) Program.
The three-day trip was meticulously organized by the Andgate Team to coincide with the re-opening of Schools in the first term of 2023; this would ensure that the pupils and their Teachers were available at School for the consultative talks. Every day was an exciting affair; a quick rush through the Program to see which Schools were on schedule while sipping the African black tea with samosas from Mama Betty. We have officially ranked Mama Betty's samosa as the best on this side of the country because they are to die for.
Twenty-three (23) Primary Schools participated in the exercise out of which we identified Twenty-Seven Green Champions. The Schools tha were: Wang'arot, Ujwang'a, Tiga, Siger, Rambugu, Rambira, Ndwara, Gangu, Omboye, Kawamang'aria, Nyaroko, Manera, Mahaya, Kawino, Rakowe, Sangla, Rarieda, Obaga, Nyamboyo, Kiswaro, Kametho and Akom Primary School.
The Foundation decided to accord special recognition to outstanding participants and to incentivize the pupils, we gave Mathematical Sets, Pens, and in some instances one-off Scholarships equivalent to a term's fee since they were finalists who were set to join Form One. Our intimate conversations with some of the green champions brought to light their dire situation and the urgent need for support to enable them to pursue secondary education. Most of the participants hailed from social and economically disadvantaged backgrounds having been supported by their School administrators and well-wishers through their primary education.
Some had also been orphaned at an early age and were being catered for by their Guardians and relatives.
This is, therefore, a special shout-out to Adopt a Tree 'Green' Champions of 2023 namely: David Ochieng, Akinyi Elizabeth, John Ogola Omondi, Odhiambo Elvis Ochieng, Cyrus Noah, Akoth Alice Atieno, Shadrack Owino, Cynthia Auma Odoyo, Godfrey Odiwuor, Cynthia Nekesa, Nixon Adiwuor, Oliech Elon Asere, Lydia Atieno, Odiwuor Lameck, Brandon Yieko, Akoth Veronica, Odero Briton, Joseph Omondi Dume, Amon Otieno, Morgan Waradi, Onyango Joseph, Timothy Ochieng, Charles Onyango and Caleb Hawi. We also want to sincerely appreciate their Teachers and Guardians for the mentorship and guidance they gave these young ones during the process.
The Adopt a Tree Program is the brainchild of Eng. Ajwang'a aimed at equipping learners at the primary school level with the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development by integrating contemporary issues such as environmental management into their day-to-day activities within their community. The three-year-old Program which we launched in 2021 seeks to inculcate lifelong skills and nurture a responsible attitude in the pupils at an early stage. The initiative is anchored on the belief that the involvement of youth in the promotion and sustainable environmental management is an early intervention that will not only inculcate a community service culture among the pupils but will also provide an opportunity for the young populace to participate in building community resilience to climate change but also promote the achievement of food security and improved nutrition at the community level.
Every participant was required to plant and nurture at least 12 seedlings per year to maturity. Our green champions planted 976 trees and we will be reviewing their progress in the second year. The initiative is on course and the Foundation will endeavor to support every initiative geared towards the protection and conversation of the environment.
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