Uasin Gishu, Kenya – As Kenya gears up for a national tree-growing campaign scheduled for the upcoming Monday, local youth in Uasin Gishu are calling for support to actively engage in the country’s climate action efforts.

According to Kenya News Agency, the Vijana Umoja Pamoja Foundation, a youth-led organization established in 2008 and registered in 2012, has been actively working under its Youth Development and Environment pillar. With a focus on Natural Resources Management and Livelihoods, the foundation has set up tree nurseries in the Mosop and Moiben sub-counties. Their goal is to combat climate change by contributing to the government’s ambitious target of planting 15 billion trees by 2030.

Miss Faith Yator, the Environment Coordinator for Vijana Umoja Pamoja, spoke on the significance of the tree planting initiative in providing employment opportunities for the youth. She advocated for governmental and stakeholder support to enable youth groups and Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) to create their own tree and fruit nurseries. These nurseries not only aid in climate change mitigation but also serve as a source of income for the youth through the sale of seedlings.

With the government declaring Monday, November 13, 2023, as a public holiday dedicated to tree planting, Yator emphasizes the need for mobilizing youth groups nationwide to prepare for participation. She urges the government to consider procuring seedlings from local nurseries, thus supporting local incomes.

The foundation, according to Yator, has adopted pro-poor green strategies to lift youth out of poverty and foster green economies. The establishment of two tree nurseries in Uasin Gishu and Nandi Counties has provided employment for young people designated as green champions. Currently, there are 250,000 seedlings, with 100,000 ready for the upcoming tree planting holiday.

Yator listed the tree species available at the nurseries, including indigenous and valuable timber species, which exceed a quarter of a million in total. She also highlighted the foundation’s initiative dubbed ‘green ambassadors,’ which involves young children in environmental education and action.

The project coordinator called on the youth to capitalize on government initiatives like the Financing Locally-Led Climate Action Program (FLLOCA), hustler funds, and Biashara loans to invest in tree nurseries. These investments would contribute to the fight against climate change, generate income, and create employment opportunities.

The foundation has also initiated a recycling project involving children, known as the green ambassadors, who collect used milk packets to repurpose them as potting bags for tree seedlings, thus reducing pollution and promoting environmental sustainability.

Miss Yator concluded with a call to action for youth associations to be innovative and engage in climate action. She particularly noted the importance of involving school children in tree planting during the short rainy season, leveraging the two-month school holiday as a period for environmental stewardship.