WEST POKOT COUNTY — In an innovative approach to environmental conservation, a high school principal in West Pokot County has mobilized local women’s groups to raise over 50,000 tree seedlings. The initiative, led by Caroline Menach, Principal of St. Elizabeth Girls’ High School-Morpus and a recipient of the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) and Head of State Commendations (HSC), is part of a broader effort to combat global warming and restore the planet’s “lungs” through reforestation.
According to Kenya News Agency, her organization, Perur Rays of Hope, has enlisted small women’s groups in the endeavor, offering them a stipend for the seedlings they raise. This effort not only raises awareness about environmental conservation but also demonstrates the tangible benefits of tree planting. The initiative aligns with the Kenyan government’s ambitious goal to plant 15 billion trees by 2032, as directed by President William Ruto.
Menach’s work extends beyond her educational duties, reflecting her commitment to empowering girls and women in her community. By involving women in tree-planting activities, she seeks to leverage their role as primary users of firewood and their reliability in nurturing planted trees to maturity. The project has educated approximately 50 women on transplanting techniques and the importance of tree care, aiming to provide them with sustainable income sources.
In the past four months, the women involved have successfully raised 10,000 tree seedlings of various species within the school premises. The initiative not only focuses on indigenous tree species but also introduces exotic ones to the semi-arid region of Murpus, addressing challenges such as erosion and deforestation that have historically plagued the area.
Menach’s efforts have garnered support from the International Tree Foundation (ITF), enabling the achievement of raising 60,000 tree seedlings, with a target of cultivating 100,000 seedlings. This partnership aims to enhance the ecosystem and support economic activities like beekeeping and agroforestry among the community.
The initiative has also had a positive impact on the students of St. Elizabeth Girls’ High School-Morpus, who have been actively involved in the tree nursery activities, learning the significance of environmental preservation firsthand. This collaborative effort underscores the importance of community engagement in environmental conservation and the empowerment of women as key agents of change.
NAIROBI, Kenya — St. Georges Secondary School and Olympic High School in Nairobi County are set to benefit from an innovative program aimed at enhancing creativity, innovation, and technological skills among secondary school students across Africa. The program, designed by the Sahara Group, an international energy and infrastructure conglomerate, seeks to promote excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) through its subsidiaries, Asharami Synergy Kenya and Sahara Group Foundation.
According to Kenya News Agency, Director of the Sahara Group Foundation, the initiative recently celebrated a Kenyan Demo Day Event that showcased students from the participating schools presenting prototype designs. These designs aim to address prevalent social issues within their communities, spanning sectors such as energy, agriculture, security, healthcare, and transportation. “The programme is focused on equipping students with the knowledge and skills required to create innovative solutions, addressing real-world problems across various sectors,” said Ms. Gray, highlighting the program’s commitment to fostering a new generation of leaders and social innovators in Africa.
The Sahara STEAMers program, an afterschool initiative established in partnership with STEMCafe in 2022, encourages participating students to work in teams and develop innovative solutions, which they then present to a panel of judges. Ms. Gray praised the participants for their intelligence, creativity, and passion, especially noting the significance for those students experiencing their first exposure to technology and its application in solving real-world challenges.
Sahara Group, with operations in over 38 countries across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, underscores its commitment to empowering young minds through this educational initiative. The program aims not only to nurture talent but also to inspire students to contribute meaningful solutions to the problems facing Africa and the world at large.
Adebola Adesanya, Country Manager of Asharami Synergy Kenya, also emphasized the importance of the Sahara STEAMers program in cultivating young talent and enhancing their capacity for innovation. “We can never understate the importance of innovation and creativity, which is the essence of the Sahara STEAMers programme. The solutions presented here by all the students are real-time solutions to our problems in Africa today, and I am greatly impressed by their creativity skills,” Adesanya remarked, underscoring the program’s vital role in preparing the next generation for future challenges.