Planting 3,000 trees in schools by scouts and students in sub-Saharan Africa is the aim of the project A Tree in Africa. Included in teaching modules, the project focuses on practical environmental education. Planting, care, monitoring, harvesting and utilisation are largely carried out by the young people themselves.
Eight schools in Malawi, Zambia and South Africa are taking part in this project by planting trees on school grounds in a self-organised way. The objective here is not reforestation, but rather practical learning. Supported by local scout networks, young people learn about the interrelationship between climate change and its effects, but also strategies for coping with it. Some schools include this into existing working groups, such as the Wild Life Club of St. Ignatius Secondary in Nthalire, Malawi. Planting, maintenance and utilisation are also individually planned by schools. Native species are planted: fruit trees and ornamental or timber trees.
The project partner Nangu Thina e.V. is able to carry this out thanks to scout networks on site. Many of the selected schools are denominational, yet neither politically nor religiously bound. Thanks to the economical use of funds within the network, it was even possible to plant more than the planned 3,000 seedlings in the first planting phase with the planned funds.
In recent years, the effects of climate change have greatly impacted people in sub-Saharan Africa. Long periods of drought, water shortages (such as in Cape Town), violent thunderstorms and floods (cyclone Idai in Malawi and Mozambique) are challenges that must be tackled. Harvests are often destroyed which strongly affects the underprivileged.
One of the most important ways to arm oneself against this is through education. Children and young people must be given the opportunity to understand climate change and develop coping strategies.
Through the planting project, young people should be given the chance to acquire knowledge and put it into practice. For this reason, in addition to the donation of trees, financial resources are also made available for workshops and seminars. By planting trees in schools, every child can follow the trees’ growth and development.
The association Nangu Thina e.V. consists of active members in Europe and Africa. They make it possible to carry out projects with and for children and young people on both continents. The aim is to improve prospects for future generations and promote mutual learning. There is a close connection with the scout networks in the respective regions, which guarantee reliable partnership and sustainable project success.
Nthalire, Chitipa, Malawi
St. Ignatius has a Wild Life Club with more than 100 pupils, led by geography and agriculture teachers. This environmental club is perfectly suited for planning and implementation. Nearly half of the members took part in the planting action. The Wild Life Club and the caretaker look after the seedlings.
The biggest challenge here so far was the sourcing of the seedlings: they had to be transported from Chitipa, 100 km away, to Nthalire during the rainy season. Since the road was sometimes heavily flooded and not passable, the delegation had to spend the night on the road.
Chitipa & Karonga District, Malawi
The planting of trees at two girls’ schools, St. Mary’s and Kaseye, and at the Chaminade High School for Boys were jointly coordinated by the Diocese of Karonga. Three scout groups have taken over its implementation: transfer of practical knowledge, background knowledge on environmental and climate change issues as well as coping strategies.
140 pupils from all three schools were involved and a total of 1470 trees were planted.
In addition to practical environmental education, creating a greener environment for schools is an essential goal. Some of the fruits from the trees are to be sold and the profits to go to Kaseye Community Health Center.
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