Green schools project

Green Schools Project (GSP): This is an environmental program that was designed as a means of conserving our environment with particular emphasis to school and communities 

Growing fruit and other trees with children offers a unique chance to teach them about the importance of healthy foods and nutrition and also have love for the environment. Whether the fruit-eaters are children, 
animals or impoverished neighbors -- fruit trees take advantage of Mother Nature's natural resources system...and deliver shade, soil conditioning, food for wildlife...and food for humans and our animals. And it lasts for decades! That's a lot for one simple plant to gift us with. 

Green schools  project nurtures young people to love nature and be environmentally conscious at a young age. The solution is being implemented through tree growing and a green eco-projects corner school model. The model contains a mini tree nursery, a green fence surrounded by indigenous trees, waste management, and 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) corner, a food forest full of mixed species of fruit trees, and a green park garden open for education and recreation for the school children. Through this initiative, we have so far facilitated the planting of over 30,000 tree seedlings all with a survival rate of 99% due to the 'adopt a tree 

My solution addresses the global environmental challenges that I identify with since I was a child, including deforestation, pollution, climate change, and environmental injustices. It also addresses challenges that I identify with along the way while running the initiative. One of such challenges is the fact that most of the schools we visit for environmental education and schools’ greening program, are facing hunger issues and some children go a day without a meal. That is why, from the year 2018, we began to fully transition from just planting indigenous tree seedlings to planting and fully growing fruit trees in schools, so as to facilitate the schools’ feeding programs. We are now addressing all these challenges holistically through the green schools  project model.

There are many schools in Uganda both primary and secondary schools, Many lack good compounds suitable for studying i.e. lack shade trees. Cooking  and water heating in all these schools is done using firewood which is now scarce thus experience feeding problems. As a result, there has been massive deforestation and in many schools, expenditure on firewood accounts for 20-30% of the total school’s kitchen/boarding budget.  Pupils lack access to nutritional values derived from especially fruits which they sometimes only taste when at home during their holidays. From a study by EGECA in Bugiri  district on the intake of fruits by children, Low intakes of fruit and vegetables and of milk by primary school children were established. It was found out that a majority of children are deprived of the nutritional values from fruits. Most of it is taken to markets for sale. This project will encourage more children to taste and enjoy more fruit and vegetables and thereby reap the long-term benefits of consuming at least five  portions a day recommended for good health as both children and adults.  Tree planting is also a practical way of introducing and integrating Environmental Education in schools. Schools in different parts of the district can also be mobilized and trained fairly quickly, with minimal logistical/administrative cost implications.  The most appropriate and sustainable solution is to support and encourage schools to establish their own tree woodlots with emphasis on diversity in tree species.

According to the research we carried out,we found out that there are many primary and secondary schools in Uganda [day, boarding or 
both]. Many lack good compounds suitable for studying i.e. lack shade trees. Cooking and water heating in all these schools is done using firewood which is now scarce thus experience feeding problems. As a result, there has been massive deforestation 
and in many schools and therefore this requires an immediate intervention 
We are focused on advocating for nature regeneration while ensuring all our remaining natural ecosystems stay intact by practically engaging young people in conservation. We also inspire young people to love nature and connect to nature.

This solution uses a holistic approach that seeks to address four sustainable development goals at a go, is; zero hunger (SDG 2) by planting fruit trees, climate action (SDG 13) through adopting a tree campaign that helps ensure trees grow up to maturity, quality education (SDG 4) through offering non-formal practical environmental education training to children and life on land (SDG 15) through collective environmental efforts such as eco-projects corners in schools and tree nurseries establishment with women in farmlands and in schools. The eco-projects corners use technology through establishing the waste management recycling corner, food forests through growing mixed species of fruit trees, a mini tree nursery, a park garden, and a green fence thus Integrated technologies.

Under this program, EGECA has managed to establish 10 orchards in 10 schools in Bugiri district eastern uganda with atleast 50 fruit trees of different types. Also over 8,000 trees (for shades, firewood and ornamental purposes) have been planted in 16 schools around Bugiri and in 5 communities. Environmental Awareness too has been and is being carried out in communities and schools. As such, the Fruits for Nutrition in Schools (FSS) project shall be a component under the Green Schools Project. 

This project involves the eco-projects corner which involves use of integrated technology through establishing the waste management recycling corner, food forests through growing mixed species of fruit trees, a mini tree nursery, a park garden, and a green fence.

Under this program, EGA has managed to establish 10 orchards in 10 schools in Bugiri 
district with at least 50 fruit trees of different types. Also over 8,000 trees (for shades, firewood and ornamental purposes) have been planted in 16 schools around Bugiri  district and in 5 communities. Environmental Awareness too has been and is being carried out in communities and schools. 

Target: 
• 50 schools with an average of 850 children 
• Each school planting at least 100 fruit trees and shade trees 

 
 At these schools, the orchards will serve many purposes; as outdoor classrooms (we expect the orchards to last for decades, giving children the 
opportunity to receive environmental education that would not otherwise be available to them). 
When the trees start fruiting, children will gain nutritional values from the fruits the harvest to local food banks. Besides the harvest will benefit the hungry, poor, and needy people living in the school communities. 
 Apart from getting fruits, these fruit trees can provide shades, add beauty to the school and also provide a source of income to the schools in times of excess fruiting. 
 Children will be taught how to propagate seedlings and thus will be expected each to plant a fruit of their own choice at home and to encourage their parents and guardians to follow suit. 
 Increased income as a result of nurseries being established and sell of seedlings together with less spending in homes on malnutrition sicknesses. 
 Environment shall be conserved in the long run

Success of ourprojects will be measured based on the pre-set targets within thedefined time frame and change in behaviour.These shall include thefollowing:
Thenumber of training workshops organised,and the number of schools trained.

The number of awareness meetings conducted inschools and near by communities 

The numbers of tree nurseries established in schools 
Improvement in nutrition of school children 
improvement in waste management 

The risks that surround the development of these undertakings includes:
Some of the trained schools may revert to their old ways of living 
Unfavourable weather conditions such as long spells of drought and floods may impact the tree planting activities
Unchecked cutting down of trees by foreign agencies may change the community’s attitudes towards tree planting
Disintegration of  school clubs and nursery beds may pose follow up challenges and information sharing.

As a team leader, throughout both my academic and professional career I have developed my skills as a team player. I have played volleyball since middle school, and it has taught me the value of proper communication and doing my best to make a positive contribution to team efforts. In my professional career, I have had the opportunity to lead and contribute to several different team projects, and I believe that my administrative and management abilities, coupled with my research and analysis skills, help me to be a versatile and well-rounded team member. This has been of agreat advantage to the rest of the team who try to cop up with my characters thus making every project successful.

As Ever green environmental conservation Association, we have involved over 20,000 students and over 500 farmers from 30 schools and communities respectively in Uganda in environmental activities such as tree planting, talks, debates, waste disposal, and renewable energies in partnership with the Ministry of Water and Environment, National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA), National Forestry Authority (NFA), Uganda Broadcasting Corporation TV, and EcoStoves Uganda. The partnerships have provided us with extensive experience and strengthened our bonds with the students and community members.
Collaboratively, we hope to foster the development of sustainable agricultural and environmental practices nationally and internationally, but financial limitation is our main challenge. Finding a financial partner with adequate capacity to fond our projects and activities will boost our potential to cover the entire country and beyond. Consequently, it will deepen our community and school penetration while effectively impacting society positively.

am not a girl 

it's because we have developed so many innovative methods in saving the environment for example we are building house out of plastic bottles, we have developed a project of making charcoal out of wastes(briquettes) to reduce on the demand for wood fuel among other innovations