By Rooted In Hope | 501c(3) Organization
Goal Reached! Rooted In Hope raised $10,200 from over 100 unique donors in our Empowering Rural Kenyans campaign throughout the month of December. A special thanks to everyone who contributed to this program! Together, each tree we plant and each life we change is an investment in the future.
Tree Planting Underway! Our commitment to reforest the Aberdare National Park is part of a multi-year effort to restore forest cover and degraded land surrounding a main watering hole. The area is a vital wildlife habitat and one of Kenya’s five main watersheds. With the arrival of the March rainy season, tree-planting activities began March 25th by Kenya Wildlife Service and our other partners in Kenya. To see where your trees are planted, visit our Tree Tracker.
Creating Rural Employment Rooted In Hope purchased the 3,000 seedlings from local nurseries, providing income of over KSh440,000 ($5,120) and employment to the men and women who cultivated the trees. Our other 15 contracted laborers, which now include three female workers, have been busy digging holes and preparing a 10-hectare planting. Collectively, they have earned KSh220,000 ($2,560) for this season’s ground preparation and initial tree planting.
Engaging Local Schools As part of our reforestation efforts, we engage local students to participate in tree-planting activities. Our local Program Coordinator in Kenya, Harrison Muriuki, informs “we have over 5 schools, 3 colleges, and 2 universities to participate in tree planting this season.” The students get the opportunity to take a field-trip to the Aberdare National Park, where they learn about conservation and assist in reforestation.
Supporting Women Entrepreneurs Our all-women honey harvesting group in Ichimama is set for a big year! Lead beekeeper, Miriam, is now outfitted with new gear and supplies and is busy training other women beekeepers. The group has doubled its honey harvesting capacity from 15 to 32 hives, which is harvested twice a year as a source of supplemental income. The group also runs a small-scale nursery from which Rooted In Hope sourced 300 trees to use in our agroforestry and tree-planting efforts, and the women are paid additional income for the cultivation, planting, and after-care of these trees.
Next Steps...
Check out our current crowdfunding campaign to see how we are 'taking steps' in sustainable development. The funds raised in this campaign will support our ongoing commitments to protect forests and empower rural communities, emphasizing the role of sustainable agriculture for smallholder farmers. Running the World, For the World
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By Katie Emick | Project Leader
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