By Muskan Singh & Mansi Kotak | Reporting Team
Greetings from a warm, festive and rainy Kisumu!
We are deeply grateful for your continuous support of our projects. Your support drives transformative change in local communities in Kisumu, creating a ripple effect of positive impact and progress. In our last report, we shared updates on our Climate Action Workshops and the growth of Elimu De Ark’s garden. Read here: Are YOU a Climate Champion?
This report celebrates the completion of our new school garden at Central Primary School. It came to life on October 10, 2024, when we celebrated Mazingira (Environment) Day!
Celebrating Mazingira Day at Central Primary School
Earlier this year, Kenya officially designated Mazingira Day as a public holiday on 10th October every year to promote environmental protection and conservation.
This year marked the inaugural Mazingira Day, an opportunity for all Kenyans to engage in environmental activities, such as tree planting, to collectively support forest restoration efforts and contribute to planting 15 billion trees by 2032, addressing the effects of climate change.
RKF took a significant step towards environmental education and sustainability by completing our garden project at Central Primary School - one of our partner schools. The cornerstones of this garden were established through several climate action workshops we held with nearly 150 students of Central Primary over the past two years: Caring for the Environment: Teaching and Learning. During these workshops, they gained hands-on practical experience and theoretical knowledge about Climate Action and the vital role they play as climate champions in nurturing and honouring our collective home - the Earth. These workshops ignited a spark in students, inspiring them to take ownership of their environment, starting with the seedlings they received after completing the workshop.
The preparations for the garden transformation began weeks in advance. The garden was thoughtfully divided into circular flower beds, shrub areas bordered with recycled tyres, and a kitchen garden comprising vertical mboga (vegetable) bags and conical gardens.
For the main garden area, we started by digging the land and clearing rocky areas that could prevent the growth of trees and plants. We then added over 50 tonnes of soil and organic fertiliser to the land. We continued digging holes to create a boundary using old recycled tyres along the classrooms. This helped seclude areas for shrubs and protected the seedlings from potential damage caused by foot traffic. The circular flower beds will also double up as extra seating space for students outside the classroom. Finally, the mboga bags in the kitchen garden will support the school’s meals program by providing vegetables and herbs for their lunches. These include sukuma wiki (collard greens), spinach, lettuce, chives, spring onions, beetroots, amaranthus, cabbage, strawberries etc.
We kicked off Mazingira Day by planting seedlings into their new homes, which were dug earlier and will soon brighten the space. From seedlings to blooming flowers, every plant found its home in the Earth. The entire team watered each plant, giving it the nourishment it needed to thrive. We know it takes more than just planting to keep our environment clean, so we also worked on disposing of garbage from the garden, ensuring the space was clean and ready for new growth.
Over 950 seedlings were planted across the school to add life to the garden. The variety included shrubs, flowers, and trees such as acalypha, arrowhead, purple heart, marigolds, busy lizzie, snake plant, spider plant, ferns, bougainvillaea, eucalyptus trees, blue daze, verbena, moss rose.
Now that the project is complete, our journey toward environmental stewardship continues through establishing the Mazingira Club. Led by its dedicated patrons (recognizable in their green t-shirts in the photographs), the club will foster a lasting culture of environmental care and responsibility. By passing down the knowledge and practices, they will inspire their peers and future generations to continue the same.
We hope this garden flourishes and grows in impact, serving as a living testament to the importance of environmental preservation. May its blossoms mirror the expansion of these teachings, rooting a deep sense of care for our planet in the hearts of all who engage with it.
Why School Gardens?
Beyond fostering stewardship, we hope gardens like these serve as a beacon of hope, offering students a sanctuary that alleviates the stress of daily life and nurtures a sense of peace and mindfulness. At the same time, they engage in activities such as watering, pruning, propagating, or simply being in or around it.
This project was made possible through the unwavering support of our dedicated partners, the Mind & Life Institute, generous donors like you, and the remarkable efforts of our teachers, students, gardeners, and Team RKF. Your collective commitment to creating a greener, more sustainable future for the next generation has made this vision a reality.
Gratitude, Gratitude, Gratitude.
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By Muskan Singh & Mansi Kotak | Reporting Team
By Muskan Singh | Reporting Team
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