By Riste Zenebe | Finance Manager
Project Progress Report: Green Shields Ethiopia (#72054)
Face Up Generation Aid Organization (FUGAO)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Reporting Period: April – June 2026
Dear GlobalGiving Community,
Warm greetings from Face Up Generation Aid Organization (FUGAO).
We are pleased to share our latest progress report for the project “Green Shields Ethiopia (#72054)”. This initiative is committed to protecting the environment, strengthening climate resilience, restoring degraded ecosystems, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and empowering vulnerable communities in Ethiopia to become active stewards of their natural environment.
Ethiopia continues to experience significant environmental challenges, including deforestation, land degradation, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, irregular rainfall, drought, and the growing impacts of climate change. These challenges affect not only ecosystems but also the livelihoods, food security, health, and economic well-being of vulnerable communities.
Through Green Shields Ethiopia, FUGAO is working with communities to promote practical environmental solutions and create a stronger connection between environmental restoration and sustainable livelihoods.
Our mission is clear:
to build greener, healthier, and more climate-resilient communities by empowering people to protect natural resources, restore degraded environments, and create sustainable opportunities for future generations.
Project Overview
During the reporting period, FUGAO continued implementing community-based environmental activities in Addis Ababa and surrounding communities.
The project focuses on:
The project recognizes that environmental protection cannot be achieved through tree planting alone. Sustainable environmental change requires communities to understand environmental challenges, participate in solutions, and develop practices that protect natural resources over the long term.
Progress So Far
April – June 2026
During this quarter, FUGAO continued building on the environmental restoration activities initiated during the previous reporting period.
The project engaged community members, youth, women, volunteers, and other local stakeholders in environmental awareness and restoration activities.
Building on the previous achievement of planting more than 2,500 tree seedlings, FUGAO continued promoting tree planting, environmental stewardship, and community participation.
The project has increasingly emphasized the importance of caring for planted trees and ensuring that environmental restoration efforts generate lasting benefits.
Major Achievements
1. Tree Planting and Environmental Restoration
Tree planting remains one of the central activities of the Green Shields Ethiopia project.
During the reporting period, FUGAO continued supporting community-based tree planting and environmental restoration efforts.
Activities included:
The project builds upon the previous milestone of more than 2,500 tree seedlings planted, with continued efforts to expand environmental restoration and improve the survival and long-term benefits of planted trees.
2. Environmental Awareness and Community Education
FUGAO continued to raise awareness about environmental protection and climate change.
Community awareness activities addressed:
The project encourages community members to recognize that environmental protection is a shared responsibility.
3. Youth Engagement in Environmental Protection
Young people are among the most important partners in creating a sustainable environmental future.
FUGAO continued encouraging youth participation through:
Youth participation has helped increase community energy and ownership around environmental activities.
The project also aims to help young people understand that environmental protection can be connected with future employment, entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable livelihoods.
4. Women's Participation and Empowerment
Women play an important role in environmental management and household resilience.
FUGAO encouraged women's participation in environmental activities and awareness initiatives.
Women were engaged in discussions concerning:
By strengthening women's participation, the project seeks to ensure that environmental initiatives benefit households and communities while also creating opportunities for women to participate in sustainable economic activities.
5. Climate Change and Community Resilience
Climate change continues to affect vulnerable communities through changing rainfall patterns, drought, flooding, environmental degradation, and reduced agricultural productivity.
The project therefore promoted practical climate-resilience approaches, including:
FUGAO is working to ensure that communities are not only responding to environmental damage but are also better prepared for future climate-related challenges.
6. Waste Management and Environmental Cleanliness
Environmental cleanliness is another important component of the project.
FUGAO promoted awareness around:
Community members were encouraged to view clean and healthy surroundings as an essential part of environmental protection and public well-being.
Stories of Change
From Tree Planting to Community Stewardship
One of the most encouraging developments of the project has been the growing understanding that planting a tree is only the beginning of environmental restoration.
Community members are increasingly recognizing the importance of:
This change in attitude is essential for ensuring that environmental investments generate lasting results.
Young People Becoming Environmental Champions
Youth participation has also demonstrated the potential of young people to become environmental champions within their communities.
Through awareness activities and practical participation, young people are increasingly recognizing that climate change and environmental degradation directly affect their future.
Their involvement creates an opportunity to build a generation that understands environmental responsibility and actively participates in protecting Ethiopia's natural resources.
Challenges Encountered
The project continues to face several challenges, including:
Another significant challenge is that environmental restoration requires sustained investment over many years.
Planting trees and conducting awareness activities are important first steps, but long-term success requires continued maintenance, monitoring, community ownership, and financial resources.
Despite these challenges, FUGAO remains committed to expanding the Green Shields Ethiopia initiative.
What’s Next?
July – September 2026
During the next reporting period, FUGAO plans to:
FUGAO will also continue mobilizing partners and resources to expand the reach and sustainability of the project.
Sustainability and Long-Term Vision
The Green Shields Ethiopia project is designed to create environmental benefits that continue beyond individual project activities.
FUGAO's sustainability approach includes:
FUGAO's long-term vision is to contribute to a greener Ethiopia where communities actively protect their natural resources while developing sustainable and climate-resilient livelihoods.
By 2030, FUGAO aims to expand environmental restoration and climate-resilience initiatives to more communities across Ethiopia.
Why This Project Matters
Environmental protection is not only about trees.
It is about:
Clean air.
Healthy soil.
Reliable water.
Food security.
Sustainable livelihoods.
Climate resilience.
Healthy communities.
And a better future for our children.
Every tree planted today can contribute to a healthier environment tomorrow.
Every community member who learns about environmental protection can influence others.
Every young person who becomes an environmental champion can help create a more sustainable future.
And every woman empowered to participate in environmental and livelihood activities can strengthen the resilience of her household and community.
Green Shields Ethiopia is therefore investing not only in the environment, but also in people and future generations.
Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning
FUGAO continues to monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the project through:
FUGAO is particularly interested in tracking not only the number of seedlings planted but also the sustainability of environmental interventions, including community ownership and tree survival.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
The project monitors the following key indicators:
FUGAO will continue strengthening its environmental monitoring system to measure both immediate outputs and longer-term environmental outcomes.
Our Gratitude to the GlobalGiving Community
We extend our sincere appreciation to the GlobalGiving community, donors, partners, volunteers, community members, and supporters whose contributions make the Green Shields Ethiopia project possible.
Your support is helping communities take action against environmental degradation and climate-related challenges.
Because of your partnership, people are planting trees, learning about environmental protection, engaging in climate-resilience activities, and taking greater responsibility for the future of their communities.
The journey toward environmental restoration is long, but every action matters.
Every seedling planted is a promise.
Every community engaged is a stronger shield.
Every young environmental champion is an investment in the future.
Together, we can create greener communities, stronger ecosystems, sustainable livelihoods, and a more climate-resilient Ethiopia.
Together, we are building Green Shields for Ethiopia—one tree, one community, and one generation at a time.
With deep appreciation,
Face Up Generation Aid Organization (FUGAO)
“A greener environment today creates a stronger and more resilient tomorrow.”
By Riste Zenebe | Finance Manager
By Mss. Restie Zenebe | Finance Manager
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