Empower refugees in Zimbabwe to plant 50,000 trees

Over the past three months, thanks to the generous financial support of GlobalGiving donors and the additional gratitude fund awarded to the Refugee Coalition for Climate Action (RCCA) as the Project of the Month Club, our work has continued to make a meaningful impact on environmental protection and resilience building within the Tongogara Refugee Settlement in Zimbabwe.

Agroforestry and Food Security Initiative

Refugees in the Tongogara Refugee Settlement are increasingly facing the injustices brought about by climate change. High temperatures, persistent drought, and stronger winds across seasons are having devastating impacts on refugee lives and livelihoods.

Our response as a grassroots organization is building resilience thanks to the generous support from GlobalGiving donors. Over the past two months, RCCA has initiated an agroforestry project within our community orchard at St. Michael’s Secondary School within the Refugee Settlement.

Through this project, vegetables such as okra, carrots, onions, sweet potatoes, and other leafy greens are being cultivated alongside fruit trees. This has already allowed eight young refugees to provide fresh vegetables to their households. Our project complements household nutrition and unravels opportunities for youth engagement in sustainable food production.

Our long-term vision is to expand the orchard and scale up vegetable production. We hope to be a key supplier of fresh vegetables in our community. This is important because fresh vegetables in Tongogara typically disappear after the rainy season due to limited access to water for community backyard gardeners growing them.

Nursery Expansion and Reforestation Efforts

The combined support of the GlobalGiving Project of the Month Fund and GlobalGiving’s donor community has also been crucial in supporting the expansion of our nursery garden to 800 square meters where we aim to raise 25,000–30,000 seedlings annually. This projection will ensure that half of these seedlings support reforestation efforts within the refugee settlement and surrounding host communities. The other half — primarily grafted fruit trees — will be sold to generate income for youth, with a focus on empowering girls and young women working with RCCA.

Through these collective initiatives, RCCA remains steadfast in our commitment to promoting food security, climate resilience, and environmental protection within the Tongogara Refugee Settlement.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all our donors and supporters for making these vital projects possible.

Together, we can promote meaningful refugee participation in the communities where they seek refuge!

Links:

• Project showcased on RCCA's Twitter page

Over the past three months, thanks to the generous financial support of GlobalGiving donors and the additional gratitude fund awarded to the Refugee Coalition for Climate Action (RCCA) as the "Project of the Month Club," our work has made a significant impact on environmental protection and resilience building within the Tongogara Refugee Settlement.

Tree Planting Initiative
On January 27–28, 2025, RCCA successfully distributed 580 fruit and non-fruit trees to the Tongogara refugee community. This initiative is part of our community engagement strategy, which promotes the tree-planting approach for households and community centers as a means of enhancing resilience to climate change while regreening our community. By encouraging refugees to plant trees within their homesteads, we aim to foster a culture of environmental responsibility and community-based leadership as an effective way of mitigating and adapting to the adverse effects of climate change.

Community Orchard Development
We are pleased to announce that our community orchard, funded by GlobalGiving donors, is now complete and ready to accommodate 270 fruit trees. To date, approximately 150 fruit trees, including mango, orange, guava, and lemon, have been planted, and planting activities are ongoing. If resources permit, we plan to implement agroforestry practices to integrate tree planting with agricultural production, improving both environmental sustainability and food security within the settlement.

Neem Tree Distribution
As part of our environmental protection efforts, RCCA will distribute 300 neem seedlings to local shops and churches within the Tongogara Refugee Settlement on Friday, January 14, and Monday, January 24. Neem trees are highly tolerant of harsh summer conditions and are among the most suitable species for our region. Their medicinal properties and ability to act as natural pesticides while not shedding leaves year-round make them a valuable addition to our community’s green spaces.

Land Allocation for Environmental Protection
Our ongoing environmental initiatives have created positive momentum within the community. As a result, the local authorities (Tongogara Refugee Settlement Authority) have allocated a 1,344-square-meter piece of land to RCCA's nursery to further enhance our climate and environmental protection activities. This land will be utilized for expanding our nursery and ensuring reforestation projects while raising some trees for sale as part of our organization's efforts to build financial sustainability.

Through these collective efforts, RCCA remains committed to fostering a greener, more resilient refugee community. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our donors and supporters for making these initiatives possible.

Together, can promote meaningful refugee participation in communities they seek refuge!

Links:

• All the updates to our works is posted on our Twitter page