Project Launch:

In the community of Njabini, Kenya, the majority of residents are small-scale farmers who are semi-literate and have minimal knowledge of the effects of deforestation on climate change and success in agriculture. The region, however, supplies much of the food, water and milk to Nairobi, Kenya's capital city. This project will implement a tree nursery, which will serve as an income generating activity for local volunteers and an opportunity to train community members on the importance of protecting their vast natural resources in order to maintain their position as suppliers to Nairobi.

Once the nursery is operational, volunteers will plant trees at schools, on government compounds, and throughout the community. In the process, community members will be educated on the importance of protecting the environment and the new trees in order to improve air quality, increase rainfall, improve health and increase food production. Project leaders have also set a goal of 100 households to receive and be trained to build small, improved cookstoves called jikos, which require less firewood and thus reduce the rate of deforestation locally.

 

Project Update

The tree nursery is up and running with approximately 900 trees that have been sown. 300 of the original trees have been sold to a group that implements reforestation projects. The nursery members planted trees at local schools, where they taught the students about deforestation and environment stewardship. 100 improved cookstoves have been constructed in 10 different villages, and the members of Beautify Aberdare educated the community on its health and environmental benefits. With the new stoves, families have reduced their usage of firewood.

 

Testimonials

"You have given us knowledge of how to build these cookstoves and the nursery, which has made us beautify our environment. The nursery which we have, we can sell the trees, which will make us money." - Project Participant 

 

"We have gained so much knowledge on how to construct and how to move our community to reduce firewood expenses." - Project Participant