KOWYN Marks Mazingira Day with Fruitful Tree-Planting at St. Patrick’s Shimoni Junior Secondary School

The Koibatek Ogiek Women and Youth Network (KOWYN) joined learners, alumni, and community members at St. Patrick’s Shimoni Junior Secondary School to mark this year’s Mazingira Day under the national theme: “Citizen-Centric Tree Growing and Environmental Stewardship.”

With invaluable support from our partners at Global Greengrants Fund, the celebration was both lively and impactful. Together, we planted 300 grafted avocado seedlings, a step that not only contributes to increasing local tree cover but also promises lasting nutritional and economic benefits for the school community. Within the next three years, learners and teachers alike will begin to harvest both the fruits and the lessons of sustainable environmental care.

Planting Trees, Growing Future Leaders

KOWYN’s Executive Director who is also a proud alumnus of St. Patrick’s Shimoni led an interactive session with students, inspiring them to see environmental conservation as both a duty and an opportunity. He emphasized how fruit trees contribute to food security, biodiversity, and climate resilience, encouraging students to become champions of change within their own communities.

“We’re not just planting trees; we’re planting hope, nutrition, and the next generation of climate champions,” he said.

The event drew strong support from the community, including Baringo County Assembly Liaison Officer to the Executive, Mr. Douglas Kiplimo, fellow alumni, parents, and local leaders all of whom joined hands with learners to nurture a greener, healthier future for Koibatek.

Sowing Seeds of Sustainability

The Mazingira Day celebration reaffirmed KOWYN’s commitment to linking education with environmental stewardship, empowering schools to become living models of climate action. By integrating fruit tree planting into school programs, KOWYN aims to ensure that environmental conservation is not just a one-day activity, but a lifelong learning process rooted in practice and purpose.

As the seedlings take root, so does a powerful message that “Mazingira Yetu, Maisha Yetu” (Our Environment, Our Life) is not just a slogan, but a shared vision for generations to come.