Tree

School Environmental Club

With the current rate of deforestation, Tree is Life deems it necessary that young people are enlightened about diverse aspects of the environment. They should also get hands-on-experience with management of tree nurseries, so that in future many more people can start nurseries on their own and plant trees on their farms for household use rather than over-rely on the forests to collect firewood. Working closely with the school administration

, a patron-teacher and members of the environmental club, Tree is Life carries out training and implementation of nursery practices within primary and secondary schools. All the clubs have a nursery where they tend seedlings besides other diverse activities that vary from one school to the other

Environmental club members working at their tree nursery

A forum in the form of a newsletter has been developed to facilitate exchange of ideas on the environment between the youth in the various schools. Contributions in the form of stories, poems, jokes, drawings and puzzles come mainly from school club members.

Environmental games have been developed to facilitate creative learning of issues pertaining to the environment and have been introduced in schools. The children like the games very much and they are never tired to play. In this way, children are engaged to learn about environment in a very positive and enjoyable way.

Tree parties are annual competitive events revolving around environmental issues and are organized in schools in collaboration with teachers and students. Only very active clubs with well-managed nurseries are invited to participate in these festivals. Environmental clubs compete in overall nursery management, songs, drama, poems and environmental painting and get trophies. Members of the public and area leaders are also invited to attend and give their views

School Environmental club members present a song during a tree party

The school programme has grown from strength to strength from an initial thirty to sixty school environmental clubs. These receive intensive training packages and follow up by field officers. Requests from schools who wish to work with the Tree is Life school programme keep coming in. However due to limited financial and staff capacity, all requests cannot be honoured. But some schools over and above these sixty are assisted through availing minimal training packages and technical advice to them.