Greening Schools, Growing Minds: Forezava’s Tree Planting Drive at Chamasilihi Primary School

In our continued commitment to environmental conservation and community-driven climate action, Forezava today marked yet another impactful milestone—this time at Chamasilihi Primary School, where a tree growing exercise brought together learners, educators, and environmental champions for a common cause: making learning spaces greener and safer.

This special initiative engaged 15 enthusiastic pupils, who were introduced to the power of trees not only as providers of shade and beauty but also as natural, living fences. The school's current need for secure boundaries presented a practical learning opportunity for both ecological restoration and school safety. By planting trees as a living fence, the school is embracing a solution that is sustainable, cost-effective, and environmentally enriching.

The Deputy Headteacher of Chamasilihi Primary expressed his appreciation for the collaborative effort, highlighting the significance of partnerships like this in transforming school environments. His support was instrumental in the success of the day’s activity. He ensured that holes for planting were dug in advance and further pledged to mobilize learners to finalize holing around the school compound in preparation for next week’s planting session. His dedication to the project signaled a strong institutional will to embed environmental care into school culture.

For the learners, the experience was more than just a planting exercise—it was a journey of purpose and pride. The 15 pupils actively took part in the day's activities, learning how trees contribute to better school environments by providing shade, improving air quality, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the compound, and most importantly, instilling a deep sense of environmental stewardship among young minds. They committed to watering and protecting the young trees, aware that their actions today are seeds of a greener future.

This initiative is part of Forezava’s broader School Tree Growing Program, which seeks to create vibrant, learner-friendly, and environmentally conscious school spaces in Vihiga County and beyond. The Chamasilihi Primary School activity stands out as a testament to how schools can be transformed into green havens when learners, teachers, and community partners work together.

As the trees grow, so too will the values of responsibility, resilience, and respect for nature among these young champions. And through such collaborations, Forezava continues to inspire hope—one school, one tree, one learner at a time.

About Author: Kevin Makova Photo Credits: Latif Lihasi

Comments

When Good Intentions Fall Short: Reflections on Climate Resilience Projects in Vihiga

This week has been a whirlwind in Vihiga County. The Governor has been on the move, launching project after project—each meant to signal progress, resilience, and commitment to improving the lives of residents. On the surface, it feels like the county is on a steady path toward climate resilience and development. Bridges, irrigation schemes, and water projects are being unveiled with great promise. Take the Mutave–Jepses bridge in Hamisi, for instance. For years, residents have endured untold suffering trying to cross this dangerous spot that links Tambua Ward to Kisumu and Nandi Counties. Many lives have been lost there. Redeveloping it is a commendable step forward, yet questions linger. The cost—12 million shillings—has sparked debate, especially given that the structure resembles more of a box-culvert than a durable bridge with strong guard rails. Was it truly value for money, or another example of cutting corners where safety should be paramount? Credits: County Government of Vih...

Devolution Con: Vihiga Edition

The advent of devolution in Kenya strangely coincided with my university education. As a student at Masinde Muliro University in Kakamega County, I watched with wide-eyed curiosity as the new county governments grappled with their newfound power. In Kakamega, even the smallest development—like turning ghetto paths into proper roads or building mama mboga stalls—felt like a hopeful step forward. Meanwhile, back home in Vihiga County, my feelings were the exact opposite. The leadership seemed obsessed with short-term spectacles and quick photo opportunities, not a long-term vision. I sneered at the first county governor’s approach, dismissing it as directionless. Sadly, hindsight has proven me right—and then some. Photo Credits: The Standard Two terms and billions later, the story is depressingly familiar. Vihiga boasts of “stadiums” like Kidundu, Hamisi, and Mumboha—monuments not to sports, but to mediocrity. Millions were sunk into these facilities, only for them to resemble cattle m...

No Opportunities? Or just lazy, entitled Youth...

Yesterday, I rode a bicycle for over 25 kilometers . Not on some fancy cycling trail or in a city marathon, but through the rugged countryside, under a sky that seemed determined to drown me. The heavens opened wide, the rain poured, and within minutes, I was soaked to the bone. Mud splashed with every turn of the wheel, my legs burned, and every car that passed left me looking more like a stray dog than a man with purpose. Why endure all this? Because I was headed to meet a group of talented young people —people I have worked with for months, helping them shape ideas around technology and the lot into real enterprises. It was their meeting. They set it up. They picked the time. They picked the place. I showed up, dripping wet, hungry, exhausted… and alone (mostly). No calls. No messages. No apologies. Just silence. And yet, when the dust—or rather mud—settles, these are the same young people who will look at society and claim, “There are no opportunities for us.” The Myth of Limit...

Friends of River Ezava-Forezava

Search This Blog