DAPP Supports Primary Schools to Plant More Trees
As one way of engaging primary school learners and communities in the fight against climate change and global warming, DAPP Malawi with funding assistance from Humana Spain embarked on a tree planting exercise in the month of December 2019 primary schools.
The exercise was successfully carried out by a network of DAPP graduated teachers working in 28 primary schools across Malawi who engaged learners and community members in the tree planting exercise.
According to Project Coordinator Mr Jimmy Kayange, the exercise is being carried out by the schools and communities on voluntary basis and communities are being encouraged to use locally available resource to complete the tasks.
“As we are in the rainy season, this is an opportunity to plant more trees and DAPP is supporting with packages of 250 tree seedlings, 2 bundles of vetiver grass, 5 hoes, 1 wheelbarrow, 3 water canes, 4 slashers and 4 shovels for each school.”
The schools are I turn expected to analyse the areas of possible threats and security for learners to plant the trees and vetiver grass which will protect their environments from heavy winds and during heavy rains in the future.
Osman Nyakamera, a teacher at Nyamadzere primary school in Nsanje district reported that together with 4 teachers, 3 community members and 84 learners from the school they have managed to plant 264 tree seedlings and vetiver grass.
“We started with giving lessons to the learners on the types, causes and preventative ways of soil erosion, and later planted and irrigated 264 trees and vetiver grass. Nsanje district is very hot and we have erratic rains as such we have agreed to be watering our tree seedlings at least twice a day until we have enough rains,” he said.
A total of 28 primary schools where DAPP graduated teachers under 400 Primary schools are working have received the tree seedlings and the supporting materials. Over 7000 trees have been planted in the schools.
We Do More Teachers also known as 400 Primary Schools is a network of DAPP graduated teachers who voluntarily stick together to share ideas and skills on how they can improve the environments around their schools. Currently there are 90 teachers working in 64 primary schools in Malawi and the goals is to reach 400 primary schools in Malawi.
