More than 10 schools in Homa Bay County, yesterday benefited from an afforestation project by Equity Bank and a Community Based Organization dubbed Homa Bay County Diaspora Community (HBC).
The programme christened the ‘healing tree initiative’ yesterday entered its second phase that aims at increasing forest cover through schools under the ‘one child one tree’ initiative by HBC.
Equity bank distributed a total of 20,000 tree seedlings to 20 schools after the first phase that distributed the same number of seedlings in the county.
Speaking to KNA at Adiedo chief’s camp in Homa Bay, the bank manager for Oyugis Branch Leonard Ochieng Nyogere said that the initiative which began a few years ago would see various schools all over the country plant trees to a tune of up to 35 million.
“We are looking to involve a number of schools in the project to increase water catchment areas in the region and change the climatic conditions of our country. We have plans to ensure that approximately 35 million trees are planted in the country through various schools,” stated Nyogere.
He said that the initiative was to commemorate those who lost their lives in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic.
Nyogere called on school administrations to reach out to the organization for tree seedlings, if they felt their schools are lagging behind in tree coverage.
The deputy principal of ‘K’Amolo primary school, which is one of the beneficiaries of the initiative Jeremiah Sanya implored the area administration to assist in the protection of the seedlings from theft and damage by animals.
He expressed his gratitude saying that the initiative could also help in building a mindful future generation in the children involved in tree planting and environmental management.
He called on the residents to embrace the habit of planting trees to increase forest cover in the county from the current two percent.
By Omar Zabbibah and Sitna Omar
