Did You Know? 4 out of every 10 students miss school due to climate change effects like hunger. Imagine a scenario where out of 10 primary pupils, only 3 can read and write.
At Nakivubo C/U Primary School, over 600 pupils are enrolled at the beginning of the year. However, by primary four, enrollment drops to about 163 students, with less than 50 learners remaining to take their final primary examinations after 3 years. This alarming trend is linked to several factors, including student and teacher absenteeism, malnutrition, and a rigid curriculum—all stemming from climate change and unpredictable weather events.
In October 2022, we officially reported to Nakivubo C/U Primary School to start our fellowship journey. An informal survey revealed that the effects of climate change not only affect food security within homes but also significantly impact children’s school attendance and reading potential.
How about taking Climate Talking Ambiance Initiative?
The primary barrier to school attendance is hunger, both at home and school. Students often opt out of school to work longer hours in gardens or engage in activities like charcoal burning for extra income, leading to growing malnutrition among young people and less time dedicated to school.
Our Success
At Kichini, our initiative aims to help students understand the root causes of their challenges, transforming them into key agents of change. By engaging 100 students (aged 10-17) and 10 teachers, we’ve created an ambient learning atmosphere through:
- Greening the School Compound: Planting fruit trees, hedges, and flowers.
- School Garden Give-Away: Distributing vegetable and fruit tree seedlings to 50 children.
- Educational Posters: Displaying global and local statistics on climate change effects on food, along with calls to action.
Imagine a 15-year-old in school, not worried about what they will eat! With your support, we can retain more children in school and groom climate-sensitive leaders for tomorrow. Every child deserves to stay in school.
JUST A SEEDLING (JAS) PROJECT
Introduction
Nakivubo C/U Primary School, located in Kayunga district, serves about 800 children aged 6-16. Eighty percent of these children come from households that rely entirely on agriculture for their livelihood. However, the emphasis on commercial agriculture over subsistence farming results in an imbalance in the quantity and quality of nutrients the children obtain from their food, leading to malnutrition and impaired development.
Our Goal
To empower children with knowledge and seedlings to address food insecurity in their households using climate-smart solutions. This initiative aims to:
Supplementary Meals: Support children in growing their food to reduce hunger cases.
Healthy Eating: Promote balanced meals through home-grown vegetables, improving nutrition and well-being.
Educational Empowerment: Enhance children’s understanding of soil health through hands-on gardening practices.
Promote Environmental Awareness: Encourage responsibility towards the environment by nurturing plants and understanding ecological balance.
Project Components
Variety of Seedlings: Providing a diverse range of vegetable, flower, and fruit tree seedlings.
Educational Materials: Simple, age-appropriate materials explaining the basics of gardening.
Financial Education: Teaching children how to sell part of their produce to earn extra income.
Our Beneficiaries
We aim to empower 30 children and their households with 30 vegetable seedlings each and 2 fruit trees. Within two months, these households will harvest vegetables to supplement their meals, improving nutrition and providing children with the skills to address local challenges with local solutions.
1st Webinar Series: Embracing Storytelling for Environmental Conservation
26 March 2024: 1st Quarter Webinar
Title: Storytelling as a Tool to Foster Environmental Conservation among Children
Goal: Utilize storytelling to enhance environmental conservation among children.
Highlights:
Storytelling Techniques: Use simple language, visual animations, relatable environments, songs, and interactive elements.
Media Formats: Audiovisual, photogenic, arts, and graphics.
Inspiration and Action: Stories should be inspirational and lead to actionable change.
The session drew the attention of 13 individuals from various fields of environmental conservation.
Climate Adaptation Campaign at Wamulongo Primary School
Introduction
In the Wamulongo community of Busoga region, small land plots are predominantly used to grow staple foods like sweet potatoes. However, this results in unbalanced diets. Kichini Gardeners were invited to Wamulongo Primary School to demonstrate small-scale gardening and climate adaptation techniques.
Our Initiative
Garden Demo Setup: Attended by 20 parents and 40 pupils who received seeds and seedlings to start their vegetable gardens.
Education Sessions: Covering how climate change manifests and the greenhouse effect, promoting community resilience.
Goal
To empower the Wamulongo community with small-scale, climate-smart vegetable gardening techniques, enhancing resilience and promoting sustainable agriculture.
Support Our Efforts
Your donations and support can help us retain more children in school, improve their nutrition, and groom climate-sensitive leaders for tomorrow. Every child deserves the opportunity to stay in school and reach their full potential. Together, we can make a difference. (Attach Bank details and phone numbers for donations)
