gEnhancing indigenous knowledge: Supporting sustainable developmenth

Introduction

Children are very vital in environmental management. However, itfs on rare occasions that children are involved in environmental management practices, planning and implementation processes. If itfs true that children are the leaders of tomorrow, then they need to learn today!

Given chance, children can positively change the total trend of our devastating environment. Children can always influence behavioral changes in their parents who are the culprits environment today. gEmpower the children, Empower the Worldh. In recognition of the above, AEW with support from TFL has taken an extra step to involve children in a number of environmentally friendly interventions in Uganda.

Project Background

Since 1997 when the Government of Uganda introduced Universal Primary Education [UPE] Programme, the enrollment has more than doubled. This programme however, has been constrained by food, classroom space and medical requirements shortages as AEW observed in many of the UPE schools in Uganda.

As part of solution to this problem, AEW is running a tree planting programme targeting UPE schools. Tree species considered in this project are mainly those that can provide food in form of fruits, Classroom space in form of shades and medicinal trees for medical requirements.

In the Districts of Mubende, Masaka and Kayunga where AEW has started implementing this initiative, schools have welcomed the idea and are practically involved in setting up Nursery beds, planting and taking care of the planted seedlings.

This project intends to enhance, tap and promote the indigenous knowledge of conserving the environment and Biodiversity by the children and also to solve the prevailing social - economic problems using the naturally given and available resources.

The following are some of the tree species we are currently considering for this project;

Medicinal purposes:
- Moringa tree (read more about Moringa)

Shade/classroom space purposes:
- Umbrella tree

Fruit / food purposes: (some or all of these trees are also medicinal)
- Pawpaws
- Guavas
- Jackfruit
- Mango

AEW does all this in line with its mission which is to ensure environmental sustainability and poverty reduction by empowering the community to be key players in equitable utilization of environment and natural resources through research, publication, training and education, information sharing, dissemination, networking, lobbying and advocacy in order to contribute towards sustainable development.

This and many other AEW projects seek for your support. You can make a difference if you support us in any of the following ways;

- Volunteer your skills (click here to express your interest)
- Make cash or material donation (contact us)
- Organize a fundraising drive for this or any other AEW projects at your place of work or in the community you are living in (contact us for details)
- Download the project brochure here (pdf).