With Easter Sunday just around the corner this is the time to celebrate all the blessings in our life. The children supported through the Chalice nutrition program are filled with energy, enthusiasm and gratitude for the nutritious lunch they receive each school day.
Trees are vital in our ecosystem. In addition to producing the air we breathe, trees also help to purify the air, cool our planet, restore our ecosystem through carbon recycling, reduce soil erosion, act as wind breaks and among all, provide fuel and food.
At St. Francis boarding primary school, we have hundreds of pawpaw, mango, jack fruits, lemons, and sweet sops that provide a delicacy which supplies vital vitamins and minerals to the children’s diets. Nearby, at Kyandoo primary school, hundreds of melia neem trees provide shade to the school and act as a wind break. The school runs a fruit tree nursery that sells seedlings to teachers and the community members. Plans are underway to grow pawpaw trees and include a larger variety of fruits for the students.
Many families have also embraced growing of melia trees which are hardwoods to supply timber for sale to generate family income and also to supply forage for livestock at a family level.
“Agnes, mother to a sponsored child, has worked hard to plant hundreds of melia trees which have helped to eradicate poverty at her home through income from timber,” explains site staff. “We are happy that the agroforestry trainings we provide to our sponsored parents and family circle groups have borne fruits in the fight for hunger and reduction of poverty levels in the area, alongside fighting climate change through re-afforestation.”
Outputs created Agroforestry has brought many benefits to the schools and families. The way our parents have been able to take part in climate action and protect our environment brings a sense of confidence and personal acheivement. Additionally, agroforestry has helped to uplift the livelihoods of many families through sale of timber and melia pods.
The gift of fruit trees through the gift catalogue brings generational change and economic prosperity to entire communities. Thank you to everyone who has supported the gift catalogue. Our new Spring Catalogue is live, now is the perfect time to buy fruit trees for someone in your life.