Students, stakeholders establish micro-forest in city
AS the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP27 closed this week with a breakthrough agreement to provide “loss and damage” funding for vulnerable countries hit hard by climate disasters, the Aga Khan School students and Ismaili Civic and Aga Khan Foundation have teamed up to establish a micro-forest in Dar es Salaam to mitigate effects of climate change.
The Aga Education Services (AKES) of Tanzania joined hands with the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and Ismaili Civic Community to support the micro-forest project as over 20 students participated by planting over 110 tree saplings at the school’s premises in Upanga, Dar es Salaam.
As far as the micro-forest project is concerned, AKES Chief Executive Officer Dr Shelina Walli reported in the city that the students got an opportunity to learn outside their respective classrooms.
She said at AKES, students are being prepared to become good citizens since: “through good citizenships, we want parents and students to volunteer themselves on environment and education.”
She revealed to journalists that AKES is set to launch Integrated Curriculum for Sustainability February, 2023 aiming at teaching students on environment related issues.
Currently, she added that the programme is under review and is expected to start by February, 2023.
Netsanet Abiyou, an International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma student said she and her fellow students have planted 35 different species of trees to bring positive changes in the environment.
Another IB student, Greyson Mndeme said currently, the world is experiencing rising temperatures due to climate change hence the project is going to mitigate the consequences.
He called upon other stakeholders to join forces in implementing such projects as the world throws its weight behind the climate change resilient projects.
Shaibu Athumani, the Aga Khan Foundation Tanzania national coordinator said the community forests will also be established in other schools in Dar es Salaam and the Isles purposely to raise awareness on environment protection.
The launched project is the AKF and Ismaili CIVIC’s second micro-forest since the inauguration of the joint initiative, following the establishment of the AKF office community forest in October 9, 2022.
