Karibu Tanzania: Planting Trees

Several weeks ago, we had a very exciting day at KEMPS. As some of you have heard, many of the trees were cut down earlier in the year to build a temporary building. Today, the school planted approximately 250 new trees on campus - pines and eucalyptus with more trees to come (including mango and avocado trees!). Teacher Joyce gathered all the students together, and after explaining how to plant the trees, and having a handful of a standard 1 student say a prayer over the new trees (which was enthusiastically "amen-ed" even though we couldn't hear what he was saying), each student took a tree to marked spots around campus. Crouched down, sticks in hands, there was a flurry of movement as students dug into the recently watered earth. After cutting the plastic around the small tufts of pines that will someday become large trees, they filled their holes carefully with dirt, smoothing it until it was perfectly flat. At this stage I made sure that the soil was firmly packed, demonstrating and having students help me push the dirt firmly in place around the roots of our tiny trees. This was not the end of the process. After planting the trees, I noticed sticks and rocks being collected and many campfire like rings and small teepees of sticks began appearing around the trees to protect them. I even saw one student very carefully lay straw around the base of his tree. All the stalks faced the same direction and the entire work of art was encircled in a ring of small stones.

Each student will get a tree to look after and to water. It is clear that the students are excited about their role in restoring the environment around their school. The energy that filled the campus, both teachers and students alike, was palpable in the sunny afternoon. I have a feeling that some of these trees may be a little too well looked after - one student proudly announced the name of her tree to me as I helped her pack the earth! Some of you (family and friends) may accuse me of being a tree hugger, and while I may have favorite trees, I'll have you know that I never named any of them. My students are more tree huggers than I am - a fact which makes me extremely happy and proud.