Earlier this month, Black Crystal Consulting had the privilege of attending the Fruit Trees for Schools event at Kuwadzana High 1. In attendance were Kuwadzana 1 High School, the Ministry of Youth, the Environmental Management Agency, the Zimbabwe National Council for the Welfare of Children, and the House of Arts. The event was under the guidance of Tafadzwa Gwini of The Greening Kuwadzana Project.

What was the Fruit Trees in Schools about?
This programme included teaching schoolchildren how to plant fruit trees, basic budding and grafting skills, and helping them establish a school nursery. The goal is to produce as many fruit trees as possible to alleviate hunger and malnutrition within the community whilst equipping students with plant propagation life skills that they can use to better their environment. As a result of this event, 20 trees were planted at Kuwadzana 1 High School of which 80% were indigenous species. Some of the trees we planted were baobab (Adansania digitata), guava (Psidium guajava), lemon (Citrus limon) and tamarind (Tamarindus indica).

Event Outcomes
During the Fruit Trees In Schools event, we took the opportunity to discuss the importance of young people taking the lead in environmental protection and associated projects, emphasising that they must protect and create a healthy and clean environment. The students responded positively to the message, and some were eager to become active volunteers and members of The Greening Kuwadzana Initiative, putting into practice the lessons they had just learnt. The school’s leadership was pleased to have Kuwadzan High 1 incorporated into such a transformative movement and promised ongoing support to prevailing activities and initiatives within the community, thus promoting a good working relationship. We hope to nurture and grow these fruit trees for future generations.
Thomas Fuller once said, “ He who plants trees loves others but himself.”
