Green classrooms in Turkana: Children planting prospects

Turkana in north-western Kenya is one of the driest and most challenging regions in the country. Rainfall is scarce, water is in short supply and poor soil health make it difficult to grow food. Many families are affected by food insecurity – children in particular suffer from malnutrition. Traditional farming methods are no longer sufficient, and access to healthy and nutritious food is not a luxury but a necessity. 

With this project, we empower school going children and communities with practical knowledge on sustainable agriculture practices and balanced nutrition. Together with our local partner LOKADO, we are creating new opportunities in encouraging communities to grow and use fresh food directly from farms.

In the four schools and six community groups, we support 200 school going children and 120 households in establishing and maintaining school gardens and kitchen gardens respectively. Under the guidance of experienced technical experts, we train on climate-friendly cultivation methods, sustainable use of water resources, and apiculture. 

Our activities include setting up of demonstration farms in schools equipped with drip irrigation kits and kitchen garden farms at the community level, providing farm tools and seeds and seedlings and offering regular on-farm trainings. Exciting learning opportunities, such as those offered by Kenya's nationwide 4K Clubs, encourage children to share their knowledge of sustainable food production with their families and the entire community. The 4K Clubs are an initiative of the Kenyas’ Ministry of Education and Agriculture and stand for : ‘Kuungana, Kufanya, Kusaidia Kenya’ – which can be translated as “coming together, to act, in order to help Kenya.” These are school clubs where children and young people learn practical skills such as sustainable gardening and environmental conservation. The focus is on students gaining knowledge about healthy nutrition, innovative cultivation methods and the responsible use of natural resources. In regions with difficult environmental conditions such as Turkana, the 4K Clubs make an important contribution to the fight against hunger and poverty and empower children to shape their own future.

Another important aspect of the project is the active participation and contribution of local communities into the activities of the project. Parents and other community members contribute their experiences, participate in activities and learn from exchange visits to successful gardening projects. Close cooperation with the relevant authorities such as Ministry of Agriculture and Education supports the long-term impact of our initiative.

In this way, we encourage self-reliance, build community resilience and enhance social cohesion in the villages. Children and adults can use the knowledge they have acquired in their everyday lives for their future. Together, we create opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and enhance household and community health and nutrition, in Turkana County in a sustainable manner.