From Training to Tree Survival: KenGen Foundation Strengthens School Woodlots
The long-term success of school tree-growing projects depends not only on the number of seedlings planted, but also on how many survive to maturity. That principle shaped KenGen Foundation’s latest capacity-building initiative for Green Teachers under the Green Initiative Challenge (GIC) Phase X, as the Foundation stepped up efforts to strengthen school woodlots and improve seedling survival.
The KenGen Foundation convened an online capacity-building session attended by Green Teachers participating in GIC X on Wednesday, October 7, 2026,. The session, the second training for the GIC X, provided a platform for teachers to report on the condition of their school woodlots six months after the launch of the project, while equipping them with practical knowledge to improve tree establishment and growth.
The schools’ Green Teachers shared updates on the progress of their woodlots, offering insights into the condition of planted seedlings and the challenges encountered at school level. The KenGen PLC and KenGen Foundation teams then took participants through improved tree-growing techniques and methods aimed at increasing seedling survival rates.
The training reinforced the importance of appropriate seedling handling, consistent aftercare and sound woodlot management in translating tree-planting activities into lasting environmental benefits. By strengthening teachers’ technical knowledge, the initiative seeks to ensure that schools can better protect their investment in tree growing and sustain the projects beyond the initial planting period.
The capacity-building session was followed by a targeted distribution of additional seedlings to the top 50 GIC X schools from October 13 to 21. The seedlings are intended for gapping—replacing those that have died or failed to establish—to restore gaps in school woodlots and improve overall tree survival and project sustainability.
The intervention builds on GIC’s broader mission of integrating environmental education with practical climate action. Under Phase X, 30,000 seedlings were initially distributed to participating schools, while 200 teachers received training to support tree growing and environmental stewardship. The programme forms part of KenGen PLC’s sustainability agenda and its commitment to investing in communities through the KenGen Foundation.
Beyond the initial distribution of seedlings, the combination of teacher training, woodlot monitoring and targeted replacement planting reflects a longer-term approach to ecosystem restoration. It recognises that successful tree growing requires continued attention, practical expertise and consistent follow-up.
For participating schools, the measure of success will ultimately be the trees that take root, grow and contribute to greener learning environments. By equipping Green Teachers with practical skills and providing additional seedlings where needed, KenGen Foundation is reinforcing a central principle of sustainable tree growing: planting begins the work, but nurturing trees to maturity delivers the lasting impact.
