{"id":2770,"date":"2017-05-10T11:29:10","date_gmt":"2017-05-10T08:29:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.kengenfoundation.co.ke\/?p=2770"},"modified":"2017-05-10T11:32:44","modified_gmt":"2017-05-10T08:32:44","slug":"gic-expansion-project-enters-phase-iii-with-99-new-schools","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kengenfoundation.co.ke\/gic-expansion-project-enters-phase-iii-with-99-new-schools\/","title":{"rendered":"GIC Expansion Project Enters Phase III with 99 New Schools"},"content":{"rendered":"
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99 new schools joined the Schools\u2019 Green Initiative Challenge Expansion Project during the launch of Phase III of the afforestation competition at a colorful ceremony held at Tulimyumbu Primary School, Machakos County on 5 May.<\/p>\n

This bring to 219 the number of schools currently involved in the tree-planting project implemented by the KenGen Foundation in partnership with Better Globe Forestry and Bamburi Cement limited.<\/p>\n

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” The task of environmental conservation cannot be left as the sole responsibility of a single or a number of institutions but that of every citizen whether individual or corporate” Mr. Joshua Choge, Chairman KenGen<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

The event, hosted by the KenGen Foundation, was graced by the presence of KenGen\u2019s Chairman of the Board of Directors Mr. Joshua Choge, and the Acting KenGen MD Eng. David Muthike. Also present were KenGen Eastern Hydros Operations Manager Eng. Francis Kawa; KenGen Business Development Director Moses Wekesa; KenGen Foundation\u2019s Managing Trustee Mike Njeru; the Managing Director Better Globe Forestry Ltd., Jean-Paul Deprins\u2019 and the Director of Corporate Affairs, Communications and Sustainable Development Susan Maingi of Bamburi Cement Ltd.<\/p>\n

Mr. Joshua Choge, the chief guest, noted that through the GIC, the Foundation and partners invest more than 10 million annually since the program started in 2013 for a worthy cause, with the results witnessed at Tulimyumbu attesting to this.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re all witnesses to the effects of wanton environmental destruction through logging, illegal charcoal burning, and other such activities that have laid waste many parts of our beautiful country and now threaten the livelihoods of both current and future generations\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach one of us has a duty to stop this. The task of environmental conservation cannot be left as the sole responsibility of a single or a number of institutions but that of every citizen whether individual or corporate,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Tulimyumbu is one of the 120 school involved in Phase II of the GIC. Under the project, 500 acres of arid and semi-arid land in the counties of Embu, Machakos, and Kitui are set to go green in the ambitious ten-year schools afforestation project.<\/p>\n

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“…it is imperative for us as KenGen to continue working with all stakeholders to achieve the targeted 10% forest cover in Kenya\u2019s Vision 2030”, David Muthike, Ag. MD KenGen.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

The Green Initiative Challenge expansion project involves schools in growing woodlots within their compounds with the drought resistant Muveshi<\/em> and Mukau<\/em> tree species. Pawpaw and Passion fruit trees have recently been introduced.<\/p>\n

Welcoming the new schools, the acting MD David Muthike noted that… , \u201cas we launch Phase III of the tree-planting competition, it is imperative for us as KenGen to continue working with all stakeholders to achieve the targeted 10% forest cover in Kenya\u2019s Vision 2030\u201d.<\/p>\n

The GIC Expansion is a 10-year project funded by the partners at a cost of Ksh. 120 million and is an upscale of the successful Phase I pilot project that initially involved 81 schools within the counties of Embu and Machakos.<\/p>\n

The project is designed as a challenge to participating schools, mainly due to the dry weather conditions in the areas. Prizes are awarded based on the highest survival rate of seedlings and use of innovation in growing the trees.<\/p>\n

\u201cPersonal commitment to the project is crucial for the success of the project at any given school\u201d, stressed Mike Njeru, Managing Trustee KenGen Foundation. \u201cOur experience has shown that the inclusion of the schools\u2019 administration in the GIC gives a school a higher chance of success as compared to when they are not involved\u201d, he added.<\/p>\n

The MD of Better Globe Forestry Jean-Paul Deprins noted the environmental challenges of the project area and wished the new entrant all the best in the competition. The company supports the Green Initiative Challenge expansion project through the provision of tree seedlings, monitoring and evaluation equipment, and capacity building activities.<\/p>\n

Susan Maingi of Bamburi Cement Ltd. pledged that the company will continue in supporting the project, not only in tree-planting, but also in infrastructure development and the awarding of education scholarships. The cement manufacturer will also arrange environmental education trips and sessions for the best performing schools.<\/p>\n

The schools Green Initiative Challenge expansion project targets to reach 140,000 school children by 2018, with the schools being used as channels to reach out to the wider community members and encourage tree planting and nurturing. So far, more than 90,000 seedlings have been planted in Phase II of the tree-planting competition.<\/p>\n

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KenGen Foundation Managing Trustee Mike Njeru<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

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Director of Corporate Affairs, Communications and Sustainable Development Bamburi Cement Ltd., Susan Maingi<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

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Managing Director Better Globe Forestry Ltd., Jean-Paul Deprins<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

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Follow us on Twitter through\u00a0<\/i>@KenGen_Foundatn<\/i><\/a>\u00a0and like our\u00a0<\/i>Facebook page<\/i><\/a>\u00a0for more updates.<\/i><\/p>\n

–<\/i>Ernest Nyamasyo<\/i><\/a>, Communication Officer<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

99 new schools joined the Schools\u2019 Green Initiative Challenge Expansion Project during the launch of Phase III of the afforestation competition at a colorful ceremony held at Tulimyumbu Primary School, Machakos County on 5 May. This bring to 219 the number of schools currently involved in the tree-planting project implemented by the KenGen Foundation in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":2771,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,53],"tags":[72,74,73,66,68,67,71,69,45,47,59],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kengenfoundation.co.ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2770"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kengenfoundation.co.ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kengenfoundation.co.ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kengenfoundation.co.ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kengenfoundation.co.ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2770"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.kengenfoundation.co.ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2770\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2786,"href":"https:\/\/www.kengenfoundation.co.ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2770\/revisions\/2786"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kengenfoundation.co.ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2771"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.kengenfoundation.co.ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kengenfoundation.co.ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.kengenfoundation.co.ke\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}