By Tobias Lengnan Dapam
Worried by the challenges posed by climate change, Save the Children International (SCI) Nigeria, took tree planting campaign to Junior Secondary School, Hajj-camp in Gwagwalada, a suburb in the nation’s capital, Abuja.
The tree planting which took place on Thursday was part of its engagement with the Child Rights Advocacy Club (CRAC) to amplify their voices on climate change impact on nutrition, health and wellbeing.
Speaking, Health and Nutrition Advocacy Assistant, SCI, Faith Osaretin, said the exercise was part of generation hope campaign, where they teach the children about climate change and the action they can take.
“In this very campaign, we are teaching the children why they should plant trees in their various environments. We have Cashew trees, Mango trees, Guava, Avocado and Orange trees. These trees are important because the children will be able to profit from these trees, it will also provide a source of nutrition for the children and also preserve the environment.
“We also want the children to be empowered in knowing what climate change is and the action they can take.
“We also want to teach these children to speak up in terms of climate action for them to pass messages to their fellow pairs, parents and government on what action should be taken about climate change.”
She called on government at all levels to be intentional about climate change, saying the children need to be preserved for the children who are the future.
“We want the goverment to be aware of these and put in policies that will preserve the environment for the children because they are our future.
“We also want the school management to encourage the children on these activities by ensuring that the tree must be watered and educate them more on the essence of climate change”.
Speaking on the spread of the campaign, Faith said the campaign took off at JSS Jabi, JSS Gwagwalada before Hajj Camp.
She said there are more plans to include other schools in Abuja.
Also on the tree planting campaign, Executive Chairperson of Women and Child Disaster Rescue Initiative, Ambassador Lizzy Oziri said they came to support SCI becasue the campaign aligns with their mission.
She said hey have been advocating for climate friendly environment to protect women children who are the most affected in any disaster.
On his part, the Principal of Junior Secondary School, Hajj-camp, Gwagwalada, Aliyu Hauwa said the program was timely.
She urged the children to replicate this very knowledge and transform the school environment.
