In a heartwarming and forward-looking initiative, the Nufashwa Yafasha Nursery School in Ngarama Sector, Gatsibo District, is leading a unique environmental protection campaign with its youngest learners. Children aged 3 to 6 enrolled in the school’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) center are actively participating in tree planting activities as part of a broader climate education and sustainability program.
With the guidance of their teachers and community volunteers, the children have helped plant over 50 indigenous and fruit trees in the school compound and surrounding areas. The initiative aims not only to combat deforestation but also to instill a lifelong sense of environmental responsibility from the earliest stages of learning.
Jean Paul Bujyacyera, founder of Nufashwa Yafasha Organization, said the project is more than symbolic. “We believe environmental protection starts with knowledge. By empowering children to understand and respect nature, we are raising a new generation of eco-conscious citizens.”
The program integrates environmental lessons into daily classroom activities from storytelling and songs about nature to hands-on activities like watering plants and composting. Parents and community members are also engaged to ensure the message extends beyond the schoolyard.
This effort supports Rwanda’s broader Green Growth and Climate Resilience Strategy, emphasizing local action in rural communities.
“We are teaching children that taking care of the planet is as important as learning to read and write,” said teacher Iradukunda Jean D’Amour. “It’s beautiful to see them proudly showing the trees they’ve planted.”
Nufashwa Yafasha School, located in Ngarama, Gatsibo District, Rwanda, is an inclusive community-based institution providing quality early childhood and primary education. Founded by the Nufashwa Yafasha Organization in 2018, the school emphasizes holistic development, including academics, health, nutrition, and environmental awareness. It supports vulnerable children and promotes equal access to learning for all.
The school integrates innovative programs like tree planting and digital literacy to foster responsible, future-ready citizens. At the end of school year 2024-2025, it accommodates more than 100 students. With the support of local and international partners, Nufashwa Yafasha School continues to empower young learners and uplift the surrounding community through education, care, and sustainable development initiatives.
