By: Abdou Darboe
The Human Rights Club of Kaur Senior Secondary School on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, commemorated World Environment Day under the theme “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future.” The event, held in the school hall, sought to sensitize students to the dangers of climate change and inspire them to plant trees as a practical step toward mitigation.
The occasion brought together key community and institutional stakeholders. Among those present were the Alkalo of Kaur Wharf Town, the Regional Forestry Officer of CRR North, the Community Forestry Officer, representatives from the Immigration Department, Kaur Police, the Police Intervention Unit, and other local leaders.
In his opening remarks, Principal Ahmed Jeng Sey emphasized that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility. He urged everyone present to plant trees to build a sustainable future for coming generations. Sey noted that the Human Rights Club had planted one hundred trees in Kaur Senior the previous summer, many of which have since grown successfully. He called on students and community members to sensitize friends, families and colleagues about the dangers of climate change.
Alkalo of Kaur Wharf Town Alhagie Mustapha Njie stressed the critical importance of forest cover. He lamented the extensive loss of forests caused by bush burning, environmental degradation and deforestation. These activities, he said, have contributed to the extinction of many wild animals. Njie recommended attitudinal change, large-scale afforestation and continued sensitization by advocacy groups as the most effective ways to minimize the impacts of climate change.
Guest speaker Madam Isatou Ceesay advised young people to take immediate action in their surroundings. She urged students to change their attitudes toward the environment by planting and replacing cut-down trees. Ceesay also called on them to stop littering and discarding used materials that could instead be recycled into useful products. She warned that careless disposal of such items harms the environment. Drawing from her own experience, she explained that she has recycled bicycle tires into key holders and wallets, and used groundnut, baobab and coconut shells to produce charcoal. Fabrics and animal skins, she added, can be transformed into local fans.
Regional Forestry Officer of CRR North, Jalamang Darboe, underscored the fundamental link between the environment and human survival. “Life without the environment is doomed,” he stated. He warned that the environment is on the verge of severe destruction due to charcoal burning and the expansion of farmland. To reduce the impact of climate change, Darboe urged everyone to plant trees in schools and communities. As a concrete contribution, the Regional Forestry Department of CRR North supplied the school with numerous Melina seedlings for planting both within and outside the school compound.
In his closing remarks, Mustapha Cham, VDC Chairman of Kaur Wharf Town, reminded students that protecting the environment is a civic duty. He called on all residents to engage actively in tree planting as a practical means of combating climate change.
The event highlighted the growing local commitment to environmental stewardship and the role of schools and community leaders in fostering sustainable practices for the benefit of future generations.
