By Momodou Gagigo
In a determined push to confront the escalating climate crisis through hands-on environmental education, 100 tree seedlings were carefully transplanted at Kudang Arabic School this week under the One Child, One Tree Initiative, led by ActionAid International The Gambia.
The program is designed to embed a lasting sense of environmental responsibility in schoolchildren by ensuring that every participating pupil plants and nurtures at least one tree before completing basic education. Beyond simply expanding tree cover across the landscape, the initiative seeks to deepen young people’s understanding of climate change’s far-reaching impacts while equipping them with the practical knowledge and personal commitment needed to safeguard the environment for generations to come.
Under the scheme, each child is given individual responsibility for the ongoing care of their assigned tree. Those who successfully guide their seedlings to maturity stand to receive a bicycle as a tangible reward. Organizers say the incentive not only recognizes dedicated stewardship but also aims to motivate other pupils and neighboring schools to join the growing movement for environmental protection.
The planting day drew a broad cross-section of the community. Officials from ActionAid International The Gambia stood alongside teachers, religious leaders, community elders and excited students, underscoring a shared determination to build climate-resilient communities by placing young people at the heart of the effort.
Teacher Jatta Sabally praised the organization for introducing the project to Kudang and urged the children to take their new duties seriously. “Thank you, ActionAid, for bringing this initiative to our environment. To the students, please take good care of these trees because they can go a long way in helping this community. When you plant a tree, the blessings are abundant, and everyone can benefit from it,” he told the gathering.
Alagie Camara, Child Sponsorship Manager at ActionAid International The Gambia, reinforced the message of long-term commitment. He reminded the pupils that looking after a tree is far more than a classroom exercise; it is a lifelong duty that helps combat climate change, enhance biodiversity and foster healthier, more sustainable communities.
The One Child, One Tree Initiative is steadily expanding its reach across The Gambia, blending practical conservation with meaningful incentives that turn children into active champions of climate action. By entrusting young people with the responsibility of planting and protecting trees, the program is cultivating both greener landscapes and a new generation of environmental stewards ready to secure a more resilient future for the nation.
