Kasese Humanist School: Tree planting initiatives at Kasese Humanist School

KASESE HUMANIST SCHOOL

TREE PLANTING INITIATIVES

Kasese Humanist School is secular school that is built on the foundation of Science and embraces Humanist values .We are found in Kasese District in Western Uganda.

Kasese Humanist School has 3 different locations on which our schools are built namely:

Rukoki campus, Bizoha campus – Muhokya and the Kahendero campus.

Tree shades and school gardens are common at our schools

At our schools, in addition to teaching the curriculum, we have also invested heavily in tree planting initiatives to give our schools a greener look at the same time enjoying the benefits that comes along growing trees.

Bwambale Robert Musubaho, The brains behind Kasese Humanist School

Why the need for growing Trees at the schools:

Trees acts as shades
Source of essential vitamins and other mineral nutrients especially fruit trees
Source of bio fuels, firewood to help in cooking food
Income generation as in poles, timber, firewood.
Serve as soil catchment and protects soil erosion
Serve as demonstration grounds for gardening lessons at the schools
Act as habitat for other tree animals, birds, insects etc.
Trees help buffer noise pollution
Trees add beauty to our schools
They are provide us oxygen
Trees contribute in water cycle and In modification of climate.
Tree help prevent water pollution
Trees help us mark the seasons just by the way they look.

Sharing fruits with the children

Types of trees grown at our schools:

We have planted trees purposely to serve several needs:

· Fruits Trees:

These provide fruits to our children, staffs and incase it is a better yield we can sell to the markets to generate extra income to support the school economically.

Examples of fruit trees on our Rukoki & Bizoha campuses provide Mangoes, Guavas, Oranges, avocados, Papaya, jack fruits, sour sop to mention but a few.

Avocado tree at the Rukoki School

· Medicinal trees

We have planted some trees to provide remedy to some ailments; we planted the Neem , Moringa and castor seed trees to serve this purpose. The locals too have found them useful as well.

Neem Trees at the Rukoki School

Commercial trees

We planted bamboo trees , Gluveria, Eucalyptus trees and Acacia trees on a large scale to ensure our schools invest in some way for the future, some of these trees take years to mature but we are committed to establish forests which will provide a steady income for our schools in the future.

Bamboos will be much needed in building cottages much common in safari lodges in the tourism sector.

Bamboo trees are common at our school sites and establishments

Eucalyptus forests provide poles, timber for building and making school furniture’s to mention but a few and Acacia trees to provide firewood much needed in kitchens.

Eucalyptus trees

Edible Forests

We have created edible forest initiatives where we have invested in planting banana farms at the schools to provide extra food to the school kitchen. This food has been consumed by the children and the staffs and has reduced on expenditures.

A mangoe tree thriving at the Bizoha School

We have planted Vegetables at our campuses and majorly we normally grow tomatoes, onions, egg plants, Sukuma wiki, Dodo, cabbages, green pepper etc.

We have planted staple food crops like beans, cassava, sweet potatoes, maize, Sim sim, Chia seed to feed on at the schools.

Bwambale checking on a Sukuma wiki garden at the Rukoki School

Creation of hedges at the Schools:

We have invested in planting hedges to beautify our schools at the same time adding a greener and environmentally friendly look. These hedges provide manure from the cuttings, fresh air and help beef up security.

Pupils at Bizoha School preparing hedge plant at the school

Creation of Nursery Beds and Green Houses:

In order to keep the Tree Planting costs low, Kasese Humanist School has invested heavily in creating our own nursery beds and Green houses such that it becomes easy to grow as many trees without the worry for funds to buy more seedlings.

Our Nursery beds where we nurture seedlings of trees

Mango World Ecological park:

Several years back we procured a spacious land that was more of a wetland with a thriving eucalyptus trees, we reduced on the eucalyptus trees and added fruit trees instead. We have 100’s of fruit trees growing up on this property and among the trees here are palm, Eucalyptus, Mangoes, Reeds, Bamboo, avocados and we do some minor farming activities of vegetables.

We plan to put fish ponds in the future and perhaps some tourist cottages and Tree houses in the future .This site neighbors the Kiwa Heritage Hot spring off Kilembe road which receives many revelers and tourists.

Avocados thriving at Mango world ecological park

Bizoha Farmland:

This is a farmland but we do have some fruit trees majorly mangoes, jackfruit and guavas thrive here. We have big plans to ration some acres for a tree project as well.

Eucalyptus trees on our Kilembe property

Kahendero School Acacia tree forest

The Kahendero School has a tree project that helps at ensuring the school looks green, this school borders the Queen Elizabeth National park and we are trying our best to make it appear green as possible. We planted a forest of acacia trees outside the school several years back and right now we embarked on a campaign of planting trees inside the school fence.

Cabbages growing at Kasese Humanist School

SOME HELPFUL TIPS FROM KASESE HUMANIST SCHOOL TO OTHER SCHOOLS

I encourage humanist schools to make good use of the land they have and add tree planting campaigns to your works.
I encourage schools to borrow a leaf from us and invest in Edible fruit trees, Medicinal trees, Commercial trees and Hedges at their respective schools.

Certain trees grow best in certain areas so planters should put this in mind. A water source, nature of soils, altitude and location are important, it’s better to plant trees in places that favors them to thrive.

They should put in place gardening lessons or Gardening clubs in their respective schools and engage students to actively participate in crop and tree planting initiatives.