Kenya has taken a bold step in integrating sustainable agriculture and education for children with special needs, as the Green Generation Initiative (GGI) officially handed over its first Permaculture Learning and Feeding Garden to Treeside Special School in Kasarani, Nairobi County.
This innovative project features vertical hydroponic gardens, a food forest, and a chicken coop, designed not only to improve food security and nutrition but also to provide hands-on climate education tailored to children with special needs.
Elizabeth Wathuti, the founder of GGI and a globally acclaimed environmentalist and young climate leader, O.G.W, led the handover. Her organisation is dedicated to empowering children, youth, and local communities across Kenya to protect, restore, and conserve the environment through practical and educational initiatives.
The Treeside Special School garden represents a pioneering model with the ambition to be scaled up to 100 schools nationwide, amplifying its impact on nutrition and environmental awareness among vulnerable populations.
By combining permaculture principles with accessible learning environments, the project addresses multiple challenges at once: tackling food insecurity, promoting sustainable farming practices, and nurturing a generation of environmentally conscious young Kenyans with diverse abilities.
The launch of this first garden underscores Kenya’s commitment to inclusive education and climate resilience, showing how innovative partnerships between environmental organisations and schools can create lasting change.
As Elizabeth Wathuti remarked, “Empowering young minds through nature not only improves their well-being but also fosters stewardship for our planet’s future.”
The Green Generation Initiative’s pioneering work at Treeside Special School sets a hopeful precedent for sustainable education and community resilience across Kenya and beyond.
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