This project is not only about planting trees; but about nurturing a deeper understanding of ecological systems. The initiative also seeks to foster community engagement in sustainable practices, reinforcing the global movement towards environmental consciousness
Photo: Government Day Secondary Schoo, Wuse II with their Plant Seedlings
GIVINGTuesday is a global day of giving usually held on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. It is a day to inspire generosity for people in all parts of the world to support the causes they believe in and the communities they care about. The event was founded in 2012 by the 92nd Street Y in New York City and has since grown into a global movement with more than 80 countries participating.
This year, GlobalGiving is giving away $1.2m to the nonprofits of your choice from midnight to 11:59 p.m. EST on Nov. 28, 2023.
To commemorate this day in Nigeria, GivingTuesday Spark Nigeria, the youth arm of GivingTuesday, led in Nigeria by Husayn Zaguru, and in collaboration with the Embassy of Brazil, Rotaract Club of Wuse, P.I.B. Global Concepts, Food Hive Limited, and Australia-based Carbon Offset, brought together over a hundred school children to promote healthy living through tree planting, in what was tagged ‘100Treesfor100Kids’ Project.
Speaking at the event on Tuesday, at the Brazilian Embassy in Abuja, Deputy Ambassador of Brazil, Soares Marcelo commended the initiative, which, of course, was midwife by his predecessor, H.E. Ronaldo Vieira De Lima.
“This is a different kind of giving, and more importantly, it is a call to action that we must all embrace. And the fact we are instilling in the young people here, makes this more interesting,” he said. He narrated the challenges Brazil faced in curtailing illegal tree felling, and how the government rose to the occasion to ensure environmental conservation.
The diplomat, who arrived Nigeria only a couple of weeks ago, then led the 85 students who participated in the event physically on a tour of the embassy, which included what can be described as a botanical garden, within the Embassy, where you could find varieties of food crops and fruits, from pawpaw, avocado pear, yam, cassava, mango, cashew, lemon grasses, fish pond, and various type of flowers, in one place.
Nigeria Country Lead of GivingTuesday Spark, Hussain Zaguru, explained in his welcome address that the project aims at imparting practical knowledge and skills related to tree planting and care among children. “This initiative not only Sustainable Development Goals 13 (Climate Action) and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) but with the objectives of the global Giving Tuesday, which is anchored on kindness and care-giving. This project is not only about planting trees; but about nurturing a deeper understanding of ecological systems. The initiative also seeks to foster community engagement in sustainable practices, reinforcing the global movement towards environmental consciousness.”
A total of 105 students participated in the ‘100Kidsfor100Trees’ project, with 85 students physically present and an additional 20 engaging virtually. They were drawn from six schools and two children’s centres in Abuja, namely Government Day Secondary School, Olumawu School, Starfield Starters Academy, Apearl Premier Private School, Centre for Teaching and Learning, and Britarch School.
The Embassy, thereafter, donated 10 plant seedlings to each of the schools in attendance, in the spirit of the GivingTuesday initiative, encouraging them to plant and nurture them in their schools and homes.
Mrs. Achetu Ibrahim, Assistant Director, Department of Environmental Conversation at the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) however asserted that plants are living things that must be nurtured with respect because they contribute to healthy environment and living.
The organisers then presented certificates of special recognition, as Ambassadors of Giving Tuesday Spark Nigeria to Rotarian Rebecca Ebokpo, President of Rotary Club of Abuja, Rotarian Dr. John Ebokpo- RYLA Director-General, Rotarian Pietro U. Macleo, National Coordinator, Activating Positive Peace in Nigeria & Club Foundation Chair, District 9125 Programmes Chair, Rotarian Dr. Emeka Iloegbunam, Lead, Positive Peace Activators Network, West & Central, Mr. Peter Bassey, CEO, PIB Global Services, and a host of others.
Though not physically present, 8-year-old, Eyidesire Jerry-Adesewo, of Unique Rhema International, Kubwa, delights the audience with her climate change advocacy poem: ‘The Earth’, which underscored the importance of tree planting. “Plants renew the power of the earth/plant a tree to give the earth power,” she said.
Deputy Ambassador of Brazil, Soares Marcelo and Country Lead, Giving Tuesday Spark Nigeria, Husayn Zaguru
A cross section of students at the event
Students, participants and guests
