Building Greener Schools and Communities in Kampala

In a sunlit schoolyard in Kampala, children gather around a patch of earth, shovels, and watering cans in hand. Together, they place seedlings into the soil, sharing what they’ve learned about the importance of each plant for their community’s ecosystem. When the project is finished, they’ll have created a vibrant urban garden in their schoolyard.

This garden is more than just a collection of plants: it’s a testament to the power of hands-on, play-based learning. The children are members of their primary school’s Environment Club, which Right To Play supports as part of a program called Tusobola, which means “we can” in the Lugandan language.

In the Club, students learn about sustainability, pollution, and the importance of caring for their environment. Uganda, like many countries, is grappling with the effects of climate change, with extreme weather conditions such as floods and droughts disrupting agriculture and threatening food security. Additionally, the country faces challenges with plastic and clothing waste, leading to environmental degradation.

Students lead clean-up drives and other community activities and get the chance to learn and talk about the impacts of climate change, The combination of hands-on activities and in-class learning is helping students become more aware of environmental issues and take proactive steps to address them.

Supporting Environmental Education For Children

The Ugandan National Environment Management Authority estimates that 600 tonnes of plastic is disposed of in Uganda daily, but only 5% of it is recycled. Initiatives like the Environment Clubs are essential for fostering awareness and promoting sustainable practices to combat these issues.

The student’s school garden is made from recycled and upcycled materials such as water bottles, car tires, old plastic buckets, and timber collected by the children. These gardens serve as living classrooms where children can explore nature and learn about the importance of environmental protection firsthand.

In addition to the garden itself, teachers are raising awareness with students and the wider community about the effects of pollution and the importance of sustainability. Through games, teachers help students understand concepts like conservation, and students have held debates, done presentations on environmental issues, and run clean-up drives to encourage everyone in their community to think more deeply about environmental protection.

Playing For The Future

Educating young students about the impacts of climate change and their role in mitigating it is crucial: Uganda has one of the youngest populations in the world, with more than 44% of its citizens under the age of 14. In response, Right To Play’s environment clubs aim to empower children by giving them the tools and knowledge to make a difference.

Climate change can often seem overwhelming and abstract, but initiatives like play-based learning and environment clubs give children a sense of agency and understanding. By actively engaging in these programs, children learn that their actions matter and that they have the power to make a difference. As these young environmentalists grow, they bring with them a message of resilience and optimism, demonstrating that even small efforts can lead to significant positive change for the future of our planet.