Students of Inde Technical Institute in Madi Okollo, Omugo Technical School in Terego, and Lodonga Polytechnic School in Yumbe district have been trained to spearhead environmental conservation in the West Nile region.

The students in the selected vocational institutions have been trained in briquette making, and construction of energy-saving stoves and water tanks to collect rainwater.

This is in a bid to curb the devastation impacts of climate change currently being witnessed in the refugee-hosting districts of West Nile.

Meanwhile, the community members have been engaged through a dialogue to plant their home trees like fruit trees and other species to conserve the environment.

According to the World Bank statistics, over the past two decades, an average of 200,000 Ugandans are affected each year by disasters related to climate change.

Festus Ayikobua RDC Terego district planting a tree during the climate education caravan greening in schools and communities in Terego district on Tuesday as other officials look on December 12 2023. Photo by Bosco King

This intervention has been made possible through OXFAM Uganda with funding from the government of Denmark under DANIDA Strategic Partnership II after the launch of a four-year project titled "Humanitarian Development and Peace Initiative for Crisis Affected Population in Uganda”.

The students have this week been introduced to climate education caravan and community greening for a sustainable future in the refugee hosting districts of Madi Okollo, Terego, and Yumbe in West Nile.

Phillip Talemwa, the project manager of ‘Humanitarian Development and Peace Initiative for Crisis Affected Population in Uganda” at OXFAM Uganda, under climate education, said providing students with a comprehensive understanding of climate science enables them to comprehend the causes and consequences of climate change.

“This knowledge empowers individuals especially students to make informed decisions in their daily lives, such as adopting sustainable practices, reducing carbon footprints, and advocating for climate-friendly policies,” Talemwa said.

He added that teaching students to analyze and interpret climate data, climate education enables them to make evidence-based decisions and challenge misinformation as critical thinking ability not only for addressing climate change but also for navigating other complex societal issues

Manuela Onziru, a student of Inde Technical Institute in Madi Okollo district and a member of the climate justice club said the project will help in reducing some of the dangerous practices endangering the climate like cutting down of trees and reduction in bush burning and burning of charcoal.

Manuela Onziru student of Inde Technical Institute in Madi Okollo district. Photo by Bosco King

“Our school is already engaging in friendly climatic activities like briquette making, energy saving stoves making, and as soon as the rain season starts, we shall embark on tree planting both at the school and in the community,” Onziru said.

Joseph Drasiku, a student of Lodonga Polytechnic School in Yumbe district said that the project has brought for them the fruit trees which they are going to plant in the school.

“I will also plan to buy my own fruit trees which can be planted at our home,” Drasiku said.

Julius Ewaju, the district inspector of Schools for Madi Okollo district said that the schools and students need to embrace the project.

Caroline Bakole the district inspector of schools for Terego district commended the project that fights to ensure a green environment.

He appealed for transformative education where people have good attitudes towards the environment by planting trees.

The Resident district commissioner for Terego district Festus Ayikobua said climate change is becoming a big problem.

Solo Andama, the senior natural resource officer for Yumbe district said, the rains for this year that have continued up to December which is unusual is as result of rapid climatic change.