By Lilian Mukoche
Kakamega County, Kenya: Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology University Academic Staff Union(UASU), recently conducted a tree planting activity to help mitigate climate change effects.
The university has championed community development through various Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities carried out within Western Region in Kenya dubbed ‘Jamii Yetu Wajibu Wetu’ to help bring the University closer to the Community.
Dr. Humphrey Agevi, the UASU Deputy Secretary-General and the Lead for the Tree Planting activity say the activity is one of the CSR activities being carried out by the University Academics union as a way of giving back to the community.
“We chose a school and not a forest for this activity so that we have an element of monitoring the trees to grow to maturity and since the University conducts most of its CSR activities at Mahiakalo Primary school we thought it wise to have the pilot planting activity here as we plan to upscale to other schools in the near future.”
He says adding that pupils are still young and will live longer to experience the effects of environmental degradation and climate change and therefore by them starting to conserve the environment early, they then will reduce the effects of climate change.
Dr. Agevi says the pupils will not only plant a tree but will adopt a tree and monitor them to maturity, adding that as a union they will also involve this in 4k clubs which the government has initiated in schools.
Dr. Regina Bwire a committee member of UASU and the Coordinator for CSR activities says there are three CSR activities that have been lined up by the union where already one on Reproductive Health has been carried out successfully.
“This is our second CSR activity as a union where we have led staff and students to plant trees at Mahiakalo Primary School to help mitigate climate change issues and also green the school. Apart from that, we are here to encourage the students and pupils to pursue academics in terms of studying and prioritizing their lives.” She says adding that UASU is not just being a unionist, but also about changing their surroundings and leave a better world. She says the next CSR event on an anti-jigger campaign will be held in Hamisi in Vihiga County.
The Director Cooperate Communications and Marketing(DCCM) at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Dr. Lydia Anyonje said the CSR activity of tree planting is one of the major outreach activities championed by the union of Academic staff and this boosts the visibility of the university and also shows a new face of the union.
“In the past, the union has always been known of being at loggerheads with the universities and management but by having such events, it shows that the unions have changed and can now be used to champion some of the initiatives and outreaches into the communities that the university would like to do.” She says adding that Unions are proving to be important tools that the universities can use for good and not for violence as it’s been the norm in the past.
Dr. Anyonje says that as MMUST, they are proud of their staff and union stating that this initiative is one of the ways in which the University is trying to reach the community and transform community livelihoods so that education can matter for having an institution around community matters and is important for development.
Prof. Samuel Kubasu Kwashe a Trustee in the Union says UASU MMUST Chapter has come up with activities that the union shall be engaged in, in an effort to promote community outreach services which is part and parcel of academics.
“As a union, we realized that most of our schools are open without enough tree cover and therefore this activity is to increase the coverage of trees for the purpose of shelter, water catchment, timber, and rain”. He said.
He encourages the school to utilize the expertise that MMUST has to offer. These include Research, Academics, Sports, and other sectors related to the growth of the school.
The headteacher, Mahiakalo Primary School Mr. George Mukholi thanked MMUST for choosing his school for the tree planting exercise and promised to work with the University in any other future activities.
The Pupils Shalom Alumasi, Whitney Chimoli, Anabel Khakoko, Naomi Juma, Malon, and William Anayi on behalf of others, were very much pleased with the gesture of tree planting at their school saying that trees are very important for they are the main component in purifying the air and by planting the trees the environment is conserved adding that trees bring rain, give them oxygen and make their school green.
The pupils urged the communities to help them take good care of the trees for a better future. The tree planting exercise at Mahiakalo Primary school in Kakamega County brought together the University Union team led by the Secretary-General Dr. Benard Omogo and the Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Humphrey Agevi, Environmentalists, Teachers, parents, and pupils working towards a common goal.
