by Alan Jacques
CLOSE to 1,000 Limerick national school children are joining a campaign that’s planting more than a million trees in Ireland and Africa, this year.
In the lead up to Christmas, pupils and teachers from 24 national schools across the county will hold tree planting ceremonies on school grounds and public land, and will lend their backing to communities who will be planting tens of thousands of new trees in Uganda, Kenya, Senegal and Malawi before the end of the year.
The schools initiative is part of the One Million Trees campaign, which will see Self Help Africa plant over a million trees this year.
Supported by the INTO teachers’ union, the campaign will see native Irish seedlings being distributed for planting by each participating class group. Workshops, collections and other activities are also being held in hundreds of schools to support tree planting activities in Africa.
INTO President Joe McKeown said that the campaign was a great opportunity for schoolchildren to learn more about trees, and climate issues, and also play their part in the worldwide effort to combat climate change.
“Young people are very aware of the challenges of global warming. A campaign like this gives them the change to engage directly with the issue, and also learn about the impact in parts of the world that are extremely vulnerable to climate change,” he added.
The local schools that are taking part in the effort are Limerick School Project, Templeglantine NS, Carnane NS, Garrydoolis NS, Scoil Iosaf, Newcastlewest, Ardagh NS, Scoil An Spioriad Naoimh, Ballysheedy, Cloverfield NS, Dromkeen, Donoughmore NS, St Patricks Boys and Girls national schools, Limerick, Ahane NS, Scoil na mBraithre, Doon, St John the Baptist Boys NS, Penneywell, Crecora NS, Kilcolman NS, Scoil Mhuire, Kilmallock, Caherelly NS, Castleconnel NS, Tineteriffe NS, Cappamore, St Paul’s, Dooradoyle, St Brigids NS, Singland and Limerick Educate Together.
Former INTO President Mary Magnier, who is an ambassador for the One Million Trees schools campaign said that she been overwhelmed by the support that the campaign has received from schoolchildren and their teachers right across the country.
The venture is also being backed by the Gaelic Players Association (GPA), who include thousands of primary teachers in their ranks, and is supported by Glenisk, who have mobilised public support by promoting the tree planting initiative on their products.
Self Help Africa planted ‘One Million Trees’ in Africa and a further 100,000 native trees in Ireland last year, and are on course to achieve a similar target in 2021, thanks to the support of Irish primary schools.
To find out more visit: selfhelpafrica.org/onemilliontrees
