Pupils taught the importance of trees

SCHOOL CHILDREN have been encouraged to start small gardening projects in their spare time.

This was said by Ester Hango, the environmental awareness and education officer at the Eenhana multi-purpose youth centre in Ohangwena region to pupils and teachers from the Usko Nghaamwa Special School, Eenhana Primary School, Paulus Hamutenya Primary School, Eenhana Secondary School, who made an environmental education visit to the centre last Friday.

Hango showed them the centre’s garden and nursery where they were taught the importance of trees to the environment and that people should grow their own food whenever they can. The garden was established in 2013 and is used for training youths from Eenhana and the Ohangwena region on gardening and environmental issues.

“We have trained about 57 youths on gardening from 2013,” Hango said.

She said the project has received financial support from the German Technical Cooperation (GIZ) and the National Youth Council.

They grow vegetables such as tomatoes, spinach, beetroot and onions for sale to staff members and visitors to the centre. The nursery has a variety of trees which Hango said are sold to the community and used in tree-planting demonstrations.

Hango said the centre, in collaboration with the Eenhana Town Council, has encouraged schools to set up projects to enhance protection of the environment.