GPF Kenya Partners with Butere Girls High School to Champion Environmental Restoration

Wairimu Mwangi

July 14, 2025

Rows of small black planting bags on soil inside a greenhouse at Butere Girls High School, with a few people working in the background and blue buckets on the left—a GPF Kenya initiative supporting environmental restoration.

GPF Kenya helps lead environmental conservation efforts and youth leadership in peacebuilding.

Butere Girls High School, situated in Kakamega County, Kenya, is charting a new course in environmental stewardship and youth leadership by hosting the 16th Chandaria Tree Nursery under the nationwide tree restoration initiative. The program is spearheaded by Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Kenya in partnership with the Chandaria Foundation, Mama Doing Good, KEPSA Foundation, and KCB Foundation.

This landmark project positions the school as a critical player in Kenya’s 15 Billion Trees Campaign, a national goal to increase forest cover to 30% by the year 2032. The tree nursery at Butere Girls is expected to produce an impressive 100,000 seedlings annually, reinforcing the country’s bold reforestation targets while empowering students to be active participants in environmental action.

The choice of Butere Girls High School as the site for the new nursery is deeply symbolic. A place previously associated with unrest and controversies, it now carries a message of renewal and peace. In contrast to the ‘Echoes of War’ that once filled news headlines, ‘Echoes of Peace’ are now resonating from the school grounds as young learners lead the charge in ecological restoration.

“This project represents more than just tree planting,” noted a representative from Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Kenya during the launch event. “It’s about nurturing a culture of peace, responsibility, and intergenerational justice. These seedlings are living reminders that growth and healing are always possible.”

People are working outdoors in a garden or farm area at Butere Girls High School, participating in Environmental Restoration by planting and managing soil and plants, with buildings and trees in the background under a blue sky with clouds.

GPF Kenya helps lead environmental conservation efforts and youth leadership in peacebuilding.

The tree nursery initiative brings together a powerful coalition of stakeholders dedicated to sustainability, youth development, and community resilience. By establishing nurseries in all 47 counties of Kenya, the program aims to create widespread environmental impact while instilling a conservation mindset in the next generation. Students at Butere Girls will be hands-on in the maintenance and distribution of seedlings, integrating environmental education with real-world application.

For the students, this project is more than a school activity; it is a gateway to leadership in climate action and community service. Through caring for the nursery, they will learn critical lessons about ecology, climate change, responsibility, and the power of collective action. These experiences will equip them to advocate for change both within and beyond their communities.

The transformation of Butere Girls High School into a beacon of peace and sustainability signals a powerful shift in how schools can contribute to national development goals. It also highlights the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in tackling global challenges like climate change. This initiative also reinforces the role of educational institutions in shaping not just minds, but values. As the seedlings grow, so will a generation of young people committed to healing the earth and building lasting peace.

The project reminds us that environmental conservation and peacebuilding go hand in hand and require patience, commitment, and a vision for the future. For more information on how to support environmental programs by GPF Kenya, visit Kenya | Global Peace Foundation.