Taking the classroom outside: How nature is teaching valuable lessons in Uganda

A 100-year-old mango tree grows in the heart of Kikandwa, Uganda. But not long ago, the community considered cutting it down for charcoal. Instead, everyone from school children to elders have been part of a community environmental effort. 

John Kaganga founded the Kikandwa Environmental Association in memory of his grandfather, who would walk hundreds of kilometers for seeds to plant trees. But it’s taken community members like Vincent Lutalo to make John’s dream of a green future a reality. Vincent teaches at the community school, where children are not only taught their letters, but how to grow seedlings and the fundamentals of beekeeping. It’s a change Kikandwa hopes will spread as the children grow up and travel outside the community. 

Transcripts and photos from the episode can be found at https://farmradio.org/taking-the-classroom-outside/

This episode was produced by Alex Dines and edited by Tara Sprickerhoff. 

More about Nature Answers: Rural Stories from a Changing Planet at farmradio.org/natureanswers

This is a Farm Radio International podcast produced thanks to funding from the Government of Canada.