Tending to a garden, watering plants, and maintaining a green space feel like tasks that should be avoided in the eyes of any primary student. In a place where the sun is constantly shining, temperatures are high, and dust is a close friend, spending time outdoors doing manual labor seems more like a punishment than a pastime.

Mr. Murimi Nyaga, a dedicated fellow with Teach For Kenya at Mumbuni Primary School, catalyzed a shift in mindset by introducing a conservation garden in the school. Having a background in agriculture and a passion for gardening, Mr. Nyaga saw an opportunity and grabbed it! 

When the Climate Education and Leadership program was rolled out, Mr. Nyaga and a group of students, initially unsure of the project, set out to do something extraordinary. Many of them had never planted anything before, and some questioned why flowers mattered in the first place.  Mr. Nyaga had to show them that environment conservation is work that could be fulfilling when connected to a purpose.

Ruth Muthoni, a learner at Mumbuni Primary School and the chairperson of the Green Club, became fascinated with the different species of flowers Mr. Nyaga had brought. Seeing the tiny little seedlings they put in the soil and watered turn into vibrant, beautiful flowers made the students realize the power they had in their hands. Other students who just saw the garden as flowers began noticing butterflies and birds, and slowly, the space grew into a mini ecosystem. The school dedicated a space for it and marked it “a protected area” and took part in sourcing different species of flowers for the school’s conservation garden. The garden has become a significant conversation area between learners of the Green Club and learners from neighboring schools. This was the turning point of the club as it reeled in more students to participate.

The garden’s highlight is the flourishing 200 species of flowers, which have created a learning space for students to study biodiversity while taking pride in conserving what they built.  Today, the conservation garden stands as a symbol of environmental and personal growth. The mindset shift is evident. Students have become eager to take up responsibility and understand that hard work indeed pays, in this case, a beautiful payment. They have learned to appreciate nature and see themselves as catalysts of change and caretakers of their environment. 

CEL has made it clear that when kids are given a chance to create something meaningful, their attitude toward work changes. Like their garden, these students are growing into individuals who don’t just work because they have to but because they understand the value of what they are building and the impact they are causing regarding climate action.