Other Programs
Literacy
Each woman’s group participant initially receives 20 saplings to plant around her homestead. In addition, they receive foundational training to ensure their trees are successfully maintained and sustainably cultivated. This training is further supplemented by individualized check-ins and consultations throughout the program. To remain in a women’s group, a woman must effectively maintain at least 50% of her trees. Those who demonstrate this skill and commitment will have the opportunity to procure additional trees.
Our Trees
We select trees that are either native to Tanzania or are noninvasive, and suitable to grow in the harsh, unpredictable conditions of Monduli. We choose trees that are relatively fast-growing, easy to harvest (i.e. do not have thorns), and offer positive externalities to the native ecosystem and the women who plant them.
Currently we plant: Croton megalocarpus (Croton), Markhamia lutea (Markhamia), Rauvolfia caffra (Quinine), Gravellea robusta (Silky Oak), Cordia africana (East African Cordia), Persea americana (Avocado), Mangifera indica (Mango), and Moringa oleifera (Moringa).
Benefits
Mature trees directly provide many different resources for the women, their families, and the greater community. Women use certain trees to fuel fires for cooking, collect fruit from others to feed their families, and harvest timber to sell for profit. Other trees will remain in their homesteads, revitalizing the local ecosystem, improving soil health and reducing soil erosion.
Despite the challenging environmental conditions in the Monduli district, most women are successful, and the average tree survival rate so far is 75.5%. To date, our groups have planted over 6,800 trees!
School Plantings
In addition to our women’s groups, we also work with local schools to plant trees around their campuses. Through our program, school children and teachers receive trainings on how to plant and maintain trees and the importance of environmental conservation. From there, children maintain trees individually, enabling them to gain a sense of independence and responsibility. We have noticed many of these children have also begun planting trees around their homesteads and disseminating the knowledge they have learned to their families! So far, we have planted over 3,500 trees through local schools.
Our Future Plans
In the upcoming years, our goal is to for each woman to plant a total of 100+ trees. This would amount to a total of over 20,000 planted by WAEV members.
We aim to collaborate with more local schools and local governments to plant trees around campuses and community areas.