Tree Planting to open Dialogue……

The Marange area has for some time now been famous for its alluvial diamond deposits. Whilst society refuses to look beyond just diamond, Environmental Buddies Zimbabwe Trust has not turned a blind eye to the societal problems that have marred this community. Gender imbalances in schools have become an unchallenged norm, so common that everyone has accepted it as a way of life. Despite the girl child commanding the highest number in population, there are very few girls enrolled in formal education systems.

Young girls have been married off at a tender age, resulting in children taking care of their own children. Culture upheld in Marange has prioritized the boy child at the expense of the girl counterpart in education. Incessant poverty and societal pressures have seen several cases of girl-child school drop outs being on the rise in the area. Other religious sects view the-girl-child as secondary citizen and rights to education are and have always been almost ignored.

Environmental Buddies Zimbabwe Trust being dedicated to environmental protection is equally concerned with the living conditions of our fellow humans, who are an indispensable and important part of the ecosystem.

Moving forward with our mandate of restoring the degraded environment through tree planting activities, the organization took the initiative of planting trees at Mafunde Primary School in Marange as a way to open dialogue with relevant stakeholders on issues affecting the-girl-child in Marange. Gathered at Mafunde Primary School the Marange community had a chance to converse on the issues affecting their community and discuss ways to mitigate poverty, child marriages, skyrocketing school drop outs and gender imbalances.

With the help of an excited team of Grade 6 students and staff members twenty five 25 trees were planted. The students went a step further to make brick walls to protect the trees from roaming goats and cows.

Each person who attended the tree planting left a mark of their commitment towards a better Marange community, by planting a tree that will go a long way in providing a balance to nature through afforestation efforts.

This would have not have been a success without the school’s Deputy Headmaster, Mr. Dangarembwa and Mrs. Machikiti (Teacher-In-Charge) who opened doors of their school to us and worked tirelessly for the event to be a success.