Although many children countrywide do not participate in the “Umuganda” (community general cleaning every last Saturday of the month), they made a difference during the ‘National Tree Week’ from November 24th to 30th. The National Tree planting Week was founded in 1975 and marks the beginning of the tree planting season, and the celebration of trees and woods. Over a million trees were planted by Rwandans around the country. Children too participated in the tree planting exercise.Children from the Nkundabana Orphanage Home in Gaculiro planted about 2,000 trees in Kinyinya, a Kigali suburb. They did this together with Miss Kigali, Cynthia Akazuba. As they planted trees, they were very cheerfully and when asked why, they said that trees are the future of our country. Jason Rugero, the Director of the orphanage school told parents to teach their children the importance of conserving the environment. He encouraged all children to look after the trees they planted. Trees are important because they help in the formation of rainfall, give us fresh air, are a home for birds and insects and prevent soil erosion and the formation of deserts. Ends
