The Power of Growing Together: Lessons from Mazingira Day

Throughout October, young people around the world found their voices and turned inspiration into action. From celebrating Mazingira Day, Kenya’s national day dedicated to environmental conservation and stewardship, to championing the power of youth storytelling in climate education, CAVU celebrates bringing young people and communities together to build a more sustainable future.

By Lorna Wambayi
CAVU Africa Executive Director

On October 10, I had the wonderful privilege of joining students, teachers, partners, and friends at Alliance High School in Kenya to celebrate Mazingira Day, our national day dedicated to protecting the environment.

We had set ourselves an ambitious goal: to plant 10,000 trees by 10 a.m. It would take careful planning, many helping hands, and shared determination.

I am delighted to share that, together, we achieved it!

What stayed with me most was not simply the number of trees planted, remarkable as that was. It was seeing people come together with such generosity and enthusiasm. Students worked alongside teachers, volunteers, and community members, united by a common purpose to protect the environment which sustains us all. Schools traveled from as far as Kericho and Kisumu, bringing together participants from four counties.

One student, Franklin, who had joined previous activities at Alliance High School, spoke about how much he enjoyed the experience. His enthusiasm reminded me that when young people are invited to participate, environmental stewardship becomes more than a lesson. It becomes an experience they can take pride in and carry with them.

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At CAVU Africa, we believe in thinking globally while adapting locally. Mazingira Day was a beautiful expression of that belief. Although climate change is a global challenge, meaningful action begins in our schools and communities, through the choices we make and relationships we build.

I am especially grateful to Alliance High School for its leadership, NCBA for contributing trees and institutional support, and Ecosphere and Forthright for their invaluable contributions. My sincere appreciation also goes to the many partners, schools, and friends who made the day possible.

The celebration reflected the heart of our Climate Innovation Challenge (CIC): giving young people the knowledge, encouragement, and confidence to turn their ideas into meaningful action.

We see this across our participating schools. At Alliance High School, the award-winning ForestNukes project helped establish a forest of 837 indigenous tree seedlings, creating an outdoor space for learning. At Kivandini Comprehensive School, learners care for a tree nursery and sustainable school garden. At Ohana Brook School, students are expanding their vertical garden project to benefit their surrounding community.

These projects are especially dear to me because they demonstrate what young people can accomplish when we take their ideas seriously and give them room to grow.

As a mother of two children who have participated in CIC, I have also experienced the program from a parent’s perspective. I know how meaningful it is for a child to discover that their voice matters, their curiosity has value, and they can contribute something positive to the world.

Since introducing CIC in Africa in 2022, we have worked with more than 500 schools and reached over 15,000 learners across 7 countries on the continent. As we begin the 2026–2027 season, we remain committed to supporting educators, welcoming new schools, and building partnerships that create lasting opportunities for young people.

Mazingira Day gave us much to celebrate, but it also reminded us of the responsibility that follows. The trees we planted will need tending, just as our young people need continued guidance and opportunities to flourish.

I believe hope is more than wishing for a better future. It is recognizing that we have a part to play in creating one.

Thank you for walking alongside us, believing in our young people, and helping make moments like Mazingira Day possible. I look forward to all we will continue to accomplish together.

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Dedicated to the student solutions that power a brighter future for our entire planet.

Growing More with Less: Meet Ian Nasio Wycliffe

What if the answer to growing more food wasn’t finding more land, but making better use of the space we already have?

That question is at the heart of “Multipurpose Pyramid Garden,” a CAVU Student Showcase award-winning project from Joel Omino Comprehensive School in Kisumu, Kenya.

The project explores a simple but important challenge: how can communities grow food sustainably when land, water, and other resources are limited?

Through their pyramid garden concept, Ian and his fellow students demonstrated how thoughtful gardening techniques can make better use of available space while supporting food security. Their work earned the Most Practical & Effective Concept Award for Middle School in the 2026 CAVU Student Showcase.

This month’s Mazingira Day celebrations across Kenya offered another reminder of why projects like Ian’s matter. While CAVU Africa and its partners came together to plant 10,000 trees in a single morning, students like Ian are exploring how everyday environmental challenges can become opportunities for innovation.

Both efforts share something important: climate action begins when people recognize what their communities need and work together to create solutions.

Now, as a Youth Advisory Board member, Ian has another opportunity to contribute his ideas and experiences to the future of the Climate Innovation Challenge.

Watch “Multipurpose Pyramid Garden” and learn from Ian and his classmates about how innovative garden designs help meet community needs!

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Want the spotlight on your climate solution? Submit it to daniel@cavu.org

Whose Story Is It?

Bringing Student Voices to the National Stage

Presenting at this year’s 55th NAAEE conference, CAVU’s education team made the case for why youth voices and solutions should be at the center of climate education.

Whose story is it? That was the question at the heart of CAVU’s presentation at the 55th Annual North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Conference, held October 6–9 in Portland, Oregon.

CAVU Education Director Morgan Baker and Program Director Rebecca VanArnam joined environmental educators, researchers, and organizations from across the country to share how the Climate Innovation Challenge (CIC) places student voice at the center of climate education.

Their presentation, “Whose Story Is It? Centering Student Voice in Climate Education,” introduced educators to CAVU’s approach of combining climate science, creative storytelling, and student-led problem-solving.

Through an interactive lesson called Finding Your Entry Point, participants explored how students begin with something they already care about—whether sports, food, wildlife, or their own communities—and discover its connection to climate change. From there, students can turn curiosity into research, meaningful solutions, and stories that inspire others.

The Season of Giving is Almost Here!

As the year draws to a close, CAVU is preparing for our annual Season of Giving campaign, running throughout November and December.

This year’s campaign will celebrate the students, educators, and communities turning climate education into meaningful action, while inviting supporters to help bring the Climate Innovation Challenge to even more classrooms around the world.

Stay tuned for inspiring student stories, opportunities to get involved, and ways to support the next generation of climate leaders.

Support CAVU’s work at cavu.org/donate.

The 2026-2027 Climate Innovation Challenge is Underway!

A new year of student climate innovation is taking shape! Across Africa, the U.S., South Asia and beyond, hundreds of schools and thousands of students are already registered and gearing up for this year’s Climate Innovation Challenge.

There is still time to register and take this year’s challenge!

CAVU’s international STEAM program gives students in grades 3–12 the chance to explore local climate challenges, develop solutions, and tell their stories through short videos.

Learn more and register at cavu.org/TakeTheChallenge.