Grant awarded to our forest and health project with Mount Kenya Trust
We've worked with Mount Kenya Trust for several years, initiating and supporting a community health programme for communities living around the forest.
We're pleased to share that a three-year grant has been awarded to a new project with Mount Kenya Trust. The new forest and health project builds on our existing partnership by funding Mount Kenya Trust's ongoing forest restoration and protection work, alongside providing healthcare for the communities at the forest edge.
The project will restore degraded forest by planting and protecting indigenous trees, train Community Forest Associations to manage resources sustainably, and strengthen forest patrols, including the Horse Patrol Team.
Women at a tree nursery
Alongside this work, our mobile health clinics and family planning services will improve health for the communities, easing the financial pressures that can drive families to rely on illegal logging, charcoal production or clearing forest land to get by.
Work will begin in October with baseline surveys and training and development for Community Health Workers and rangers. Then community dialogues and mobile outreaches and forest restoration and patrols will follow.
We will offer health services as part of the new project: Participatory Forest Restoration and Inclusive Resource Management for People–Nature Coexistence
Healthy communities and healthy forests go hand in hand. When families have access to quality healthcare and sustainable livelihoods, they are better able to protect the natural resources they depend on. I believe every person deserves the opportunity to live a healthy, dignified life. By investing in both community health and forest conservation, we are creating lasting change for people and nature to thrive together.
Ketty Gitonga, Community Health Officer and Project Manager, Mount Kenya Trust
Part of the funding for this project came through our Earth Raise campaign earlier this year, when supporters helped us raise £10,249.
We'll share updates as the work progresses, so you can see the difference this project is making.