Refugees in Kenya’s climate-vulnerable Turkana County are restoring their environment through the refugee-led Trees of Hope initiative in Kakuma and Kalobeyei. The project has planted 600 trees, reframing refugees as climate stewards and proving local action can build resilience and hope.
By: Joseph James Udoh |Columnist | WBN NEWS Africa | December 24, 2025
In northern Kenya’s Turkana County, one of the country’s most climate-vulnerable regions, refugees are stepping forward as leaders of environmental restoration. The Trees of Hope initiative is a refugee-led climate resilience project implemented by Let’s Make the Difference (LMTD) Africa in partnership with BIDII YETU, a refugee-led organisation working across the Kakuma Refugee Camp and Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement.
Kakuma was established in 1992 to host refugees fleeing regional conflict, while Kalobeyei was created in 2016 to ease congestion and promote shared services between refugees and host communities. Today, both settlements face rising temperatures, deforestation, and environmental degradation typical of Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands. Research across East Africa confirms that population pressure and climate stress accelerate vegetation loss and land degradation, trends that are clearly visible in Kakuma and Kalobeyei.
Against this backdrop, Trees of Hope was designed as a community-driven response that reframes refugees as environmental stewards rather than passive recipients of aid. As the project notes, “The Trees of Hope project was born from this context—a community-driven response that positions refugees not as passive victims of climate change, but as active environmental stewards.” Over two years, the initiative has successfully planted and grown 600 trees in schools, households, and community spaces.
LMTD supports this work through education, coaching, and impact project incubation, with more than 2,250 participants across eleven countries. The organisation affirms that “we assist those creating solutions in their communities for those struggling in challenging circumstances globally.”
Trees of Hope demonstrates that locally led action can restore dignity, rebuild landscapes, and inspire a greener future—one rooted in resilience, partnership, and hope. https://Letsmakethedifference.org
TAG: #Climate Action #Trees of Hope #Kakuma #Refugees #Kenya #Let’s Make The Difference #Community Led #Resilience
Joseph James Udoh is a WBN News contributor with a passion for digital empowerment. With a background in computer science, theology, and human resource leadership, he brings a unique blend of insight to his writing. An educator, counselor, and content strategist, Joseph is dedicated to helping individuals and teams thrive in today’s digital world.
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