In climate-stressed Turkana County, refugees in Kakuma and Kalobeyei are leading restoration through Trees of Hope, a refugee-led project by LMTD Africa and BIDII YETU. From 2023–2025, communities planted 600 trees, reframing refugees as stewards and spurring demand for a 1,000-seedling nursery.
By: Joseph James Udoh |Columnist | WBN NEWS Africa | December 28, 2025
Part 3 of 3
In northern Kenya’s Turkana County, one of East Africa’s most climate-stressed regions, refugees are emerging 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, based in Nashville, TN, and in partnership with BIDII YETU, a refugee-led organization working across Kakuma Refugee Camp and the Kalobeyei Integrated Settlement.
Kakuma was established in 1992 and Kalobeyei followed in 2016 to ease congestion and support sustainable integration. Today, both settlements face intensifying heat, deforestation, and land degradation, driven by population pressure, fragile soils, and erratic rainfall trends widely documented across arid and semi-arid East Africa.
Implemented between 2023 and 2024, Trees of Hope reframes refugees as environmental stewards rather than passive aid recipients. Through youth leadership, community volunteerism, and collaboration with host communities, the project has planted and nurtured 600 trees in schools, households, and shared spaces. According to the project report, “600 thriving trees have already begun transforming schools, households, and community spaces into greener, cooler, and healthier environments.” The project took 8 months at a cost of $1650 USD.
Community ownership has been central to success. Students, teachers, households, and faith-based institutions actively care for the trees. As one school leader noted, “Seeing them growing strong fills us with joy and hope.”
Growing demand underscores impact: five additional schools and several households have requested seedlings. The next phase aims to establish a 1,000-seedling nursery, scaling restoration through local leadership, partnership, dignity, and long-term resilience for refugees and host communities alike. https://Letsmakethedifference.org
Read Part 1 Refugees Leading Climate Action in Northern Kenya
Read Part 2 climate-pressure-mounts-in-kenyas-refugee-heartland/
TAGS: #Tree Planting #Refugees #Kenya #Sustainability #Climate Action
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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