More than 50 learners at Golden Times Primary School located in Makindye, a Kampala suburb,
have been sensitised on the issues related to climate change. Through a partnership with the
Network for Active Citizens and the Sustainable Community Initiative for Empowerment under the
Ghetto Go Green project, teachers of the school were trained on how to use the limited space they
had in the backyard of the school to set up an urban garden, with the hope that greening of the
environment will help in combating effects of climate change. Through support by the Network for
Active Citizens, they were given seedlings, pesticides, gardening equipment like hoes and watering
cans. Through the process of setting up the urban garden, the school empowered pupils to take care
of the garden. The school added to the menu of the learners the vegetables that were harvested.
Through the support of Sustainable Community Initiative for Development, the school also formed
a school club called the Golden Times Urban Farmers Club, which sensitises on the importance of
urban gardens to the community. The club members meet every Thursday, to review progress of
the members in achieving their objectives. Through the club, the students have been encouraged by
their fellow peers to set up urban gardens at their homes, as well as to train their communities
about urban farming.
Through the school club, the young people have been able to learn and understand what climate
change is, what causes it, its effects and the different ways we can combat it, for instance through
encouraging people to go green, re-use and re-cycle all the materials and products that cause any
danger to the environment. School clubs help to bring students closer to each other, so that they are
able to learn and mentor one another.

By Nakandi Mastula

Community Jounalist