Hundreds of national school children from Cavan and Monaghan have joined a campaign this Christmas that aims to plant more than a million trees in Ireland and Africa, this year.
In the lead up to the festive season, pupils and teachers from Corlurgan NS; St Aidan's, Bawnboy; Gaelscoil Bhreifne, Cavan; Rockorry NS; Dunacruttin NS; St MIchael's Castleblayney; St Oliver Plunkett's NS, Castleblaney; and Scoil Eanna, Ballybay will hold tree planting ceremonies on school grounds and public land.
By doing so they will lend their support to communities who will be planting tens of thousands of new trees in Uganda, Kenya, Senegal and Malawi before the end of the year.
The schools initiative is part of the One Million Trees campaign, which will see Self Help Africa plant over a million trees this year.
Supported by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO), the campaign will see native Irish seedlings distributed for planting by each participating class group.
Workshops, collections and other activities are also being held in hundreds of schools to support tree planting activities in Africa.
INTO President Joe McKeown said that the campaign was a great opportunity for schoolchildren to learn more about trees, and climate issues, and how to play their part in the worldwide effort to combat climate change.
“Young people are very aware of the challenges of global warming,” he added.
“A campaign like this gives them the chance to engage directly with the issue, and also learn about the impact in parts of the world that are extremely vulnerable to climate change.”
