The Helen Margaret Owen Foundation has been awarded the prestigious Green School Initiative Award 2025 by the Uganda National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA). This recognition celebrates the foundation's exceptional commitment to environmental conservation and sustainability education.
Kirinya Children's Centre has implemented several groundbreaking environmental initiatives:
- Planted over 1,000 indigenous trees on the school grounds
- Installed a solar power system that provides 70% of the centre's electricity
- Created a plastic recycling program that turns waste into building materials
- Established a school garden that uses organic farming methods
- Implemented rainwater harvesting systems across all buildings
- Created environmental awareness clubs for students
"This award confirms that we are not just educating children academically but also raising environmentally conscious citizens," said Head Teacher James Muwanga during the award ceremony. "Our students are now environmental ambassadors in their communities."
The award includes a grant of 10 million Ugandan Shillings to expand the environmental programs, which will be used to install additional solar panels and create a tree nursery to supply seedlings to neighboring schools.
This recognition places Kirinya Children's Centre as a model for environmental education in Uganda, and we have already received requests from 5 other schools to help them implement similar programs.
