Temwa - Sustainable Community Development, Malawi - Launch of 'Degree Tree' Phase II

Tuesday, 01 March 2011 16:24

DSCF4409 On Tuesday, 22 February, Temwa staffer Megan Arch was at the University of the West of England (UWE) to spread the word about the second phase of the innovative, student-led ‘Degree Tree’ project which is getting underway this Spring.

Degree Tree was the bright idea of UWE student Kirsty Smith, who started thinking about the volume of paper she had built up during her studies when moving house at the end of her third year.

Kirsty thought she should plant a tree when she graduated, and then thought about how much paper 30,000 students would use. In 2010, with support from UWE Volunteering and a grant from the Better Together Fund, Kirsty was able to grow this seed of an idea into something amazing. A grant from UWE allowed Temwa to plant 6000 trees – one for every student who graduated in 2010 – in northern Malawi.

The second phase of the project will allow students to take the task of off-setting their paper usage into their own hands by collecting individual donations of £3 to plant a tree in their name. We hope this project will also make students at UWE aware not only of their own consumption of paper products, but of the severe consequences of deforestation experienced by people living in one of the poorest countries in the world.

Over the coming months, the student volunteers heading up the project will continue to spread the word about Degree Tree to ensure that as many students as possible are taking part and supporting Temwa’s work.

Overall it was a great day and we received lots of interest in Temwa and the Degree Tree project.

Many thanks to UWE for hosting us!