KEPSA Foundation led by the Executive Director, Ms. Gloria Ndekei participated in this year's World Environmental Day celebrations on June 5th, 2024. The event was hosted by ChildFund and supported by DOW Africa. During the event, 300 Indigenous and fruit trees were planted at Mulala Comprehensive Primary School in Emali.

Dow Eastern Africa was led by Ms. Mumbi Keega, Public Affairs Leader for Africa & Managing Director, of Dow Eastern Africa while ChildFund was led by Ms. Alice Alinukur, Country Director. Other participants at the event were various school environmental clubs from the county, community members, the County Government of Makueni, local administration, and the Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI).

Ms. Ndekei advocated for deliberate actions towards climate conservation practices, "we have joined our partners in the regreening Africa program as part of the KEPSA Foundation Kijani Initiative which started in 2018 with partners like BIDCO and several KEPSA members, where Orchards were established at Mangu and Lenana schools, We are walking step by step with ChildFund and Dow to learn and benefit from the power of sustainable partnerships," She further urged the community to take charge of their environment by planting and taking care of their trees. she urged communities to avoid building on areas that had been known to be waterways, to prevent loss of property and lives during floods. She further noted that this year's World Environment Day aligned with the partners' activities in tree planting, which contributed to land restoration, halting desertification, and building resilience against drought. "Growing trees will restore water sources, improve soil quality, and become a source of income for communities and the country."

Speaking at the event, the ChildFund Country Director noted that earlier in the year, ChildFund launched the Regreening Africa Project to counter the impacts of climate change and improve the resilience and adaptability of youth, women, and children in Nairobi, Makueni, and Kajiado counties in Kenya with the support of Dow. The project aimed to work with youth and women to establish tree nurseries as sustainable income-generating enterprises and climate change mitigation. She noted that the program resonated with this year’s theme for World Environment Day 2024 on land restoration stopping desertification and improving drought resilience.

Ms. Keega, representing Dow underscored World Environment Day 2024 call to action for individuals, communities, and organizations to come together and work towards a sustainable and thriving planet as it was an opportunity to raise awareness about environmental issues, inspire others to act, and catalyze positive change. She further urged communities to engage in projects that enhanced drought resilience actions and promoted environmental conservation to mitigate the floods and droughts that affect our country from time to time. Ms. Keega hailed the communities for taking responsibility and managing the projects that had been funded and retaliated that Dow was ready to upscale funding for sustainable projects