Rwanda Plants Trees in 4,000 Schools

Why this is here: Students at Groupe Scolaire Matyazo have already distributed 2,925 nursery-raised seedlings to communities near their school.

In Rwanda, UNICEF and partners launched “Our Trees, Our Future,” a program to plant fruit trees in over 4,000 schools nationwide. The initiative began at Groupe Scolaire Matyazo in Eastern Province, where students now spend Wednesdays planting and tending trees. They have already planted 1,040 trees on school grounds and distributed roughly 2,925 seedlings to local communities.

The program aims to reach more than 150,000 young Rwandans, integrating climate education into the curriculum. Each school will plant at least 40 fruit trees—avocado, mango, orange, and lemon—starting in late 2026. While these trees will take years to mature, the project intends to improve nutrition and environmental stability.

Rwanda has already exceeded its national forest cover target, reaching 30.4 percent. However, the country still aims to grow 300 million seedlings by 2030 as part of its broader national strategy. The program will also support over 2,000 tree nursery micro-entrepreneurs, fostering local economic growth.