GROWING ALONG
By Dela Awutey
Imagine a school surrounded by the soft whisper of leaves, fenced with blue netting, where every tree is a story planted by a student’s hands. Each tree grows alongside the students, its roots digging deeper as they learn, its branches reaching higher with their dreams. Schools are where young minds grow, and trees can be the ultimate teachers, offering lessons on patience,resilience, and connection to nature.
This isn’t just my musing, but an idea birthed by Prof. Asare Opoku, founder of Ananse Kwae (Ananse Kwae is a 42-acre forest rich in biodiversity and solely conserved by Prof. Asare Opoku). As part of the WTIG activities we visited the forest at Mampong, and I was amazed at how a place could bring to me healing and a deeper understanding of life and spirituality by preserving our natural environment. So, I decided to take that knowledge back to my school and teach my students to take care of their environment, especially by planting trees.
Now we know that when we plant trees, we don’t just plant a seed—we plant hope. Each sapling becomes a quiet guardian of fresh air, shade, and cooling breezes, creating a peaceful space for us to learn and play. The trees transform the schoolyard into a sanctuary, a place where our young minds find calm in the green embrace of nature.
Tree planting in schools isn’t just about beautifying the grounds. It’s also about growing minds, hearts, and a future rooted in care for our planet.