Stella Kavindu

A lot has changed in her environment after they started planting trees. Kavindu: ‘The soil was very weak when we started planting. The surface changed as the leaves of the native trees improved the soil. The soil erosion is less than it was before. And with these trees it is ever green! She indicates that they learned a lot: about planting, about pruning, and also taking about care of the cows. ‘Roeland Lelieveld, together with Daniel Muvali the founder of Africa Wood Grow, visits our farm to look at the progress. He takes pictures and he congrats me. I’ve learned a lot’.

But she would like to learn more and improve things. Kavindu: ‘More techniques for pruning, more training for the farmers. They need to get more information about how to take care of the trees with the lack of water. And most important… we need more funding. There are a lot of people waiting to become a member.’

Kavindu motivates these people to take good care of their trees. ‘Be patient, don’t disappear and stay connected. One day you will be a farmer like me’.

Except fearing the lack money for the project, she is very positive about the future. She saw bare and eroded land becoming very fertile. On her farm she works with five family members –she trains her kids because it is ‘good for the future’. Her surroundings are green and due to the planting of trees the climate conditions are improved. Kavindu: ‘The environment gets very good. And I am an expert in Melia trees and a teacher, so yes, I’m a happy woman!’