Make a Difference week hosted by the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) is an annual week of global restoration action where individuals and organizations from around the world host and participate in local volunteer restoration events. 

During this year’s Make a Difference Week, the LEAD Foundation organized several impactful activities designed to promote Tree restoration, ecological restoration, community engagement, and sustainable practices. Here’s a recap of the week’s highlights:

1. Building Restoration Champions: A Training of Trainers Event in Singida Region

We conducted a training of Trainer (ToT) training with an aim of building local Restoration Champions in Singida Region focused on equipping participants with the necessary land restoration skills and knowledge to become advocates for restoration within their communities. By empowering restoration champions, the LEAD Foundation aims to ensure the knowledge and skills are passed on effectively and sustainably in local communities of Singida. A total of 480 restoration champions attended a four days training, these champions will reach a total of 72,000 of their fellow farmers and inspire them to adopt our restoration techniques. This is just a part of the wider program in Singida where we plan to restore over 8 million trees within the region in collaboration with the local communities and our partner Justdiggit.

2. Handing out 400 beehives to the local communities of Mpwapwa

As part of our motivation strategy to farmers who are practicing tree restoration and a way of promoting environment friendly economic activities to the local communities. We handed out 400 beehives to our restoration advocates in Mima and Kibakwe divisions of Mpwapwa in Dodoma, Tanzania. This is made possible through our regreening project that we are implementing with our partner Ecosia. Our champion farmers in Mima and Kibakwe have helped in the restoration of over 1 million trees in the past three years, all trees restored using the Kisiki Hai technique. This was a perfect time to introduce beekeeping, an economic friendly activity to the trees but also helps to improve livelihood as farmers can get income from selling honey and can use different other bee products like loyal jelly as medicine.

An interactive workshop on beekeeping was held in Mpwapwa, Dodoma blending scientific techniques with local knowledge. The workshop aimed to acquaint participants with the type of beehives we handed out and provided practical training on their installation and maintenance. The workshop outlined the project objectives and projections, ensuring that all participants understood the goals and potential impacts of their beekeeping efforts.

3. We won The Project of the Year Award – Tanzania Environment Award 2024

In the make a difference week our efforts were recognized nationally, The LEAD Foundation was honoured with the “Project of the Year” award at the Tanzania Environment Award 2024 for its innovative Kisiki Hai initiative. This recognition underscores the Foundation’s commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable practices.

4. Kick started a roadshow tour that aims to visit 300 villages

During our movie roadshows or the travelling cinema as some call it, we visit hundreds of villages with a regreening film to explain and teach regreening techniques such as Kisiki Hai (FMNNR) and Fanya Juu/Chini.

In the make a difference week we kick started this year’s roadshow which will cover 300 villages in total. We are always amazed with the large number of farmers that are showing up at the events, the movie inspires the farmers to get started with regreening.

A single roadshow is a half day event filled with theatre, music, traditional dances, performances all about our restoration techniques. When the evening falls a large movie theatre screen is setup, which shows the inspiring regreening movie.

 

5. Harvesting of Grass seeds in Pembamoto, Dodoma

Our Pembamoto Rainwater harvesting project is an award that keeps giving. The project helped to transform a communal land in Pembamoto village from a dryland covered with red soil to a green savannah. The site now has tall grass that benefits the community in so many ways. In the make a difference week the local community from Pembamoto harvested grass seeds. They will sell the seeds to other local communities and they will use the income in community development projects in their village. Some of the grass seed will also be used to regreen other areas of the village. Last year the income from grass seeds was used to build class rooms within the community. The program is located in Dodoma, Tanzania and implemented with our partner Justdiggit

Conclusion

Make a Difference Week was a resounding success, showcasing the LEAD Foundation’s dedication to ecological restoration, community engagement, and sustainable development. The events and initiatives conducted throughout the week have left a lasting impact, empowering individuals and communities to contribute to a greener, healthier future.