Small gardens, big change: Scouts transforming communities in Kenya

In Kenya, young people are turning small school gardens into a lifeline for their communities. Through the Green Skills for Youth-Led Climate Action around the Green Rising Project, Scouts are leading action where it matters most, improving food security, restoring the environment, and reaching communities that are often hardest to access.

The impact is already clear:

- Over 2,100 young people have been directly engaged
- Over 11,000 community members are benefiting
- 2,200 kilograms of food produced
- More than 22,000 trees planted

What began as a training initiative has grown into a community-driven movement, one that is changing mindsets, building resilience, and equipping young people with skills for life.
 

Turning learning into real impact

Across four counties, including arid and semi-arid areas, Scouts are putting their skills into action. In schools across Nyandarua and Nanyuki, young people are growing vegetables that are:

- Supplied to school feeding programmes
- Improving daily nutrition for students
- Generating income to support vulnerable families

What was once unused land is now feeding schools and strengthening communities.
One school leader shared, “We have seen the Scouts grow vegetables that are now feeding our students and teachers. This project has made a real difference in improving nutrition in our school.”

Innovation that works anywhere

Even in areas with limited space, Scouts are finding solutions. Using conical tower gardens, they grow vegetables vertically, making food production possible in small or crowded spaces. At the same time, they are using organic farming methods that protect both people and the environment.

As one Scout from Nanyuki explained:

Changing mindsets, unlocking potential

The impact goes beyond food and income. In Nyandarua, children living with disabilities, who were previously excluded from many activities, are now actively participating, contributing, and building confidence. Teachers and communities are beginning to see ability, not limitation. “This project has changed how we view these children. We now see their potential and what they can achieve when given the opportunity,” shared the school Deputy Headteacher.

This shift is helping create more inclusive, supportive communities.

From Skills to Service

The project is also inspiring young people to give back. In Naromoru - Nyeri County, Scouts are using proceeds from their harvests to support a children’s home for young people with disabilities, providing food and essential supplies.
A representative from the home shared:

Skills that last a lifetime

Through their involvement, Scouts are gaining more than agricultural knowledge.
They are developing:

- Teamwork, by working together in gardens
- Entrepreneurship, by selling produce and managing income
- Leadership, by organising and leading activities
- A sense of service, by supporting vulnerable groups

These are lifelong skills that will continue to shape their futures.

A project that communities own
A key strength of the project is its sustainability. As the project coordinator, Isaac Makinya  explained:

This ownership is ensuring the impact continues, through schools maintaining gardens, families adopting new practices, and communities building resilience together.

From improving nutrition in drought-prone areas to supporting vulnerable communities and changing long-held perceptions, the Green Skills Rising Project is showing what young people can achieve when given the right support. This is more than a project; it is a movement of resilience, inclusion, and hope. And through Scouting, it is ensuring that no community, and no young person, is left behind.