Our impact

Restoring forests, empowering communities

Green Hearts is working to build a more sustainable and equitable future for all. On this page we describe what our profile documents.

Four areas of change

What we are working toward

Green Hearts Organization is creating a positive impact on the environment and communities by restoring forests, promoting sustainable energy and empowering future generations.

Restoring forests

Bringing trees back to degraded land, with the people who live beside it taking part.

What our profile documents: We empower local communities to take an active part in restoring degraded forests, so that they own the process and benefit from sustainable forest management.

Empowering future generations

Giving young people the knowledge and skills to understand and care for their environment.

What our profile documents: We train primary school pupils in environmental stewardship, and our work builds environmental literacy: the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to make informed choices.

Promoting sustainable energy

Encouraging eco-wood based bio-energy made from sustainably harvested wood, as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels.

What our profile documents: We prioritise sustainable harvesting techniques to protect the long-term health of forests, and we promote bio-energy generated from sustainably harvested wood.

Strengthening communities

Building ownership, shared knowledge and resilience to a changing climate.

What our profile documents: We work with communities on climate-resilient farming techniques, drought-resistant crops, water conservation strategies and climate-smart infrastructure.

Our journey

Key milestones

Key dates and recognition in our journey.

  1. 2017

    A well-wisher group begins

    Green Hearts starts as a well-wisher group working on environmental rehabilitation, clean-ups, climate-change advocacy, tree growing and wildlife conservation.

  2. 25 Mar 2017

    City Park Nairobi

    Invited by the Green Walk and Environment Conservation group, we helped restore trees damaged inside City Park forest. Green Hearts was not yet formed, but we were already doing conservation work. See the project.

  3. 2020–2021

    Kangema Nature Park planting events

    Starting on 22 November 2020 with 300 indigenous and ornamental trees, a series of community planting events turned plain, idle land into the Kangema Nature Park. See the events.

  4. 2023

    Registered as a Community Based Organization

    The group is officially registered as a Community Based Organization (CBO).

  5. 2023

    National Tree Planting Day

    Invited to the Murang'a water and Sewerage Company MUWASCO Sewerage Treatment site for National Mazingira Day event, our members planted 100 trees. See the event.

  6. 2023

    Africa Climate Summit, KICC

    Our founder, Mary Wambui, was invited to and attended the Africa Climate Summit 2023 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi.

  7. 20 Oct 2023

    Presidential Heroes Award, Mashujaa Day

    Our co-founder, John Kamau, was awarded a Presidential Heroes Award by H.E. President William Ruto, in recognition of his dedication to environmental conservation, during the 2023 Mashujaa Day celebrations in Kericho.

  8. 2024

    National Heroes Council strategic plan launch

    Because of his Heroes Award, our co-founder John Kamau was invited to the launch of the National Heroes Council's strategic plan 2023/24-2027.

  9. 14 Sep 2024

    Plant Your Age, Tatu City

    Invited by Dr Isaac Kalua Green to his birthday event, three Green Hearts representatives joined the planting of 47 trees for Kenya’s 47 counties, then planted trees by age. Together they planted 100 trees. See the event.

The results of our efforts

What our work has achieved

Five results of Green Hearts Organization's environmental conservation work.

Recognised nationally

In 2023 our co-founder, John Kamau, received a presidential heroes award from H.E. President William Ruto on 20 October, during Mashujaa Day in Kericho.

Invited to Africa's climate stage

Our founder, Mary Wambui, was invited to and attended the Africa Climate Summit 2023 at KICC, Nairobi.

Kangema Nature Park restored

We have turned plain, idle land into the Kangema Nature Park.

Kitchen gardens in 6 primary schools

We have established kitchen gardens in 6 primary schools. The list of schools will be added here.

Trees planted and shared

Green Hearts has planted 10,220 trees, and John Kamau is listed on the KEFRI Jaza Miti app with 12,935 trees planted. Over 6,000 fruit trees given to farmers and the community around the Aberdare. Over 10,000 fruit trees in the 6 schools near the Aberdare.

Schools

Our 6 school kitchen gardens

Green Hearts has established kitchen gardens in 6 primary schools near the Aberdare. The names of the schools are listed here.

    Mashujaa Day 2023

    Presidential Heroes Award

    During the Mashujaa Day celebrations in 2023, our co-founder John Kamau was awarded a Presidential Heroes Award in recognition of his unwavering dedication to environmental conservation.

    The Presidential Heroes Award medal received on Mashujaa Day 2023
    The medalPresidential Heroes Award, Mashujaa Day 2023, Kericho.
    John Kamau holding his Presidential Heroes Award medal
    John Kamau with his medalCo-founder, Green Hearts Organization.
    John Kamau with the other recipients of the Mashujaa Day heroes awards, honoured for excelling in different fields
    Honoured togetherWith fellow awardees, each recognised for excelling in a different field.
    John Kamau at the launch of the National Heroes Council strategic plan in 2024
    National Heroes Council, 2024Invited to the launch of the Council's strategic plan as a heroes award recipient.

    Facts and figures

    Numbers

    Figures will be published once confirmed

    Figures will appear here as soon as the organization confirms them.

    Proof from the KEFRI Jaza Miti app

    Screenshot of the KEFRI Jaza Miti app showing John Kamau's planted trees
    Jaza Miti app, screenshot 1John Kamau's total of 12,935 trees planted.
    Second screenshot of the KEFRI Jaza Miti app
    Jaza Miti app, screenshot 2Green Hearts Organization's total of 10, 220 trees Planted.

    Be part of the change

    Restoration lasts when communities, schools and partners work together.

    Get involved See our projects