By Here For Hope Foundation & Earth Focus Network
“When students are given the right tools and knowledge, they become powerful agents of change.”
— Dr. Sam Kanyamibwa, Founder and CEO of ARCOS Network
In Rwanda, a quiet revolution is taking place in schoolyards across the country. Students are not just learning about environmental challenges—they are leading the response. From the Green City Clubs in Kigali that have mobilized over 1,500 students through poetry, dance, and art to student nature clubs near Volcanoes National Park producing over 15,000 tree seedlings for community reforestation, young Rwandans are proving that age is no barrier to meaningful climate action.
At Here For Hope Foundation, we have seen this firsthand through our Early Childhood Climate Education program, which transformed two primary schools in Kayonza District into green learning hubs. We have planted over 430 trees and engaged 150 students in hands-on environmental stewardship.
This guide draws from successful Rwandan models—including the Eco-Schools Programme, Green City Clubs, and our own experience—to provide you with a practical, step-by-step framework for establishing an Eco-Club in your school.
Why now? Rwanda’s education sector is actively prioritizing environmental education. The Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB) has launched a national pilot to strengthen classroom-based environmental education, training over 300 teachers and deploying locally developed Teacher Toolkits across 30 schools. The government has also officially launched a national hygiene and sanitation campaign in all schools, recognizing that cleanliness and environmental awareness directly impact student health and academic performance. Your Eco-Club can align with these national priorities.
Part 1: Understanding the Eco-Club Model
What is an Eco-Club?
An Eco-Club is a student-led organization within a school that focuses on environmental conservation, awareness, and sustainable development. Unlike a one-off tree-planting event, an Eco-Club operates year-round, integrating environmental action into the fabric of school life.
The Eco-Schools Framework
In Rwanda, the Eco-Schools Programme, implemented by ARCOS Network in partnership with REB and REMA, provides a proven framework. Schools that successfully complete the seven-step process earn the prestigious Green Flag Award for environmental excellence. In 2025, 11 Rwandan schools received this recognition
The Seven-Step Process:
- Form an Eco-Committee
- Conduct an Environmental Review
- Develop an Action Plan
- Integrate Sustainability into the Curriculum
- Engage the Community
- Monitor and Evaluate Progress
- Establish an Eco-Code (a charter of environmental principles)
Part 2: Step-by-Step Guide to Starting Your Eco-Club
Step 1: Secure School Leadership Buy-in
Before launching, you need support from your school administration.
Action Items:
- Present a Proposal: Explain how the Eco-Club aligns with national priorities (REB’s environmental education goals, Vision 2050, and SDGs).
- Highlight the Benefits: Eco-Clubs improve student engagement, enhance the school’s reputation, and contribute to a healthier learning environment.
- Identify a Teacher Champion: Designate a teacher who is passionate about the environment to serve as the club’s patron or advisor. Many successful Rwandan Eco-Clubs are initiated by dedicated teachers like Protogene at GS GASHASHI, who started a gardening club to tackle poor nutrition and environmental concerns.
Step 2: Establish a Student Leadership Committee
The defining principle of successful Rwandan Eco-Clubs is that students are not just participants—they are leaders.
Key Leadership Roles:
| Role | Responsibilities |
|---|---|
| President | Leads the club, chairs meetings, and represents the club to school administration and community. |
| Vice President | Supports the president, steps in when needed, and oversees specific projects. |
| Secretary | Takes minutes at meetings, maintains records, and manages communication. |
| Event Coordinator | Plans and organizes club activities and coordinates logistics for events. |
| Treasurer | Manages any funds, tracks expenses, helps with fundraising. |
Best Practice: Ensure balanced representation. The Green City Clubs prioritized gender equity, resulting in 17 girls and 16 boys elected to leadership roles across their schools.
How to Elect:
- Announce the formation of the club and call for nominations.
- Hold elections with speeches from candidates.
- Swear in the committee (this builds a sense of responsibility and pride).
Step 3: Recruit Members and Build a Community
Action Items:
- Launch Campaign: Use school assemblies, announcements, and posters to invite students. The Green City Clubs used creative methods to attract members, noting that students needed “more than another lecture—it had to be a vibrant, lived experience.”
- Make it Inclusive: Welcome students from all grades and backgrounds.
- Set Expectations: Explain the commitment (meetings, activities, responsibilities).
Step 4: Conduct an Environmental Review
“Environmental Review” is a formal audit where students assess their school’s environmental performance.
Action Items:
- Walk the School Grounds: Identify areas of concern (litter, erosion, bare soil, and waste management issues).
- Survey the School Community: Interview staff, students, and even parents about environmental challenges.
- Create a “Wall Newspaper”: This innovative activity from a Rwandan case study involved students acting as “reporters” and displaying their findings on a classroom wall. Harmful things were color-coded on brown paper and positive things on green paper—offering a powerful visual of the local situation.
Questions to Ask:
- Is there recycling or waste segregation at the school?
- How is water managed and conserved?
- Are there trees and green spaces on campus?
- Is the school using energy efficiently?
Step 5: Develop an Action Plan
Based on your review, choose 1-3 achievable projects for the year.
Project Ideas from Rwandan Schools:
| Project Type | Examples from Rwanda |
|---|---|
| Tree Planting | The Fossey Fund student nature clubs produced over 15,000 seedlings for community distribution. Here For Hope Foundation’s “My Tree, My Legacy” campaign planted 6,800 trees at UR-Rukara Campus. |
| School Gardens | Protogene’s gardening club at GS GASHASHI used unused land for a vegetable garden, teaching composting and crop rotation. |
| Creative Arts Campaigns | The Green City Clubs used poetry slams, singing, dancing, drawing exhibitions, and nature-themed fashion shows to spread climate awareness. |
| Composting | Student-led composting projects can turn school waste into valuable soil for gardens. |
| Cleanliness Campaigns | Align with the national hygiene campaign to promote a clean and healthy school environment. |
Step 6: Integrate Climate Awareness into the Curriculum
An Eco-Club should not exist in isolation. It should enrich classroom learning.
Strategies:
- Use Teacher Toolkits: REB, in partnership with SPAC EduConservation, has developed locally relevant Teacher Toolkits aligned with the Rwandan curriculum. These include visual aids, storybooks, and practical activities for environmental education.
- Connect to Subjects:
- Science: Study the water cycle, soil health, and biodiversity.
- Social Studies: Discuss the impact of deforestation on communities.
- Language Arts: Write poems, stories, and essays about the environment.
- Experiential Learning: Take learning outside. As one REB official noted, environmental lessons should be “engaging to the students” using methods beyond traditional teaching.
Step 7: Engage the Community
Eco-Clubs create a ripple effect, inspiring families and communities to take action.
Action Items:
- Student-to-Parent Knowledge Transfer: Our Early Childhood Climate Education program found that children often became teachers at home, showing parents how to compost and conserve water.
- Community Workshops: Invite parents and local leaders to see student projects.
- Partnerships: Collaborate with local organizations (like Here For Hope Foundation!), government agencies, or businesses. The Green City Clubs were supported by the SUNCASA Project and the Rwanda Young Water Professionals.
Step 8: Monitor and Evaluate Your Impact
Action Items:
- Track Progress: Keep records of trees planted, waste reduced, students engaged, and community members reached.
- Celebrate Successes: Acknowledge the work of students. The Green Flag Award is the highest recognition for Rwandan Eco-Schools, but even small celebrations (certificates, assemblies) maintain momentum.
- Share Your Story: Submit your club’s impact to Earth Focus Network News or other platforms. This inspires others and builds your school’s reputation.
Step 9: Establish an “Eco-Code”
An Eco-Code is a public charter of your club’s commitment to the environment. It should be:
- Student-developed: Let students draft the language.
- Simple and Memorable: Think of a slogan like “My Tree, My Legacy” or “I am a tree.”
- Displayed Prominently: Post it in classrooms, the library, and the school entrance.
Step 10: Sustain the Club Year Over Year
To make the club sustainable:
- Ensure Leadership Transition: Plan for elections and mentorship of new leaders.
- Integrate into School Calendar: Align club activities with Umuganda (community work) days and national holidays like World Environment Day (June 5).
- Seek Funding and Partners: The REASON program noted that “for the environment to be protected… the young people must play a very big role; as a result, they need to be supported both morally and financially.”
Part 3: Common Challenges and Solutions
| Challenge | Solution |
|---|---|
| Lack of Water for Trees/Gardens | Install rainwater harvesting systems. The Early Childhood Climate Education program identified this as a key lesson learned. |
| Low Student Engagement | Make activities fun and creative—use drama, music, and art (as the Green City Clubs did). |
| Administrative Resistance | Present data on the benefits of Eco-Clubs: improved student focus, better health, and a more attractive school environment. |
| Limited Resources | Partner with local businesses, NGOs, or government programs (e.g., REB, REMA, ARCOS). Start small—a single successful project builds momentum. |
Part 4: Resources and Support
Here For Hope Foundation and Earth Focus Network are committed to supporting Rwandan educators.
We can offer:
- Guidance: We are available to advise on starting and sustaining eco-clubs.
- Partnership: We welcome collaborations on tree-planting, educational materials, and community engagement.
- Networking: We can connect you with other Eco-Clubs across Rwanda through the Earth Focus Network platform.
Key Organizations Supporting Eco-Clubs:
- ARCOS Network: The National Operator of the Eco-Schools Programme in Rwanda.
- Rwanda Basic Education Board (REB): Develops curriculum and provides teacher toolkits for environmental education.
- Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA): Supports environmental initiatives and policies.
- SPAC EduConservation: Provides teacher toolkits and training.
Conclusion: The Legacy of Your Eco-Club
Starting an Eco-Club is not just about planting trees or picking up litter. It is about empowering a generation of Rwandan students to become environmental stewards who will carry sustainable values into their careers and communities.
As one Green City Club member in Kigali expressed in a poem: “Let me tell you about my beautiful tree”—a tree that offers shade, fruit, beauty, and life. Your Eco-Club can be that tree for your school, your community, and your country.
The first step is the hardest. But it is also the most important.
What will your school’s legacy be?
Call to Action
Do you want to start an eco-club at your school?
- 📧 Contact Here For Hope Foundation for guidance and support.
- 🌐 Join Earth Focus Network to connect with other educators and environmental professionals.
- 🌱 Begin your journey today—your students are ready to lead.
This guide was developed by Here For Hope Foundation and Earth Focus Network, drawing on best practices from the Green City Clubs, Eco-Schools Programme, and our own experience in Kayonza District. We thank the Rwanda Basic Education Board, ARCOS Network, and all the educators and students who are building a greener Rwanda.
