Maslah Mowlid is the gardening teacher at the Youth Center in Kismayo. He’s passionate about the environment and the importance of living in a beautiful place. And, he has a few ideas for how to transform the city he lives in.
“When you plant trees,” he said, “It makes everything more calm, more attractive and beautiful.”
He also knows that young people will play a big role in making sure that Kismayo is a city people are proud to call home – and building a healthy environment for all.
For Day 80, we wanted to help Maslah teach the lessons he’s so passionate about – starting with trees! We purchased mango trees, lemon trees, and aloe vera plants, enough to plant around the perimeter of the center.
Then Maslah and his students got to work. As they planted, Maslah taught them about the properties of each tree, how to plant them, how to take care of them, and what to expect over time.
“These boys and girls are mostly returnees,” he said. “They need to learn conservation. If you learn agroforestry and learn how to take care of trees properly, you can use them for so many purposes. For shelter and food.”
As the trees grow, they’ll provide some extra shade, a little extra greenery, and will simply make the center more beautiful. And, the students will continue to work with the plants, learning the ins and outs of gardening.
“Today, we practice together,” said Maslah. “Tomorrow, they can do it on their own.”
