What did I learn about community-driven restoration in Uganda?

Being a part of the GLF Restoration Stewardship Program in 2025 has been a truly life-changing experience. When the year started, I was very enthusiastic about restoration driven by the people in their communities. My enthusiasm was rooted in the stories I heard growing up, the forests I spent time in as a child and the idea that if young people are given the resources and information, they can restore landscapes. 

What I didn’t expect was how much this experience as a Restoration Steward would challenge me, make me think in new ways, improve my leadership abilities and connect me with a global network of people who are equally passionate about ecosystem restoration.

Starting the program: Hope meets responsibility

Being chosen as a GLF Restoration Steward was a great honor and responsibility. I remember being excited when I got the acceptance email, but I also knew there was a lot of work ahead. Restoration goes beyond planting trees; it’s about addressing root problems, bringing ecosystems back to life, protecting species, giving power to communities, restoring dignity and creating a future where people can live well.

The year started with mentoring, orientation and in-depth learning sessions. From the very beginning, through online meetings, I was thinking about changing systems, fixing policy problems, understanding how communities work, thinking about climate justice, developing youth leadership and recognizing the financial reasons behind why ecosystems are damaged. 

The amount of information shared by experts, mentors and fellow Restoration Stewards showed me the interconnectedness of restoration work. I started to see landscapes not just as separate ecological areas, but as living systems where people and nature are connected, with people at the center.

Building the School Food Forest Initiative

My project, the School Food Forest Initiative, became the most important part of my experience. 

By creating school food forests, students could learn about restoration by doing it themselves. One of the things I’m most proud of is seeing how excited the young students were when they planted mango seedlings and other fruit trees. Their interest reminded me that caring for the environment grows best when it starts with young people.

The project also invited the community to be more involved. Parents, teachers and local leaders all worked together to support our conservation goal. This year confirmed something I’ve always believed: restoration works best when communities know they are driving it. 

I focused my work in the Kalangala, Namutumba and Kiboga areas of Uganda. In those three districts, I had the pleasure of working with over 900 learners, 78 teachers and over 20 local leaders to set up eight school food forests. These school food forests are outdoor classrooms where students get hands-on experience planting and restoring and learn about the importance of biodiversity. 

These forests are now a source of food and shade, a place to learn and a way to ensure our ecosystems stay healthy for years to come.

I also spent a lot of time teaching learners and teachers about conservation and agroforestry. I held hands-on training sessions that helped young people and educators develop key skills in restoration. We covered everything from how to prepare soil to how to care for seedlings and how to spot native trees. 

I also taught them about ways to manage land sustainably. Seeing their knowledge come to life as they took responsibility for the forests they planted was really inspiring.

Mentorship: Guidance that develops leaders

One of the best parts of the program was mentorship. My mentors didn’t just give me technical advice, they also challenged me to think bigger, plan better, communicate the impact of my work and create projects that would last even after the GLF funding ends. Because of their advice, I learned to explain my ideas clearly, organize my project goals and create realistic timelines. I also became more confident and learned how to lead without being afraid.

Mentorship has become a safe way for me to think, learn and adjust my plans.

Challenges along the way

This experience wasn’t easy. I had to deal with transportation challenges on Kalangala Island, unpredictable weather, ferry delays and making sure work fit into the community’s schedule. 

I also had to manage resources carefully. Every step required me to be flexible and challenged me to grow. I pushed myself to find new solutions, get support from the local community and create partnerships that helped the project move forward.

Another challenge was balancing the demands of the project with my schoolwork and personal life. But with self-discipline, guidance and the support of the GLF community, I was able to stay focused.

Personal development and finding my voice

The biggest change this year happened within me. Before the program, I mainly thought of myself as someone who was enthusiastic about conservation. Now, I see myself as a leader, an advocate, someone who can bring communities together and a storyteller who can create change.

I learned to write better, speak more confidently and present my project boldly at global events. The GLF community also introduced me to other young leaders whose experiences inspired me at various global events online and in-person, like the 2025 GLF Africa Assembly in Nairobi, the Community & Action corners in Nairobi and Kigali and the African Youth Summit on Biodiversity (AYSB) in Kigali Rwanda. 

Through these events, I realized that I’m part of a global movement working to bring hope back to damaged environments. This network gave me energy throughout the year.

Successes worth celebrating 

The GLF Restoration Stewardship Program made me a better conservation advocate. I received specific training in skills like negotiation, storytelling and how to communicate using digital tools to reach more people. I developed the ability to talk about projects with confidence. Also, I learned how to explain complex scientific ideas clearly. 

By the end of the year, my team and I have restored land in eight schools, three communities and three districts.

The project expanded a lot this year. We now have eight thriving food forests that help support biodiversity and act as educational centers. I believe these can be replicated in other schools and communities across Uganda. 

I’ve also been creating new partnerships with district forestry officials in the National Forestry Authority, community leaders, youth groups and local NGOs like Building Tomorrow Uganda and Connect Care Uganda. These partnerships made my project stronger. 

I improved my skills in planning projects, measuring their success and leading others.

I now know how to create realistic plans, keep track of progress, solve problems as they come up, and confidently lead teams. I believe I’ve grown a lot as a conservationist and as a project manager.

Finally, I spent time building a network of restoration experts from around the world.

One of the best parts of this year was getting to meet other Restoration Stewards, mentors and experts from across the world. Their advice and shared experiences have given me a wider view on environmental work.

Each of these achievements reminds me that small actions, when consistent, can create long-term environmental impact.

Hopes for the future

As the year ends, I’m have many new goals. I want to expand the School Food Forest Initiative to more islands, include biodiversity education in school programs and create a community-run mvule tree seed bank. I also want to mentor other young conservationists, just like I was mentored.

Most importantly, I want to continue sharing restoration stories, because stories encourage action and action creates change.

A heartfelt thank you to the CIFOR-ICRAF and GLF team, Zata Amani, Eirini Sakellari, Pê Magalhães, Hyginus Laari, Mariah Otieno and many others. Thank you to my mentors Viany Ahimbisibwe, Steve Misati and Nadia Sitas and to my fellow Restoration Stewards, partners in Kalangala, Namutumba and Kiboga. Thank you to the teachers, students and community leaders for believing in restoration and for believing in me. This experience has changed me forever.

When I look back, I see development.

When I stand here, I see purpose.

When I look ahead, I see possibility.