Environmental awareness initiative educates children in Darbandikhan on tree planting

DARBANDIKHAN — Two Sulaymaniyah-based NGOs, the Kurdistan Nature Organization, in collaboration with the environmental team of the Azadbun Organization,  recently conducted an educational initiative in Darbandikhan district aimed at raising environmental awareness among children through tree planting activities.

Operating under the slogan “A Green and Healthy Environment Stems from Green Education,” the campaign took place in the garden of the non-governmental Birdwoz School in the district. The initiative aims to foster children’s love for nature, encourage tree planting, and promote environmental responsibility from an early age.

Sarwar Qaradaxi, head of the Kurdistan Nature Organization, told 964media that their organization has been working over the past six years to integrate environmental topics into educational activities.

“Unlike other organizations, we are not asking the government to include environmental education in school curricula. Instead, we are directly working to implement environmental education programs ourselves in educational centers,” Qaradaxi said.

Through a series of workshops and training sessions, the organization aims to teach children practical ways to protect the environment. New plans are set to expand these activities across schools in the Kurdistan Region in the coming year.

Qaradaxi added that these activities, including tree planting campaigns, seminars, and workshops, have already been conducted in cities like Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Halabja, and Ranya.

The organization relies on its volunteers to engage children in hands-on tree planting and environmental protection activities, extending lessons beyond schools to include homes and public spaces.