Grant blog published 07 May 2026

International Day of Education Grants

To celebrate International Day of Botanic Garden Education, and the recently launched Declaration of Intent on Climate Action Education, BGCI and the Korea National Arboretum provided a number of grants to BGCI members undertaking education activities aligned with the climate declaration.

This blog provides an overview of one of the projects funded – Youth Climate Champions: Engaging Communities through Plant Conservation

The project

Harar Biodiversity Center, located in eastern Ethiopia, is proud to participate in the global celebration of the International Day of Education in Botanic Gardens and Arboreta through our project, Youth Climate Champions: Engaging Communities through Plant Conservation.

The project aims to empower youth, students, and local communities to take climate-positive actions through plant conservation, environmental education, and practical engagement. In a region facing increasing environmental pressures such as land degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate variability, this initiative focuses on building awareness while promoting hands-on solutions.

Harar Biodiversity Center carried out staff coordination meetings and stakeholder consultations to ensure effective implementation of the planned activities. This included conducting a joint field visit with staff and stakeholders to a local nursery site where native seedlings are being prepared for the upcoming planting campaign. During this visit, seedling readiness was assessed and appropriate species selected for planting.

In addition, the team held a productive discussion with the management of Qulubi Secondary School to coordinate the delivery of youth training activities. The school will play a key role in mobilizing students and supporting participation in both educational sessions and practical planting activities during the main project event.

As part of the preparation, a demonstration planting activity was also carried out using seedlings from the nursery site. This helped to practically assess site conditions and reinforce technical planning for the main event.

The main event to celebrate International Day of Botanic Garden Education took place in early June and brought together students, youth, local community members, teachers, stakeholders, and Harar Biodiversity Center staff. Activities included:

• Traditional blessing by community elders
• Climate change and plant conservation training
• Nursery and forest restoration awareness sessions
• Community engagement activities
• Certificate awards for participating students
• Tree planting activities involving youth and community members
• Group photo and documentation

This project highlights the role of biodiversity centers as important spaces for learning, conservation, and community engagement. By combining education with practical action, participants are not only learning about environmental challenges but also actively contributing to solutions.

Harar Biodiversity Center is honoured to be supported by Botanic Gardens Conservation International and to be part of this global initiative. We look forward to sharing the outcomes of our activities following the International Day of Education.