Laying the Foundation for Climate Action: How CODEWA and the Community Prepared Town School for the Go Green Project

Before a single seed touched the soil, before the school garden blossomed with vegetables and fruit trees, something remarkable was already happening at Town School in Tabora. The Go Green Project didn’t begin with planting—it began with people. It began with teachers, community volunteers, and CODEWA working hand in hand to reimagine what a greener, healthier learning environment could look like.
This is the untold story of the preparation phase—the foundation upon which the entire Go Green Project now stands.

Understanding the Challenge

Like many schools across Tanzania, Town School faced limited green spaces and minimal opportunities for hands-on learning. Environmental awareness among students was shrinking, and most lessons remained theoretical. Beyond the school walls, the community struggled with issues such as environmental degradation, declining soil fertility, poor nutrition, and a general lack of youth engagement in sustainable practices.

These gaps inspired the need for a project that could create both environmental and educational transformation.

Strategic Preparation: How CODEWA Set the Stage

Shortly after receiving support from The Pollination Project (2023) and the IREX Global Teacher Grant (2024)—funds awarded personally to Project Coordinator Sadath Mwamsema—CODEWA took on full implementation responsibility. This ensured transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability.

The preparation phase involved several key actions:

• Comprehensive school site assessment with teachers, CODEWA staff, and community representatives.
• Land mapping to identify ideal locations for trees, vegetables, flowers, and grass.
• Formation of a procurement team that sourced seedlings, tools, and all gardening materials.
• Soil improvement and leveling, supported by trucks delivering fertile soil.
• Mobilization of volunteers, especially Town School teachers, who generously contributed their time, energy, and labor.

A Human Touch: Voices from the Ground

“We walked the entire school compound together,” recalled one teacher. “For the first time, I could visualize our school full of green spaces. It made us feel part of something big.”

This sense of unity and shared purpose became the heartbeat of the project.

What This Phase Achieved

Thanks to the strong preparation, the project succeeded in establishing:

• A clear and practical environmental plan
• A mobilized and committed volunteer base
• Well-prepared planting areas
• Strengthened ownership among teachers, students, and community members

These early wins laid the groundwork for everything that followed.

Where We Are Now

The gardens, fruit trees, and green spaces flourishing today at Town School are a direct result of the thoughtful preparation done at the beginning. The foundation was strong—and the transformation continues.

Rejoignez-Nous

CODEWA invites more partners, volunteers, and supporters to join in transforming school environments across Tanzania—one school garden at a time.

Reflection

Every successful project begins long before the first visible milestone. For the Go Green Project, real change started when people came together—imagining a greener future and preparing the land and their hearts to bring that vision to life.