By Satiel Nkhoma

As one way of checking climate change, Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) on Thursday engaged learners from Namisunju Primary School and the community members living in the area of traditional authority Mwambo in Zomba district, in a tree planting exercise.

A total of 582 seedlings were planted during the exercise.

The guest of honor during the event, Senior Chief Chowe, who is also one of the Board Members for YONECO, said they decided to target schools as one way of training the youth on the importance of managing the environment.

Snr Chief Chowe said: “We thought it wise to instill in mind of the learners the importance of trees and how to take care of them because the future of this country belongs to them.”

He further advised the learners and the entire community to take care of the planted trees to ensure a high survival rate.

Other guests present during the event include a representative from Zomba City Council Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA) Emanuel Tembo, Zomba forestry assistant Yassin Lamusi and a representative of T/A Mwambo.

YONECO has also donated 19, 000 tree seedlings to different primary and secondary schools in the District.

The organization is carrying out the activities under the Go Green project which aims at promoting the use of renewable energy in a bid to mitigate the effects of climate change in the country.