12 October 2026
From Learning to Action
DBA Africa Marks Mazingira Day Through Tree Planting
Environmental responsibility becomes meaningful when young people have the opportunity to turn what they learn into action. For DBA Africa, this is an important part of youth development: equipping young people with knowledge, encouraging personal responsibility and creating opportunities for them to contribute positively to their communities.
On Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October 2026, DBA Africa and Bins Group brought that approach to life through tree-planting activities at Kibera Comprehensive School and Olympic School in Nairobi.
The activities brought together DBA Africa Academy athletes and students participating in Tackle It, our sport-based education programme, alongside Bins Group CEO Godwin Kemboi and his team. Saturday's activity coincided with Mazingira Day, Kenya's national day dedicated to environmental conservation.
Turning Environmental Education Into Action
The tree planting followed an environmental awareness session delivered at the DBA Africa Nairobi Academy by Nairobi County Environmental Officer Emmanuel Okal.
During that session, young people explored responsible waste management, waste segregation, recycling and the everyday habits that contribute to environmental protection.
The activities at Kibera Comprehensive School and Olympic School provided an opportunity to take that learning further.
By participating in tree planting within their school environments, the young people contributed directly to improving spaces they use for learning, recreation and personal development.
The activities also reinforced an important lesson: environmental conservation requires more than awareness. It requires practical action, consistent habits and a willingness to take responsibility for shared spaces.
Godwin Kemboi, CEO of Bins Group, emphasised the importance of investing in young people's environmental awareness.
"When we teach young people to care for their environment and give them opportunities to take action, we are investing in the future of our communities. Our partnership with DBA Africa allows us to combine environmental education with practical experience, helping young people understand that sustainability is a responsibility they can take ownership of today."
Schools as Spaces for Environmental Leadership
Schools play an important role in shaping how young people understand their responsibilities towards others and their surroundings.
At Kibera Comprehensive School, the tree-planting activity brought environmental conservation into a familiar learning environment, allowing participating students and athletes to contribute directly to their school community.
Mr Ndwaru, Deputy Principal at Kibera Comprehensive School, reflected on the value of practical environmental education.
"Education should prepare young people to take responsibility for the world around them. Activities like this help our students understand that protecting the environment is not simply something they learn about in class. It is something they can participate in and take responsibility for within their own school."
At Olympic School, the Mazingira Day activity reinforced the same message, connecting environmental awareness with participation, teamwork and responsibility.
Mr Masai, a teacher at Olympic School, highlighted the importance of giving students opportunities to practise what they learn.
"When students participate in activities such as tree planting, they begin to understand the role they can play in improving their surroundings. The experience also reinforces teamwork, discipline and responsibility, values that we want our young people to carry beyond school."
Developing Responsible Young People Through Sport
For DBA Africa, these activities reflect the wider purpose of our academies and educational programmes.
Sport provides a platform for developing teamwork, leadership, discipline and respect. Through Tackle It, we extend that learning into the classroom, helping young people develop the knowledge and life skills needed to make informed decisions and contribute positively to their communities.
Environmental responsibility is another practical expression of those values.
A young athlete who understands collective responsibility on the pitch can also recognise their responsibility towards shared community spaces. A student learning leadership and advocacy can begin to see environmental protection as an area where their choices and actions matter.
The partnership with Bins Group brings together environmental expertise and DBA Africa's established youth development platform, demonstrating how collaboration can create meaningful learning opportunities beyond conventional sporting activities.
Planting a tree is an important first step. Protecting and nurturing it is the responsibility that follows.
Through this partnership, DBA Africa continues to demonstrate that Changing Lives Through Sport means developing young people who are not only confident athletes and learners, but active contributors to healthier, greener and more sustainable communities.