In September 2022, Tororo Prisons Primary School received a donation of 800 tree seedlings from StrataStone Partners. The donation included 600 indigenous trees and 200 fruit-bearing trees.
A shared responsibility
Apai Patience Winnie, Strata Stone Partners’ head of operations, said the company had an obligation to give back to the community and support environmental sustainability in response to climate change. She reminded the school community of its collective responsibility to manage and care for the trees.
Headteacher Ofwono Paul received the seedlings on behalf of the school. He thanked Strata Stone Partners for choosing Tororo Prisons Primary School as a partner in the planting project. He explained that mature trees could provide shade, income for the school and fruit for teachers and learners, and pledged the school’s full support in protecting and managing them.
Teacher Akiru Bernadette also thanked the company for considering the school and said the teachers would guard the trees until maturity. Head boy Onyango Nicodemus expressed the pupils’ gratitude as songs of joy were heard around the school.
Supporting girls’ education
A memorandum of understanding between Strata Stone Partners and the school included support for girls’ education. Conditional on the school taking good care of the trees, the company committed to paying parental contributions for the 40 best-performing girls across the three terms of 2023, and Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) registration fees for the 20 best-performing girls in 2023.
