GREENING THE CAMPUS AT THE GIRLS CENTRE

Last December, TGFT students, alumnae and staff planted 770 indigenous fruit and shade trees as part of on-site permaculture training funded by a grant from Mainsprings Tanzania.  Our careful siting of structures for the new campus preserved the site’s natural grade as well as more than 36 mature trees, legacies of a 20th century coffee plantation. 

All images courtesy of The Girls Foundation of Tanzania.

Natural topography was enhanced with planted swales to retain run-off during March-May and November-December rainy seasons, according to designs developed by U.S. engineering firm Haley & Aldrich. Gutters and downspouts at the Girls House fill an underground cistern for landscape irrigation and roof drainage systems on all other buildings can connect to rain barrels. 

Vegetable gardens fill areas of the site around buildings or playfields and offer potential to supply almost all the Center’s food needs. By April, staff were already harvesting cabbages, tomatoes, peppers, and bananas.