Agorvega, Atsikpey, Agorve & Tsiyinu – Ketu North, Volta Region, Ghana
By AGVO Media
[Insert image here: Children and community members planting trees at a schoolyard vibrant, green, hopeful]
In a powerful demonstration of grassroots-led climate action, the Alliance of Global Volunteer Organizations (AGVO), in collaboration with the AJ Foundation, launched a tree planting campaign titled “Greening Ghana, One Community at a Time” on 23rd July 2025. The initiative aims to restore degraded landscapes, improve food security, and build long-term resilience in climate-vulnerable rural communities across Ghana.
A Green Mission Takes Root
The campaign officially kicked off with tree planting activities in three towns in the Volta Region – Agorvega, Atsikpey, Agorve, and Tsiyinu targeting schools and community centers:
St. Mathias Anglican Basic School – Agorvega/Atsikpey
Agorve MA Basic School – Agorve
Tsiyinu MA Basic School – Tsiyinu
With the participation of schoolchildren, teachers, chiefs, youth volunteers, and community leaders, hundreds of seedlings were planted, including fruit trees (mango, guava, orange), indigenous shade trees, and medicinal plants. These were carefully distributed across school compounds and public green zones.
> “This isn’t just about trees; it’s about giving life to the land and to future generations,” said Justine Akpene Egbenya, Founder and President of AGVO and the AJ Foundation. “We’re empowering communities to become climate custodians by involving them directly in restoring the environment.”
AGVO Innovation: Youth Climate Resilience Corps (YCRC)
At the heart of this initiative is AGVO’s innovative program the Youth Climate Resilience Corps (YCRC), which mobilizes youth volunteers in basic schools across Ghana to lead tree planting, climate education, and public health outreach.
Targeting rural schools and vulnerable communities, especially women and youth, the YCRC trains students and young leaders in:
Climate change awareness
Sustainable agriculture and ecosystem restoration
Community mobilization and volunteerism
In this pilot phase, 15 schoolchildren (boys and girls) were enrolled as Tree Guardians, tasked with nurturing the planted trees within school compounds. Additionally, 10 community youth volunteers were selected to care for trees in their towns and serve as peer climate ambassadors.
YCRC also works in partnership with local governments, schools, and grassroots organizations, integrating climate topics into classroom learning and hosting volunteer-led community forums to raise environmental consciousness.
Through both on-the-ground engagement and virtual coordination, the program ensures inclusive, localized climate action that is community-owned and youth-driven.
Community Ownership & Local Impact
A key element of AGVO’s strategy is community ownership. From traditional leaders to women’s groups and educators, every stakeholder plays a role. Each school has formed a “Tree Guardian Team” to ensure the survival of the trees, reinforcing a strong sense of environmental responsibility among the youth.
“ Our children are learning what it means to be caretakers of the Earth,” shared a teacher at St. Mathias Anglican Basic School. “They understand that this is their mission and their legacy.”
Women in the communities have already begun discussions around creating tree nurseries and integrating fruit trees into household farms as part of a green livelihood model.
Looking Ahead: Scaling Green Resilience
The success in Agorvega, Atsikpey, Agorve, and Tsiyinu is just the beginning. AGVO plans to expand the Tree For Life: Greening Ghana, One Community at a Time, and YCRC programs to other climate-affected districts, with a goal of creating a national network youth-led climate champions.
“We invite donors, partners, and citizens to walk with us as we green Ghana, one tree, one school, and one community at a time,” said Ms. Egbenya.
📣 Join the Movement: How You Can Help
🌳 Sponsor a Tree – A $3 donation supports one tree’s planting and care
👩🏽🌾 Volunteer – Join AGVO’s growing tree planting corps
🤝 Partner – Help expand the initiative across Ghana
🪴 Donate Tools or Seedlings – Build local green infrastructure
Email: info@agvonetwork.org
Call: +233 243 638 980
Web: www.agvonetwork.org
About AGVO & AJ Foundation
The Alliance of Global Volunteer Organizations (AGVO) is a Ghana-based coalition empowering grassroots actors through sustainable development, youth engagement, and climate resilience.
The AJ Foundation is a nonprofit focused on health, education, environmental justice, and social empowerment for marginalized groups, especially women, children, and rural communities. “We are not just planting trees. We are planting the future rooted in community, nurtured by hope, and grown through collective action.”
