Schools in Bawku West, Builsa and Garu-Tempane districts in the Upper East Region, are planting tree seedlings to protect school buildings from wind and rain storms and to beautify the compounds. This forms part of the Disaster Risk Reduction Through Schools Project, being carried out by Action Aid Ghana and the Centre for Community Development Initiatives (CODI), to make the school environment safe for children. Mr. Alhassan Sulemana, National Co-ordinator for Action Aid Ghana, announced these at an annual review meeting of the project's stakeholders and committees, to assess the success and failures of the project and plan for the future, at Bolgatanga. He said the project supported 15 schools, five from each district, with tree seedlings to undertake the exercise. Mr. Sulemana said nine of the schools were performing well with almost 100 per cent success because parents supported their children to erect fences around tree seedlings and water them during the dry season. He said as part of the project, nine boreholes had been drilled in the beneficiary communities to facilitate the watering of tree seedlings and to serve as potable water for the people. Mr. Sulemana said the people were sensitized on climate change to enable them to undertake practical steps to improve the environment. He said schools in the Bawku East District should have benefited from the project but for instability in the area. Mr. Sulemana said this year, the project would continue to encourage the planting of tree seedling and improve awareness creation on the environment through local FM radio stations. He said designed ventilation holes in school buildings would be replaced with wooden windows to prevent rain water from entering the classrooms and provide entrance for escape in case of disaster. Mr. Sulemana said at the district level, the project would support individuals to prepare nurseries for tree seedlings to ensure regular supply of seedlings. Mr. Abasiba Samuel, Programme Coordinator for CODI, said the project had a life span of two more years and asked teachers and community leaders involved in the implementation of the scheme to ensure its success. Source: GNA