Teen likened to a tree that will grow into an unshakeable tree

"I create awareness and take responsibility for the environment. I care, do you?" 
This is the We Care Club slogan, an initiative championed by Stephen Njoroge, 14, whose efforts have ensured that at least 100,000 trees take root in logged areas.

Articulation and purpose that you cannot ignore is in this Class Eight pupil of Makini School, Nairobi. In one of his speeches, yes he gives speeches, Stephen opines in a simple, yet clear manner:  "The equation simply does not add up. One county has a surplus of cabbage that they can afford to feed their cattle with yet in another county, in the same country, hordes of women seek out wild poisonous fruit to cook for their starving children." 
The answer according to Stephen lies in all of us.

"How many of you leave the water running while brushing your teeth?" he asks. "Wouldn't you rather use a glass instead? Imagine how much water would be saved if 80 per cent of the world that prefer to leave the tap running, began caring by settling for a glass. If we only applied consequential thinking, we would know no hunger."

This critical thinking, traces its genesis when Stephen, then aged nine, sought to be a part of a school club as is norm for kids his age. He would be disappointed, however, after his pick, the environment club, turned him down for lack of space.

A dejected Stephen in a juvenile huff sought to begin a rival club for himself that he vowed would not include 'those' who had turned him down. Rather misguided passion, but fruitful passion nonetheless that 5,000 members presently swear allegiance to. 
Three friends gather to watch documentaries, learn and share their knowledge of nature whilst raiding Mercy Njoroge's refrigerator for snacks. A menace she (Mercy) can put up with. What parent wouldn't, after all, give up privacy and a stocked cool-box for her son's positive enterprise? 

Well, motherhood was tested when Stephen's enterprise burst its banks.

Burning to grow membership of his Green club and impact society positively, Stephen noticed that most children of his age from home village, Limuru, had never celebrated their birthday. Upon inquest, he figured how much it cost to host a birthday party in the city. It cost at least Sh5, 000 then.

Stephen in a moment of brilliance came up with a practical way of how his club could impact society positively while maintaining his focus on environment. Keeping in mind that not everybody is a tree hugger, Stephen figured a way to piece environmental conservation with fun and with Mercy's help, the idea of green birthdays was born.

For a seedling, each child who joined the 'We Care Club' could have a birthday party. In no time, the club of three shot to several hundred with the premiere green birthday event held at an abandoned quarry in Mutarakwa, Limuru to astounding success. Ten children celebrated their green birthday flanked by at least 50 others with an impressive plus sixty trees planted in this event (it helped that Stephen's uncle grew seedlings, so there was steady ready supply of young trees to plant).

The best part, the club ensured seedlings reached maturity by having the members inspect the progress of each other's seedlings. None wanted their tree to die so peer pressure, in unlikely fashion, ensured that none of the seedlings failed. 
Apart from fun and tree planting, clean-ups and visits to children's homes are part of the activities We Care club take joy in. Njoroge narrates with pride how the club has managed to positively impact Kabete children's home. Not only do they, boast a greener environment due to the trees planted, but the overall cleanliness is exemplary.

Numbers have since grown with the idea now being exported to different parts of the country. Happy with the progress, organisations keen on environmental cponservation, have begun supporting Stephen's green walk. The United Nations, especially, where Stephen's late father, a lover of the environment as well, worked are on the frontline.

Irene Mwakesi of the United Nations Information Centre is quoted saying during a UN celebration where Stephen led his entire class to plant 10,000 trees that he (Stephen) is a young person who has made a mark, and they (UN) want to recognise him, especially because he is working for peace. Words echoed by Global Peace Foundation Director, Dr Edwin Aketch of whom Stephen is an ambassador.

Dr Aketch likens Stephen to a seedling who if nurtured will grow into an unshakable tree. 
Stephen's green walk for sure has borne fruit, he officially launched the We Care Club in an event that was attended by the Ministry of the Environment and Kenya Forestry Service officials, he has had the privilege to meet dignitaries from various fields, served as an ambassador for Kenya at the 2011 United Nations environmental summit in Indonesia, and given talks across the globe in various events. Last November he was invited to speak at Africa 2.0 leadership Symposium in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.(Africa 2.0 is a Pan-African Civil Society organisation comprises young and emerging leaders from Africa and the Diaspora who share a collective vision for Africa and a commitment to finding and implementing sustainable solutions that will contribute to the development of the continent).  
He is captured in one interview saying that he hasn't ruled out running for President. Even though his political career may have to wait for some years, Njoroge sees his youth as an asset rather than an obstacle. "I noticed that its only older people who are inspiring children. Now I'm trying to make children inspire older people." To that end, he has started a campaign to enlist the help of public figures in Kenya for his tree planting projects.

Stephen just like his mentor Wangari Maathai admits to encountering dream killers. The most vivid for him was when he introduced Sh100 membership fee to purchase seedlings and membership dropped (Membership currently is a sign-up fee of Sh1, 000 and Sh500 annual membership renewal fee that apart from shouldering club-running costs is mainly used to purchase seedlings). But he has learnt to remain focused and take a day at a time as he is still a child.

That is a relief for Njoroge's mother,  who says: "It is a big responsibility he has taken on his shoulders. So to protect the fact that he is a child is important to me." 
And Stephen, for his part, credits his mother with helping him balance his environmentalism and school work, a big task for a boy who has by now planted the equivalent of a small forest. 
"She is the one who gives me the repeated inspiration. When I am feeling down and feeling like I can't handle all the pressure, she helps me out, tells me how to set my goals and take them one by one," Stephen says.

For now, Stephen tackles what he terms his day job-final elementary examinations. That is not to mean that he does not have more green ideas for the future for his club. He shared a few with this writer. 
• Plant your age: Members should strive to plant a tree every year to mark their birthday. 
• Have a fruit tree to your name: Every member should boast of a fruit tree to their name. Saddens Stephen that his grandfather can name at least seven fruit trees that have disappeared. 
• Tree-pals: Have friends share fruit unique to their area, from their fruit trees, with others from different parts of the country. 
• Nods: No drugs society. Stephen hopes to have audience with Mututho to share a few ideas on how to engage the youth and keep them away from drugs under the banner Nods. 
• Next fifty years of green-Hope to use environmental change to change the headlines. 
• Trees for fees: Encourage parents to grow trees as investment.