Press Release 160216
Artist Helen Sjöholm is going to help school children in East Africa to take up the fight against climate – with trees. As ambassador for the Vi-forest Helen aims to raise money to educate 10,000 children.
– The past few days I have met children affected by drought, hunger and who are living a very vulnerable life. Climate change makes their situation even more difficult. By planting more trees the children can get help to protect themselves against new more difficult conditions, Helen Sjöholm, who just came back to Sweden after a journey to the Vi-forest in Rwanda, says.
Climate change affects children especially hard, according to a new report by the UN Children’s Fund UNICEF. 160 million children are today living in areas at risk of severe drought, the majority of them in Africa.
The goal of the Vi-forest fundraising campaign is to train 10,000 school children and start 500 ”tree clubs” in schools in Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya in the next two years. In class, children, that often become farmers just like their parents, learn about the environment and the role of trees to adapt to a warmer climate.
– Children are not responsible for climate change, but they must take the consequences. By planting more trees the new generation can protect themselves from a warmer climate. The trees absorb water during floods and make the soil fertile so that you get a harvest and an income despite the long dry periods, Helen Sjöholm says.
Facts Vi-forest tree clubs:
It costs 1700 SEK to start a new tree club for 20 students and run it for a year. The corresponding cost to build a vegetable garden at a school where students can learn cultivation and also reap crops for food costs 730 SEK.
For interview requests, please contact:
Carina Enberg, agent and press contact Helen Sjöholm
Tel: 0706 48 08 88 or 08 555 19 606
E-mail: carina@monomusic.se
For further information – please contact:
Marcus Lundstedt, press officer Vi-forest
Tel: 070 107 43 17
E-mail: marcus.lundstedt@viskogen.se