Unemployment in poor areas of Addis is a particular problem for women, with many unemployed women forming co-operatives to support one another. Trees for Cities is working with one of these co-ops and has established a tree nursery run for the benefit of the group’s members.

Tree seedlings and fruit grown in the nursery are sold to generate a sustainable source of income for co-operative members, with the nursery due to become self-sustaining by 2011. The nursery was founded two years ago in partnership with BICDO (Birhan Integrated Community Development Organisation) and in that time has germinated over 6,000 trees. Species are selected for their human and environmental benefits – such as acacia which improves soil quality and prevents soil erosion, and African olive which has various medicinal uses – and provision has been made to supply trees to the neediest of households and most degraded sites free of charge.

Trees for Cities relies on donations from individuals in order to deliver projects like the Addis Tree Nursery Project. Please consider supporting our project work by making a donation.

You can also support our work in Addis by buying a community gift. Or if you’d like to know more about the projects, please contact Millie Brown at millie@treesforcities.org or call 020 7820 4427.