11/10/2026
On Environment Day, members of Change to Real Face came together with community members, Muungano wa Wanavijiji and Tuwe Pamoja to plant trees along the riparian zone in Kosovo.
This was more than tree planting. It was a community-led response to the environmental and social challenges affecting informal settlements. Restoring riparian spaces through Nature-Based Solutions is an investment in safer neighbourhoods, environmental protection, and the dignity of communities that are often most exposed to flooding, poor drainage and climate-related risks.
The activity also connected environmental action with mental health, recognizing that the quality of the spaces where people live can influence their wellbeing, sense of belonging and hope for the future.
What this means for the Hospital Ward community
The project can provide long-term benefits to residents of Hospital Ward by:
- π± Reducing environmental risks β trees and restored riparian areas can support soil stability and help protect vulnerable areas from erosion and flooding.
- π§ Improving the riparian ecosystem β restoring degraded spaces can contribute to healthier waterways and better environmental management.
- π§ Supporting mental wellbeing β accessible green spaces can provide areas for relaxation, community interaction and social connection.
- π Building climate resilience β residents gain practical experience in community-led environmental action and Nature-Based Solutions.
- π€ Strengthening community participation β residents become active contributors to decisions and actions affecting their environment rather than simply recipients of interventions.
- π₯ Creating opportunities for youth engagement β environmental restoration can become a platform for young people to participate in leadership, advocacy, documentation and community development.
- ποΈ Protecting the future of the neighbourhood β investing in the environment today contributes to a healthier and more resilient Hospital Ward for future generations.
The message is simple: environmental restoration is also community development. When communities are given the space, knowledge and opportunity to lead, they can transform vulnerable spaces into places of resilience, dignity and hope.
Muungano wa Wanavijiji
CFK Africa