From Students to Stewards: Tree Planting for Future Generations

[Gothenburg, April 21, 2025] — Student exchange transforms lives. But flying students across the world has a climate cost. Educatius, a global leader in high school exchange, has spent the past 15 years doing something about it—through Aiducatius, its not-for-profit arm focused on responsible climate action and access to education.

In Tanzania’s Biharamulo District, the impact of that work is now towering.

In 2011, Aiducatius’ initiative provided twenty-two teenage boys in the rural village of Nyamahanga with a plot of land, 500 pine seedlings, and hands-on training in sustainable forestry. They were challenged to think long term—not just about trees, but about legacy.

They called themselves the Young Men at the Hill. Over 14 years, they protected their forest through droughts, wildfires, and wandering cattle. They thinned weak trees and let strong ones grow, following a sustainable plan: remove only the crooked between years 5 and 15; let the best stand for at least 20.

Five mature trees can generate the same income as an acre clear-cut too early. These trees have become long-term investments—in children, in grandchildren, and in a healthier planet.

“Our efforts have spent 15 years helping the community see trees as an investment—not just for income, but for the next generation,” said Carla Kearns, Vice President of Communications at Educatius. “That’s not just reforestation. That’s climate justice, powered by education.”

Not just planting. Protecting.

Since 2009, Aiducatius has worked with community groups in northwestern Tanzania to mitigate the climate impact of international student travel. More than 124,000 trees have been distributed since 2020 alone. But the work goes deeper:

• Protection and regeneration of natural forests
• Fuel-efficient cookstoves built in schools and homes, reducing indoor smoke and saving forests
• Training for women and youth in forestry, farming, and small business
• Long-term income planning built on sustainable timber
• Ecotourism and cultural heritage projects that create economic resilience

For villagers, the changes are immediate. Less fuel is needed to book, and less time is needed to collect it. A one-month wood budget now lasts three. Smoke-free kitchens mean better health—especially for women doing the cooking.

Carbon offset, with roots

When mature, just the trees planted since 2020 alone will sequester around 2,728 metric tons of CO₂ annually—equivalent to the climate cost of 700 student flights per year, based on data from MyClimate.org.

“We don’t just teach global citizenship,” said Kearns. “We try to live it—by investing in communities where climate impact is most pronounced, and solutions are local.”

What’s next

As the Young Men at the Hill gather beneath the trees they planted as teens, a new generation prepares to do the same. In 2025, Aiducatius will expand support for tree planting, cookstove construction, and environmental education. The goal: climate action that grows with people.

Because planting change isn’t about trees. It’s about the people who grow with them.