{"id":2000114755,"date":"2026-06-06T13:33:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T11:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/?p=2000114755"},"modified":"2026-06-06T11:22:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T09:22:33","slug":"world-environment-day-ncba-rwanda-inspires-excella-students-to-grow-a-greener-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/world-environment-day-ncba-rwanda-inspires-excella-students-to-grow-a-greener-future\/","title":{"rendered":"World Environment Day: NCBA Rwanda inspires Excella students to \u201cgrow a greener future\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Held in partnership with GreenStarz Impakt Hub, a youth-focused organization that promotes environmental sustainability, climate action, and community development, the initiative brought together NCBA staff, Excella High School administration, and more than 100 Grade 12 students for a day of learning, reflection, and action centered on environmental responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The activity forms part of NCBA Rwanda\u2019s commitment to plant 10,000 trees annually, contributing to NCBA Group\u2019s regional Change the Story sustainability agenda, which seeks to grow 10 million trees across its markets by 2030 while mobilizing communities to take meaningful climate action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than focusing solely on tree planting, the event emphasized the importance of educating young people about environmental stewardship and empowering them to become active participants in building a more sustainable future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Growing futures through environmental education<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Addressing participants, Abigael Muriuki, Sustainability Analyst at NCBA Group Kenya, speaking on behalf of NCBA Rwanda, encouraged students to recognize the connection between personal growth and environmental responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTo the students here today, I want to share a simple thought. Just like these trees, your future depends on the foundations you build today. Trees need strong roots to grow tall and withstand challenges. In the same way, your education, discipline, character, and values will become the roots that support your success in life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She challenged students to view sustainability not as a distant concept, but as a responsibility that begins with everyday choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second-best time is today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat message goes beyond trees,\u201d she added. \u201cThe decisions you make today about your education, your community, and your environment will shape the future you inherit. Every action matters. Every tree matters. Every student matters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Muriuki noted that the initiative reflects NCBA\u2019s purpose of Banking on Belief\u2014believing in the potential of individuals and communities to create lasting change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt NCBA, we believe that changing the story starts with investing in people. Today\u2019s activity is about more than environmental conservation. It is about equipping young people with the knowledge, values, and sense of responsibility needed to create a sustainable future. Every student we engage today has the potential to become a champion for positive change tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Changing the story, one student at a time<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Receiving participants on behalf of Excella High School, Madam Peace Uwineza, Deputy Director of the school, expressed appreciation to NCBA Rwanda for choosing the institution as part of its World Environment Day activities and acknowledged GreenStarz Impakt Hub\u2019s contribution to the programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are grateful to NCBA Rwanda for choosing Excella High School as part of this meaningful initiative and to GreenStarz Impakt Hub for helping bring it to life. Today\u2019s activity has shown our students that environmental conservation is not someone else\u2019s responsibility. It belongs to all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added that exposing students to practical environmental action helps transform awareness into responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur students have not only planted trees today; they have gained a deeper understanding of why protecting the environment matters. When young people understand that their actions can make a difference, they become powerful agents of change within their schools, families, and communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking during the event, Abigael Miriam Bisimwa of GreenStarz Impakt Hub emphasized the unique role young people play in advancing environmental conservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYoung people have the creativity, energy, and influence needed to transform communities. When we empower students with knowledge and practical opportunities to take action, we are investing in a future generation that understands the importance of protecting natural resources and building sustainable communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event concluded with a tree-planting exercise across the school grounds, giving students an opportunity to translate learning into action and leave behind a lasting contribution to their environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As NCBA Rwanda continues its journey toward achieving its annual target of 10,000 trees, initiatives such as this demonstrate that meaningful environmental impact begins with education. Through its Change the Story sustainability agenda and its purpose of Banking on Belief, the bank is investing not only in greener landscapes but also in a generation of informed, responsible, and environmentally conscious young leaders who will help shape Rwanda\u2019s sustainable future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
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Abigael Muriuki, Sustainability Analyst at NCBA Group Kenya, addresses Excella students during World Environment Day celebrations in Kigali.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Excella students celebrated World Environment Day by planting trees on their school grounds as part of NCBA Rwanda\u2019s sustainability campaign.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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NCBA Rwanda staff and Excella High School students plant trees during World Environment Day activities aimed at promoting environmental sustainability.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Abigael Miriam Bisimwa of GreenStarz Impakt Hub addressed students on the role of youth in environmental conservation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Madam Peace Uwineza, Deputy Director of Excella High School, speaks during World Environment Day celebrations at the school.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Students of Excella High School participated in a tree-planting exercise as part of NCBA Rwanda\u2019s World Environment Day initiative.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

NCBA Rwanda marked World Environment Day on Thursday, June 4, 2026, by engaging students of Excella High School in environmental education and tree-planting activities designed to inspire the next generation of sustainability champions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2000114759,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"byline":[170],"hashtag":[],"class_list":["post-2000114755","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-environment","byline-igihe"],"bylines":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"contributors":[{"id":170,"name":"IGIHE","slug":"igihe","description":"","image":{"id":0,"url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/?s=96&d=mm&f=y&r=g","alt":"Default avatar","title":"Default avatar","caption":"","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","sizes":[]},"user_id":8}],"featured_image":{"id":2000114759,"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/d.jpg","alt":"","caption":"NCBA Rwanda staff and Excella High School students plant trees during World Environment Day activities aimed at promoting environmental sustainability.","mime_type":"image\/jpeg","width":1000,"height":714,"sizes":{"thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/d.jpg","width":1000,"height":714},"medium":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/d.jpg","width":1000,"height":714},"medium_large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/d.jpg","width":1000,"height":714},"large":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/d.jpg","width":1000,"height":714},"full":{"url":"https:\/\/cdn.igihe.com\/en\/2026\/06\/d.jpg","width":1000,"height":714}}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000114755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2000114755"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000114755\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2000114762,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2000114755\/revisions\/2000114762"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2000114759"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2000114755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2000114755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2000114755"},{"taxonomy":"byline","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/byline?post=2000114755"},{"taxonomy":"hashtag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.igihe.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hashtag?post=2000114755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}