T4K Beginnings
Jeremy and Trisha Lowney landed in Tanzania with Youth With A Mission, Kilimanjaro in 2001. During their time as associate staff they saw a sharp decline in rainfall, decreased harvests in agriculture, and glacial decline on Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Jeremy was inspired by a story from an old man when the question was asked, “was the rainfall always so low?” “No” he replied. “Back in the day we had so much rainfall that we would harvest 2-3 times per year. Now we are lucky to harvest once.”
In 2012 the “call” came to do something about this problem. The vision was birthed to plant 50 Million trees in the dusty valley from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Himo on the Southern side of Mt. Kilimanjaro. With the support of YWAM Kilimanjaro, and YWAM Arusha, plus a multitude of supportive churches and individuals, we have begun a long-term committment to make a difference.
Our goal is to educate and empower Tanzanian people to reforest their homeland after decades of fuelwood cutting and overgrazing which has caused a steep decline in rainfall, increased temperatures, and subsequent glacial decline. The local people who are dependant upon subsitance agriculture are suffering as a result. Now we have an opportunity to restore what was lost – and to become the environmental stewards God intended us to be (Gen. 2:15). The local people are ready to join efforts with us, and that is the key to success.
Trees 4 Kilimanjaro is under the supervision and authority of Youth With A Mission, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Jeremy Lowney, the founding director, holds a B.S. in Forestry & Natural Resource Management at California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo. Currently faculty of Cal Poly University – Urban Forestry. Certified Arborist #3718 by the Internation Society of Arboriculture. CA Landscape & Tree Service Contractor #757086. School of Biblical Studies at YWAM Worcester, South Africa 2000. Youth With A Mission, Kilimanjaro, Associate Staff since 2001.
TECHNICAL BOARD TBA
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