In December 2016, a profound call from mother nature stirred within me – a call to create a rumble from the foothills of Kilimanjaro, that would be felt across Tanzania, East African and the African continent. It was a call to create a green movement; new models and pathways to accelerate and scale ecosystem restoration across the region. I felt the pull of purpose, though I had no blueprint for the journey ahead, I started, Bidding farewell to my marketing company, I founded The Kilimanjaro Project.

ur start was grand, marked by the symbolic journey with a Khanga fabric from Dar es Salaam to the foothills of Kilimanjaro, (see video), bolstered by public service announcements and endorsements from former Tanzanian presidents and celebrities. Our audacious mission – to plant one million trees planted in ONE DAY. Looking back, I chuckle at my naivety. I drew my inspiration from India’s impressive feat of planting 66 million trees planted in one day. However, the reality on the ground proved far more complex. Mobilising communities to to plant the right tree in the right place, and then ensure their survival is far more challenging.

Over time, we have learned to take a landscape approach, moving from tree planting to a tree growing and now science informed ecosystem restoration. We have stumbled, failed, but we have also learned, listened and leaned in to what is needed to ensure long term transformation of this landscape and her people.

Our core values are built on integrity, trust, transparency, partnership, purpose, passion and justice.

We invite you to join us on the purposed fuelled mission for both people and planet.

Sarah Scott
Founder and Executive Director
The Kilimanjaro Project