“In a world struggling with climate change, rising heat, and fewer green spaces, the real question isn’t just what kind of planet we’re leaving for our children – but also what kind of children we’re raising for this planet.”
The Earth is sending distress signals – from record-breaking heatwaves to the silent disappearance of forests. As adults debate policy and progress, it is our children who will face the full weight of environmental collapse. But what if they could also become the force that turns it around?
Children Islamic Organisation (CIO) is proud to officially launch Hands in Soil Hearts with India – a nationwide Campaign to involve over one million children in planting and protecting trees. This campaign will run from 25th June to 26th July 2025, with community follow-ups and care drives continuing through August.
Why Children, Why Now?
Because children are not mere spectators in this unfolding environmental emergency – they are its future defenders. Whether in schools, madrasas, mosques, or community parks, every child with a sapling in hand becomes a messenger of hope and a custodian of the planet’s wellbeing.
Seven-year-old Abdur Rehman, a student from Bhopal, shares,
“Trees were like my friends – they gave me shade and fresh air to play in. When I saw them being cut down near my house and the weather getting hotter, it made me sad and worried. So, I decided to do something. Now, I’m planting one tree every week to bring my friends back and help the Earth breathe.”
This campaign is not just about planting trees. It’s about planting values – of responsibility, empathy, and respect for nature.
A Global Vision, A Local Mission
Aligning with Global and National Climate Goals
This initiative directly complements the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land), which emphasise urgent action against climate change and the protection of terrestrial ecosystems.
UNICEF, the world’s leading child rights organisation, has consistently advocated for child-led climate action. In India, UNICEF’s partnerships with government bodies and civil society have introduced environmental education and plantation drives in schools through programmes like Generation Unlimited and Climate Resilient Schools.
Through Hands in Soil Hearts with India, CIO aligns itself with this global vision, enhancing these efforts by focusing on community-based, children-led plantation drives and environmental awareness sessions nationwide.
Partnerships for Purpose
To ensure that CIO’sMission Plantation is not just a symbolic gesture but a strategic and sustainable movement, we are actively seeking collaboration and guidance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and state forest departments across India.
We aim to work closely with forest officers, environmental scientists, and ecological experts to:
- Identify climate-appropriate plantation zones
- Supply native and climate-resilient saplings
- Conduct eco-awareness workshops for children and educators
- Support the revival of local biodiversity corridors
These partnerships will be vital in ensuring that each tree planted contributes meaningfully to the environment, while building community ownership and long-term impact.
One Month of Green-Only Conversations
For an entire month, the country will echo one powerful message: Greenery is growth, and children are its champions. Key highlights include:
✅Parks transformed into green zones of action
✅ Children naming and caring for their plants
✅ Heritage nature walks and plant-identification tours
✅‘Green Pledge’ assemblies in schools
✅ Friday sermons on environmental care in mosques
✅ Viral social media reels promoting tree guardianship
✅ Eco-art, poetry, and colouring competitions
Slogans like:
“Where every child plants a tree, a greener world will bloom.”
“A leaf shall smile – every day shall bring greenery.”
capture the essence of this green revolution.
Beyond Afforestation — Building a Movement
As CIO’s Mission Plantation National Campaign Convenor, I believe ‘Hands in Soil Hearts with Indiais not only a campaign – it’s a cultural shift. It sows the seeds of compassion, environmental responsibility, and unity in the hearts of our children.
Because while we inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
Join the Movement
Join us. Whether you’re a student, teacher, parent, or community leader – this is your chance to be part of something green, lasting, and truly powerful.
Together, let’s plant one million trees.
Together, let’s raise one million eco-warriors.
Because when a child plants a tree, they also grow roots of responsibility – and a future full of life.
[The writer is National Convenor, Hands in Soil Hearts with India | Children Islamic Organisation (CIO)’s Mission Plantation]