0 shares Share 0 Tweet 0 Pin 0 Share 0 Lesein Mutunkei, an 18-year-old from Kenya plants 11 trees for every goal he scores on the football field — one for each player on his team.And no, it’s …

Lesein Mutunkei, an 18-year-old from Kenya plants 11 trees for every goal he scores on the football field — one for each player on his team.

And no, it’s not a superstition or good luck charm — Mutunkei is trying to raise awareness for the daily loss of an estimated 50 football pitches worth of forest area in his country.  

In 2018, Mutunkei started Trees4Goals to mobilize young athletes in his region to plant trees every time they score. According to CNN, now he wants FIFA to use its audience of billions to take his message global. 

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"Football is a universal game and climate change is a universal problem," Mutunkei said. "[It] has the power to connect, engage, educate and inspire my generation to create a safer and greener future." Deforestation refers to the clearing of forests and trees for agriculture, or to harvest resources like timber. It contributes to global warming and damages wildlife habitats. In 2018, Kenya's forest cover stood at just 6%, according to the Kenya Forest Service.

His dream is that one day, football teams would compare their success by the size of the forests they’ve planted, not just the number of trophies on their shelves. 

Mutunkai remembered that whenever his family wanted to commemorate special occasions, they planted trees. 

That’s when he heard a story about a hummingbird trying to put out a forest fire while all the other animals fled in fear. 

“However small you think the difference may be, it does make a change.”

Highlights • 10 years of writing and editing experience Obsessed with home decor trends, plant parenting, cleaning, and other lifestyle topics. • Expertise in content marketing and email strategy for brands and small businesses About Nikola Gemeš Nikola Gemeš, an electrical engineer turned sustainability consultant, bridges the gap between complex environmental concepts and GreenCitizen readers with his well-researched, accurate content. His commitment to sustainability extends from his professional life to personal practices of recycling and home-grown food. An adventurer at heart, Nikola enjoys hiking, white-water sports, and pocket knife collecting. At Green Citizen, he's instrumental in presenting the best sustainable brands, aiding well-informed decision-making. He firmly believes in the collective power of individuals, experts, businesses, and governments to foster a world where sustainability, life quality, economic prosperity, diversity, mental health, and gender equality are core values. Experience Nikola Gemeš has a rich and diverse background in electrical engineering, which he utilizes to break down complex sustainability topics for his readers. His unique blend of technical knowledge and communicative skills has made him a crucial part of GreenCitizen. Nikola's experience has honed his ability to navigate through intricate data and research, ensuring the content he delivers is both accurate and reliable. His passion for educating and informing is palpable in the impact he has made on Green Citizen's readership. Outside of his professional endeavors, Nikola is deeply committed to environmental conservation in his personal life. This commitment is reflected in his everyday activities, from recycling to cultivating his own food. His hands-on approach to sustainability gives him a first-hand understanding of practical conservation efforts, further enriching the content he produces. These personal experiences often seep into his work, making it relatable and engaging for readers. Nikola's key role extends to assessing and presenting sustainable brands to his audience. His comprehensive grasp of sustainability allows him to critically evaluate and offer the best environmentally-friendly options available on the market. He aids readers in making informed decisions that have a positive impact on both their lives and the environment. His belief in collective efforts towards a sustainable world is evident in his work, as he consistently promotes values of quality life, economic prosperity, diversity, mental health, and gender equality.

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