Mushimiyimana Claude, a 25-year-old from Nyamasheke District in Rwanda, has made it his personal mission to protect the environment—not for fame, money, or recognition, but out of pure love for nature. His efforts have already seen more than 3,000 trees planted, mostly on public land.
A third-year student at RP Kitabi College in Rusizi, where he studies Nature Conservation, Mushimiyimana balances academics with a deep personal commitment to reforestation. His passion for environmental care grew even stronger in late 2024, when he decided to take action after witnessing how trees were constantly being destroyed—grazing animals like goats were tied to them, others were carelessly cut down, and no one seemed to be taking responsibility.
To change this, he started planting trees himself. He began by planting 1,035 trees along the Kivu Belt road in Kilimbi Sector, covering a stretch of 4 to 5 kilometers. He then planted another 2,435 trees along ravines that channel water into Lake Kivu—natural spots crucial for erosion control and water conservation.
Speaking to KURA, Mushimiyimana shared that he was inspired by the question: “If trees that have already been planted are not cared for, what’s the point of planting more?” This thought didn’t discourage him—it motivated him.
“I kept wondering whether planting trees was worth it if people didn’t care for the ones already there,” he said. “But then I started observing the ones along the roadside and noticed how animals were tied to them, how they were mistreated. It made me feel bad. So I began by tending to around 200 trees, weeding around them and caring for them while also educating the locals about their value.”
His commitment to the environment didn’t stop there. Around his university, Mushimiyimana noticed that the streets were littered with plastic waste and garbage, which posed serious harm to the environment. Instead of complaining, he built a small waste collection site and began gathering trash himself. This earned him a reputation in the community—many now refer to him as “a true friend of the environment.”
“Everything I do comes from a place of love for my country,” he said. “Some people even call me a true environmental friend because of these actions.”
Mushimiyimana’s environmental journey is deeply tied to his personal struggles. He was raised in poverty. His parents separated when he was young due to his father’s severe alcoholism. His mother, left to fend for the family, endured hardship, often sleeping wherever nightfall found her. Eventually, luck came their way when she managed to build a modest home on the remains of land that belonged to her parents—genocide victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
Due to these challenges, Mushimiyimana had to grow up fast. In high school, he would sometimes skip classes to do odd jobs so he could pay his school fees. He often returned only in time to sit for exams, and this unstable study pattern led to poor performance on several occasions.
Despite these setbacks, he eventually received a scholarship that allowed him to continue his education and build a better future. Even as he studies, he remains dedicated to tree planting—an effort he has fully embraced out of patriotism and a deep love for Rwanda.
