As part of Bank of Kigali’s 60th anniversary celebrations, Bank of Kigali, BK Foundation and Save Environment Initiative (SEI) joined residents for a special community work exercise to plant trees in Nyenyeri and Juru villages, Kamukina Cell, Kimihurura Sector.

Held on February 28, 2026, the activity brought together Bank of Kigali staff and management, BK Foundation, SEI, the City of Kigali, Rwanda Forestry, the Ethiopian Embassy in Rwanda and members of the local community. Together, participants planted approximately 3,500 trees.

The activity also marked the launch of a broader tree-planting and monitoring initiative between BK Foundation and SEI. Under the two-year partnership, 50,000 trees will be planted and monitored as part of efforts to support environmental conservation, forest landscape restoration and climate action. The project targets a tree survival rate of 85 percent.

Speaking during the activity, Bank of Kigali CEO Diane Karusisi highlighted the significance of marking the Bank’s 60-year journey through an initiative that contributes to Rwanda’s sustainable development.

“This year we are celebrating 60 years of Bank of Kigali working hand in hand with Rwandans to build the nation,” she said. “And we want to continue building a good, sustainable country, a lasting bright future, so that our children and grandchildren will find it in good condition.”

For BK Foundation, the initiative reflects its commitment to environmental conservation and sustainable development. The Foundation supports climate action, environmental conservation and livelihood promotion through its programs and partnerships.

Ingrid Karangwayire, Executive Secretary of BK Foundation, emphasized the importance of sustainability in the Group’s work with communities.

“As BK as a whole group, we take sustainability as a serious matter for the livelihoods of the communities that we serve. Everything that we think of has to have some sustainability in it,” she said.

The partnership extends beyond planting trees. It includes site preparation, community mobilization, continuous tree monitoring and training community members in tree care and sustainable forestry practices. SEI leads the technical implementation, while BK Foundation provides financing and strategic oversight.

Community participation is central to the initiative. The project targets 1,400 people for training in tree care and monitoring and will conduct 10 community awareness and sensitization sessions focused on tree planting and care.

The initiative will also establish five School Environmental Clubs to strengthen environmental awareness among young people. Five Village Savings and Loan Associations will be formed, with 250 members receiving financial literacy training to connect environmental action with stronger community livelihoods.

By starting the initiative through community work, Bank of Kigali, BK Foundation and SEI placed community participation at the centre of the environmental effort. The activity provided a meaningful way to mark Bank of Kigali’s 60th anniversary while beginning a longer-term effort to plant, protect and monitor trees and strengthen environmental awareness within communities.