Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) has urged young people across the country to take an active role in protecting and restoring the environment, stressing that their participation is key to safeguarding forests and other natural resources.

Speaking on Saturday in Ntcheu during a quiz competition involving ten primary schools under the Forest and Landscape Restoration Project, YONECO Project Coordinator Edwin Chulu said the initiative was aimed at educating and inspiring learners to become champions of environmental conservation.

Nkhande Primary School emerged overall winner of the competition, followed by Gomeza Primary School in second place, Chikuse Primary School in third, and Nan Ray Primary School in fourth.

The contest tested participants on topics such as tree planting, climate change, waste management, and forest restoration.

Winners received various prizes including school bags, notebooks, ball pens, and umbrellas.

Speaking on behalf of Nkhande Primary School, Standard Seven learner Hendrinah Kapanja expressed excitement at their victory and pledged to put the knowledge gained into practice.

The Forest and Landscape Restoration Project, which YONECO is implementing with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), seeks to restore degraded lands and forests while building community resilience against the effects of climate change in Ntcheu District.