Submitted by olivia on Tue, 2013-05-07 17:19
- STORIES FROM MAAI MAHIU, KENYA-
CTC’s recent garden project in collaboration with Mama Hope and Namuncha and Maai Mahiu Primary schools has proven to be a huge success! Spinach, Onions, and Kale have been planted in both of the school gardens which now offer a variety of nutritional support for the school lunch programs. The main goal of this garden project is to ensure sustainability of the produce and to introduce successful backyard gardening techniques to the students.
Both CTC and the schools’ administration joined together to focus on one agenda, aiming to alleviate poverty in the community through a grassroots approach with primary school children. We started this backyard project with an introduction to “Sack Gardening” at the students’ homes, which are now thriving and being assessed. This process was established in the homes of 17 students, 13 from Maai Mahiu and 4 from Namuncha Primary.
We were able to target these sack gardens through the help of our very organized and willing team of students who are responsible for making this experience such a successful one. Supporters of the project were very helpful and paid visits to all of the students at their homes. The most exciting part was the parents’ participation in the exercise and their strong recommendations to continue the project.
The progress of the Onions and Kale are improving immensely and currently waiting to be harvested in the next two weeks.
One way to ensure that this project has a purposeful outcome is to continue giving seedlings to the students who are producing more with their sack gardens. Our ultimate goal is to start the students off with one home sack garden, then gradually work with them to establish more and ensure that the vegetables are readily and consistently available.
Blog By: Samuel Gikonyo, CTC Kenya Assistant Environmental Coordinator
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