school gardens

overview

This project is located in Poi Pet, Cambodia. With high levels of poverty and low income, families are unable to purchase nutritious food that is so critical to child development.

This project is promoting the farming of fresh fruits and vegetables in urban spaces so that vulnerable community groups, particularly women and children, have increased access to nutritious food.

School grounds in cities have access to sunshine, but space is limited. Therefore we will use creative farming techniques, including vertical gardens, to make the most of that environment.

Improving children's access to nutritious food not only improves their concentration at school, but also increases their overall health and opens pathways for future employment and education opportunities in agricultural industries that are flourishing in developing nations.

key outcomes

Promote the farming of fresh fruit and vegetables in school grounds to give children who live on the streets or in slums increased access to nutritious food.

Provide opportunities for students to connect with farming to open pathways of employment in agriculture-based activities.

Cambodia’s most recent Demographic and Health survey (2014) indicates 32% (or approximately 500,000) of children under five are stunted.

Rapid urbanisation has seen many move from rural areas to the city for a better life, but the reality they experience is high unemployment and lack of housing.

Vulnerable groups including children and pregnant women lack access to nutritious food which impacts healthy development.

Children born into families that migrated from rural to urban areas find it difficult to return to rural areas as they no longer have farming skills.

snapshot

how are we doing it?

We will partner with existing local organisations and make use of school grounds located in impoverished districts that can be used for food production.

With limited space, we will use creative techniques to maximise space available, for instance, trellis gardens along walls and pergolas with climbing plants that provide shade for daytime play. Chickens raised in small spaces provide eggs for children and fertiliser for the gardens. Rotary compost bins turn organic vegetable waste into valuable fertiliser.

Street kids will have the opportunity to learn how to grow their own food and those who show enthusiasm will be given the opportunity to attend further training programs.

Project Activities:

Design school yard garden
Construct trellis and pergola garden beds
Install watering system
Purchase two rotary compost drums
Establish chicken flock
Train local organisation

your partnership

By partnering with us on this project, you will be directly funding school community gardens for vulnerable community groups to access nutritious food. Your investment will purchase the elements listed under 'Project Activities' above. This represents a long-term solution, empowering the younger generation with skills necessary to create food security, good health and improved income for the future.

Sponsor a garden: $100 (or your choice of donation)

Sponsor a whole school garden: $5,000

Sponsor a garden today