School is cool with vegetable gardens

 

Cebu, Philippines – An elementary school in the municipality of Moalboal blooms with various kinds of flowers, vegetables and fruit-bearing plants after the teachers, school administration, volunteer parents and the students worked together to grow gardens in every vacant area inside the school premise.

 

The garden program started a couple of years ago when the school was asked by the district office to participate in a school gardening contest. With the overall efforts by everyone in the school, they won the Most Eco-friendly School award in the whole Cebu province.

 

After the competition stint, the vegetable garden project continued to flourish as the teachers observed how cooperative the students are in taking care of the plants. “The students are very active in watering and removing weeds during their vacant time,” shares Mr. Vincente Erojo, the school principal. “The healthy fruits and vegetables growing from the plants seem to encourage them to plant more.”

 

 

Government and private groups in the community also support the school project by donating plant seeds, gardening materials and many more. World Vision, which is implementing development projects in the municipality, donated P75,000 worth of garden tools like water hose, sprinklers and a garden net to the school.

 

The vegetable garden project was also crucial in nourishing six malnourished school students. The organically grown vegetables were used in cooking healthy meals for a feeding program.

 

The latest school data indicates that the children are now healthier.

 

During long breaks like Christmas holidays, the harvests are sold to community members who are eager to buy because it is organic produce. The income the school makes is used in improving school facilities.

 

 

“It’s like a living laboratory for the students,” the school head shares. “They can apply the lessons they learn from the books in the real world. We also want them to develop, within them, a concern for the environment.”

 

World Vision Development Foundation, Inc. celebrates its 60th year of development work in the Philippines. Support the organisation to improve more communities and lives of families, especially the children.World Vision/June 15, 2017

 

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