Agricola: the school garden initiative
The three schools in Kirinda grow fruit and vegetables in a shared model school garden – for healthier meals in the school canteen.
Since April 2010, Junge Menschen für Afrika (Young People for Africa) has been taking part in the “School Garden Initiative”. Under the expert guidance of the Rwanda School Garden Initiative (RSGI), a non-governmental organisation based in Kigali, the three schools in Kirinda – IPK, ESI and the primary school – have set up a shared model school garden.
Why a school garden?
Many pupils in Rwanda are malnourished. The harvest from the school garden goes to the school canteen and makes meals healthier and more varied. The income from the harvest is reinvested in the garden. Along the way, the children and young people learn how important fresh, locally grown food is and how they can grow fruit and vegetables themselves at home.
How it works
It all began with a big Umuganda day (community work). In a two-day introduction, the RSGI trained the three head teachers along with one teacher and five pupils from each school, focusing on gardening and rabbit keeping. Since then, every school has had a “School Garden Club”. Once a week the clubs look after the garden – from sowing to harvesting. More than ten kinds of vegetables are grown, including carrots, cabbage, onions, beetroot, tomatoes and cucumbers, along with fruit trees and shrubs.
Our association covered the set-up costs of around €9,000. A further €5,500 came from the Bad Kreuznach committee, which raised the money at an Africa Day held at schools in Bad Kreuznach. The church (E.P.R. Kirinda) provided the land.
Not even a far too long dry season with water shortages could dampen the commitment of the schools and the local people – with a great deal of hard work, the problem was overcome.
