On 7th February, the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) organized a coordination workshop with Ministry of Education (MoE) and 8 schools that will pilot school gardens as part of GGGI’s Climate Smart Agriculture for Kiribati project, which is funded by the by Qatar Fund for Development.
The workshop, held at Koakoa’s Restaurant in Antenon, Tarawa was attended by GGGI’s Country Representative for Kiribati, Mr. Daniel Muñoz- Smith, MoE Deputy Secretaries, the Director and Deputy Director for Agriculture & Livestock Division, school leaders from eight primary schools and GGGI local staff.
The workshop was led by the Climate Smart Agriculture for Kiribati Project Manager, who introduced the School Garden Program and discussed the implementation plan to roll out the activities with the selected schools. The school leaders shared the challenges of setting up school gardens and the significance of teaching our children how to grow healthy and nutritious food. The Ministry is focusing on improving access to nutritious food for children to enhance learning capability under nourished children.
The workshop concluded with the Ministry of Education expressing its support for the School Garden Program as the school leaders are eager to start their gardens. As part of the program, the schools will receive sets of gardening tools and climate smart technologies to support the setup of school gardens.
The 8 school selected for the pilot program include; i) Aratokotoko Primary School, ii) Tabontemwaneaba Primary School, iii) War Memorial Primary School, iv) Rurubao School, v) Taakenbairiki Primary School, vi) Dai Nippon Primary School, vii) St. John Bosco Primary School and viii) Temwanoku Primary School. These primary schools were located at Buota, Bikenbeu, Bairiki and Betio).
Deputy Secretary of Ministry of Education giving conclusion remarks
One of the school leader sharing the challenges for setting up school gardens
MoE staff & teachers, ALD staff and GGGI staff at Koakoa restaurant.
GGGI Country Representative for Kiribati Mr Danile Munoz-Smith delivered opening remarks