Young people in Kiribati are taking the lead in shaping the country’s future of sustainable agriculture through the School Gardening Program, implemented through the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Climate Smart Agriculture for Kiribati project. In August, GGGI, in partnership with the Ministry of Education (MoE), Agriculture & Livestock Division (ALD), and the Project Planning Unit (PPU) of MELAD, launched a survey aimed at understanding how school gardens are impacting classrooms and local communities. 

The initiative brought together 14 government volunteers (six from MoE, six from ALD, and two from PPU) who are now equipped with skills to capture youth perspectives through innovative tools like Kobo Collect. The volunteers participated in a half-day training covering monitoring and evaluation, survey techniques, troubleshooting, and interview skills, emphasizing how technology can transform student feedback into actionable insights for future climate-smart agriculture projects. 

“This survey is more than just data collection,” said a participant. “It’s about listening to students and teachers, empowering young people to contribute ideas, and fostering innovative solutions for sustainable agriculture and resilient communities.”

A student from Bareaumai primary School said, “The program is fun and it teaches me new gardening skills.” Another student from Tebwanimwaneka Primary School commented that “school gardening is a good program because we can decorate our front class area with plants and vegetables.” 

By integrating youth voices, GGGI and its partners aim to strengthen program design, enhance learning outcomes, and encourage innovation in Kiribati’s schools. The survey results will guide future initiatives and provide evidence-based lessons for scaling climate-smart practices in Kiribati and replicating in other pacific island countries. 

This milestone marks a significant step forward in advancing climate-smart agriculture, strengthening community resilience, and inspiring the next generation to champion innovative, sustainable solutions within their schools and communities.