This month is all about our School Demonstration Garden Project!
November 5, 2015We are currently implementing the project under the name LEARN in Agago and Abim in cooperation with SVN and in Amuru thanks to the support of the Bestseller Fundation. Furthermore, we have just secured a multi-years grant to implement the SDG in Zambia!
For those of you, who are unfamiliar with the project, here are some more details:
What do we do?
We set up farmer groups comprising of up to 50 parents who work at the school on the demonstration garden, attend weekly meetings and receive practical training by AR field staff. Our field staff supports them in every step of the way from the preparation of the land to the selling of their produce.
The School Demonstration garden not only imparts agricultural skills, but also trains beneficiaries in financial planning, marketing and management, which will empower them to flourish in the business of farming. After selling their produce, 30% of the harvest profits is saved for the next season, 40% is distributed among parents and the school receives 30%. Previously, these profits were then used to provide school meals, subsidise fees for poorest pupils or provide scholastic materials.
Furthermore, pupils entrepreneurship clubs are formed too, in order to ensure that the next generation are acquiring valuable skills.
Why?
Agriculture continues to play a critical role in the Ugandan economy, employing 82% of the national workforce. Very often after primary school, not all students continue with their education. Some, perhaps out of choice, perhaps out of necessity, will return to the land to earn their living. Low yields and inefficient agricultural practices leave households vulnerable. As a result, children also often go hungry while at school, a major factor as to why Uganda has the highest school dropout rate in East Africa. Additionally, this affects concentration levels and learning retention.
The School Demonstration project, one of African Revival’s core areas of expertise, aims to treat these different problem areas by tying education and livelihoods together. Our intervention seeks to address two interlinked issues – low quality education at a primary level and food insecurity compounded by poor agricultural productivity. We aim to create stronger links between parents and schools leading to increased enrolment, attendance and academic attainment, while also equipping beneficiaries with practical agricultural skills. Parents and pupils increase agricultural productivity both at the school garden and home gardens, increasing food security and boosting nutrition. Ultimately, we want to empower these communities to lift themselves out of poverty!
Do you want to know more about our SDG Programme?
Keep your eyes peeled for new and exciting updates and specials this month, ranging from an old success story, a photo essay, to specials offering some DIY-farming tips a and much more: you will also have the opportunity to meet some of our Livelihood staff as well as our beneficiaries, and to find out more about the schools we are working with!
So stay tuned 🙂
