School Garden Pilot - Betania

PROJECT CONTEXT

Our first small, rural village of Betania is about one hour North of Montero. Betania is home to about 40 families or roughly 187 people. There is no electricity, no high school, and no water in people's homes. Betania has multiple projects that are similar to many other small communities problems. We are working with the folks from Betania on solutions that once refined will be replicated in other communities in the near future.

Throughout the needs assessment, all people in Betania named nutrition as one of the community's principle concerns. Most families survive on rice and yucca. At the same time, Betania's fertile soil is an opportunity to grow the necessary produce to ensure a healthy diet. The North Kitsap/Poulsbo Rotary Club is helping sponsor of this project.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

One teacher that works in the small school in Betania said, "We live in some of the best land in the country for growing. This land produces everything, but it's like we live somewhere that doesn't produce anything at all. People still buy their vegetables when they need them. And most of the time people don't have money to buy them at all." The School Garden Projects works with all 65 students in Betania's three-room school.

  • Gardening. Children will learn how to maintain a garden to grow food organically.
  • Nutrition and hygiene. Vegetables from the garden will improve meals served to the students during the day. In addition an educational component is incorporated into the program that includes Health, Hygiene, and Nutrition sessions that will be available to all community members. Finally once vegetables are harvested cooking classes will be made available to the children and families. Etta Projects too is researching appropriate food preservation methods for communities living in such isolated areas.
  • Vending. Food not used to feed the children will be sold to the local community at affordable rates. The teachers chose to use the profits from the sales to enhance the school's resources and to maintain the school garden.

  • Business and accounting skills. Throughout the process of producing and selling, students will learn business and accounting skills.

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