The Nicaraguan ministry of education, as well as the of Chinandega and Asociación Chinantlan are introducing this project with the goal to elaborate methods that can help to establish the concept of “learning by doing” in the schools of Nicaragua. Another situation that effects our country is the malnutrition of great parts of the population. Studies of the FAO (Organization for alimentation) from April 2007 show that 27% of the Nicaraguan population suffers on malnutrition. With a general population of 6.000.000 inhabitants means that, that 1.500.000 are malnourished.

Four schools are participating in the Project: Divino Niño, Jesus de Nazaret, Juan B. Zelaya and Colonia Santa Ana.

Goal

The general goal is to establish technical vocational education in at least four schools in the municipality of Chinandega. Therefore we installed a organic school garden in each of them. We solely use organic products which are produced in Chinandega, to create and strengthen a self-sustaining community. And also to enable a “teaching and learning” community to provide comprehensive education in Chinandega.

Purchase of materials used in the gardens

For the purchase of the materials and seeds we use in the gardens, we look for the best price-performance ratio. We use materials like shovels, pickaxes, hammers, spray pumps, machetes, seeds of corn, tomatoes, pepper, squash, cucumber, amaranth and beans.

Selection of the sites, preparation and fencing of the gardens

We selected the gardens regarding aspects like proximity of water supply, enough sun, central location, so that all children can see the garden and sufficient soil quality for a save cultivation. The fencings of the gardens were realized by pupils and their parents and coordinated by a teacher.

Practical training in the cultivation of the gardens

To show the children the importance of the establishing of a garden, we took special care about this step in the project. With small groups of pupils we seeded the several plants and explained the characteristics of each of them. For example how to seed them in a correct distance to the next crop.

If you want to contact the project leader, write or call: Ajax Fonseca Rafael Trujillo, chinantlan_ni@yahoo.es, Tel: 8812 9894