The Ibn Yassin primary school is in the rural town of Ain Aouda, about an hour away from Rabat. Behind the school buildings, a previously abandoned plot has been turned into a 300-square-meter food garden cultivated by 40 students aged between 6 and 11.
Plants grown include garlic, peppers, lentils and lettuce, as well as olive, argan and citrus trees. Between the garden and the school buildings are two compost bins built from canes, and soon there will also be a seedbed.
The teachers and parents are involved in the work, and the grandfather of one of the students has been closely overseeing all the developments, passing on his farming experience to the young children. The students work in the garden three or four times a week, and also often voluntarily spend their breaktimes tending the seedlings.
This is the first time the school has had a food garden and the teachers are now planning educational activities linked to the gardening activities. They want to expand the garden and have already invited representatives from nearby schools to see the work done so far.
Area
Ibn Yassin primary school, Ain Aouda, Skhirat-Témara province, Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer region
Coordinator
Younes Zghari