Mecholo Primary School created their school garden in 2011 with support from the Thousand Gardens project, involving around 64 students, both boys and girls. The students grow various local fruits and vegetables including moringa, omatoes, potatoes, papaya, mango, lablab and pigeon peas as well as some local cereal varieties. All the fresh produce harvested from garden is sold to the local community, including the students’ families, and the money raised goes directly to the school to help provide educational materials for students.
The school’s water tanks are vital to the sustainability of the project, as the semi-arid climate of the region remains a crucial issues in the everyday life of local people. The tanks were built by UNICEIF some years ago and hold 1,500 cubic meters of water.
The garden is realized in collaboration with Konso Cultural Centre (www.konsoculturalcentre.org), which coordinates the gardens in the area and organizes regular training workshops.
Garden location
Mecholo Village, Konso Special Woreda, Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region
Coordinator
Nigatu Kumeda