04. RESCUING SCHOOL ECOLOGICAL GARDENS
"The future can't be predicted but it can be envisioned and brought lovingly into being. Systems can't be controlled, but they can be designed and redesigned."
- Donella Meadows
Budget (USD)
(USD) – total: 330.000
First Phase Needs
(USD) – total: 110.000
Type of Project
Philanthropy
Timeframe
3 years
Geographical Scope
Costa Rica
Partners
Ministry of Education, School Boards
Target
1.000 ambassadors / activist from pri- mary and secondary schools
WHAT DOES THIS PROJECT DO?
It designs and implements a financing and management model that supports the modest school garden incentive for teachers that had been covered by the Ministry of Public Education until now. It also incorporates professional and technical support from third parties, and productivity of the gardens (generally between 15 and 30 m2). It also induces teachers and students to the paradigm of regenerative production. It also promotes the formation of student cooperatives to manage the ecological gardens to supply food for the school canteens.
HOW IS IT GOVERNED?
It is governed through long-term agreements and contracts between the parties (schools, UCI, student cooperatives).
Contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goals
WHAT IS THIS PROJECT?
It is a public-private partnership between the school boards of administration, the Directorate of Equity of the Ministry of Public Education (MEP), and the University of International Cooperation (UCI). It is also a food production system for self-consumption and a national network of leaders, student cooperatives, and promoters of regeneration.
HOW IS IT VALIDATED?
By counting the number of schools involved, ecological gardens intervened, the number of teachers and students involved, the safety and nutritional value of the products, the total harvest (tons), student cooperatives established and active leaders involved.