EduPlant is also celebrating the announcement by the Woolworths Trust that it will continue as the major sponsor through to 2010. Says Brian Frost, chairman of the trust, “Long-term commitment is important to sustain a programme such as EduPlant where the benefits to schools accrue year after year.
“At the entry level, Woolworths Trust EduPlant helps schools to improve the nutrition of hungry learners and to enhance and protect the school’s physical environment. However, the benefits of EduPlant are far-reaching and ever-increasing. We look forward now to the 2007 Woolworths Trust EduPlant programme with the aim of empowering more and more South African learners and educators.”
Co-ordinated by Food and Trees For Africa (FTFA) and in association with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, LandCare SA and SABC Education, Woolworths Trust EduPlant is a school’s food gardening and greening programme that promotes and supports schools in the growing of good food using resource-efficient permaculture techniques.
Through their participation in EduPlant, thousands of schools across the country have become champions of community development, promoting food security, improved nutrition and self-reliance. Last year, more than 380 schools participated in the Woolworths Trust EduPlant programme. Each year, Woolworths Trust EduPlant starts out by holding free one-day workshops in all nine provinces.
Group interaction and experiential exercises are used to create a fun and meaningful learning environment. Educators learn all about world-renowned permaculture ethics and techniques. Workshop topics include water harvesting, soil improvement, natural resource mapping and recycling design, as well as how to involve learners in the school’s living, learning laboratory.
During the year, motivated teachers are supported in their efforts to design and create improved, sustainable, food-rich school environments. They then enter their school gardens into the annual Woolworths Trust EduPlant competition, where they could participate in the exciting finals event and win prizes.
If you would like to be part of the Woolworths Trust EduPlant programme, obtain a competition entry form or participate in the permaculture workshops, contact Joanne Rolt at FTFA on +27 (0)11 803 9750, email or go to www.trees.org.za.
