FAO and Mexico Establish Six School Gardens in Belize

Belmopan, Belize - Learning about nutrition, healthy eating and environmental sustainability is now a practical, hands-on experience for students in six schools across Belize, thanks to the installation of school gardens by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Government of Mexico and the Government of Belize. 

 Through the support of the 'Resilient School Feeding' sub-project of the Mexico-CARICOM-FAO Initiative "Cooperation for Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience in the Caribbean" or Resilient Caribbean Initiative in short, six primary schools in Belize: Chan Chen Government, Biscayne Government, Guinea Grass RC, Lucky Strike Government, San Joaquin RC and Santa Martha Government can now look forward to incorporating gardening into their daily routines.  

Achieved, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security, and Enterprise, the project's National Project Coordinator, Cathleen Juan explains, "The garden structures were designed to serve as an invaluable teaching tool for the beneficiary primary schools. These structures feature shaded coverings and raised beds, spaced to facilitate easy access for collaborative work among students. Seedlings of various vegetables, including sweet peppers, tomatoes, and lettuce, have been planted to give students the opportunity to learn about vegetables commonly used in their diets." 

In line with FAO's Homegrown School Feeding Model, school gardens are used as a learning tool to enhance nutrition education in primary schools. Through the implementation of school gardens, interactive spaces are created where students learn about agriculture, nutrition, healthy eating, and environmental sustainability. Growing vegetables help children become more familiar and enthusiastic about incorporating these healthy foods into their diets. Gardening also cultivates a deeper understanding of the food system, and instills lifelong skills. 

Principal Seleni Grajales of Santa Martha Government school states, "Students are learning about the benefits of healthy foods, planting, and growing delicious and nutritious meals, thus having gained skills and knowledge for the future." 

To ensure the sustainability and upkeep of the school gardens, The Ministry of Agriculture's Horticulture Unit is providing training to the school principals and teachers at each of the schools. These trainings are also equipping teachers to utilize the gardens in their curriculum better and ensure they can be a sustainable tool for student learning and engagement.  

The Resilient School Feeding Programme for Belize emphasizes the importance of student nutrition education, connecting with community farmers, along with providing healthy meals. The initiative focuses on enhancing the region's capacity to adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture, food security, and rural development.