Schoolgardens
School gardens featuring vegetable beds and fruit trees are being created at all primary schools in Maun that participate in the Junior Ranger Program. Here, the children learn all the essentials of gardening: from sowing seeds and selecting the right soil to marking out the beds and using gardening tools.
The Junior Rangers are enthusiastic about the school garden project and are fully committed to planting, sowing, and watering!
Letso, our school garden coordinator, keeps track of all the gardens and knows exactly what work needs to be done in every season. As a passionate gardener, he impressively shares his knowledge with our Junior Rangers.
In the school garden at Botswelelo Primary School, where previous yields were not optimal, Letso has developed a special solution. Together with the trainers, a hydroponic system was installed. This special system is designed for over 400 plants and offers a soil-independent cultivation method that uses nutrient-rich water to promote plant growth. With the introduction of the hydroponic system, we are setting an example in Maun for innovative farming solutions in times of water scarcity and poor soil quality.
In Botswana, soil quality is often problematic due to the high sand content, and limited water resources pose a challenge throughout the year. In fact, most fruits and vegetables are imported from South Africa, which is unaffordable for many families.
Meanwhile, harvests in most school gardens are plentiful, allowing the Junior Rangers’ families to benefit from the produce. The children and young people pass on their knowledge to family members and neighbors. We hope to see as many children and young people in the region as possible learn to grow vegetables for self-sufficiency and process them into a balanced diet. This is extremely important in Botswana, where hunger and malnutrition are widespread.
The children at Sedie Primary School are exceptionally dedicated. On their own initiative, they expanded the school garden and were able to double the harvest!
To create new gardens, replant existing ones, replenish them with high-quality compost, and purchase gardening tools, we need your support!
Help the Junior Rangers grow healthy vegetables!