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LOCAL Monday 20 June 2022

University students of Aruba present findings of their survey about

the potential of a school garden

ORANJESTAD – Recently, Maduro, each school gar- cultivation from a young
University of Aruba stu- den is a valuable educa- age.
dents Taisha Henriquez and tional tool. It serves to cre-
Zayliyah Danje presented ate awareness and stimu- However, there is a finan-
the findings of their survey late the youth about the cial and commitment
“Why are School gardens importance of a country obstacles to maintain-
an added value to Aruba’s establishing healthy food ing these school gardens.
Food Security and Chil- security for its community. It There is now a better over-
dren’s wellbeing?” can also become a profes- view because of the re-
sional career, lowering the search. Santa Rosa has a
The government's main dependency on imported better perspective on the
goal is to stimulate the pri- food and further job cre- future school gardens and
mary sector in Aruba. Not ation. can work on the possible each child. Santa Rosa is research and presenting
only for food security but solutions to make each grateful to Mrs. Yolanda the report to Mrs. Nathalie
also to allow the youth to In March 2022, Santa Rosa garden successful. Richardson, a teacher at Maduro in the presence of
come in contact with this presented the research the Research Methodol- Mr. Ludwig Rasmijn, respon-
sector. theme to the University of The students have created ogy Introduction Module at sible for the school projects.
Aruba as part of a project an informative poster il- the Art & Science Faculty
In 2019 the “Hofi di Amis- for the students to assist lustrating the five charac- of the University of Aruba For more information, con-
tad”, the project started with its execution. Two stu- teristics that make school for her cooperation. Santa tact the Department of
with the objective to start dents were selected, Tai- gardens a beneficial tool Rosa is also very grateful to Agriculture, Livestock, and
school gardens (orchards) sha Henriquez and Zayliyah concerning the social, nu- students Taisha Henriquez Fishery (Santa Rosa) at
backed by a maintenance Danje of the Social Works tritional value as well as and Zayliyah Danje for their 5858102 or info@santarosa.
plan by the students. Cur- faculty, to initiate the re- personal development of dedication in executing the aw.q
rently, two participating search through a survey, in
schools allow for measur- collaboration with the San-
ing the development and ta Rosa, about the theme
success of each one. This "Why are School Gardens
makes it possible to adjust an added value to Aruba’s
the model into a more du- Food Security and Chil-
rable and practical format dren’s wellbeing?”
to reach the main goal
and effectiveness of the The students collected
gardens. data for their research
and visited the two exist-
Many other schools want to ing school garden projects
create their school garden and other entities where
but encounter setbacks for Santa Rosa assisted with
different reasons. Some ob- workshops and planting
stacles are the high irriga- materials in the past.
tion or maintenance costs
and the upkeep during Another essential aspect
the vacation seasons. De- of the research is a survey
spite these obstacles, some sent to teachers, former
schools are trying hard to teachers, parents, profes-
establish a small garden for sionals, and department
the children to enjoy. heads. The aim was to get
a better view of how each
Santa Rosa, the gov- of these groups sees the
ernment department in effectiveness of develop-
charge of the primary sec- ing more school gardens
tor, wants to evaluate this and the possible impact
project to help develop a these can have on the chil-
more sustainable plan to dren's health and develop-
stimulate more school gar- ment. Data shows that the
dens in Aruban schools. teachers and the parents
are more intrigued by this
According to the Director project and recognize the
of Santa Rosa, Mrs. Nathalie benefits of stimulating food