Gaza – A.M. Qattan Foundation
On Thursday, 14 February 2019, the Urban Gardening programme activities were launched at the Child Centre – Gaza (CCG) / A.M. Qattan Foundation. Urban Gardening is part of the science programmes implemented by the CCG in the context of the new Spring 2019 programme cycle, which runs through 15 April 2019.
Bringing together 25 female students from the Al-Ma’mouniyah Preparatory School in Gaza, the Urban Gardening programme provides an experimental and exploratory space for children. Raising awareness of the importance of urban gardening, the programme encourages children to be environmentally friendly by adopting positive approaches to the environment.
Held at the CCG, the first session, titled The Urban Farm, featured models of modern aquaculture techniques, including aquaponics, hydroponics, and suspended culture. Students learned about the main components of each system and examined leafy vegetable and fruit crops, such as lettuce, celery, tomatoes, aubergines, and hydroponic strawberries.
On the tour with her friends around the farm, Lina Radhwan, an 11-year-old student, said: “I was amazed by the idea of aquaponics, its application method, and its success.”
Lina’s friend, Aydah al-Kilani, 11 years old said she “was eager to apply some of these ideas. We will plant vegetables at home. These will be healthier.”
Teacher Safa’ Shamiyyah encouraged the students to apply urban gardening at school. She stated: “We were supposed to visit a plant nursery in Gaza as a practical application of a lesson. However, our visit to the CCG has been far more instructive. We were astonished by this achievement.”
Shamiyyah stressed the importance of the Urban Gardening programme. She explained that the programme contributed to empowering students to discover concepts of urban gardening by themselves and see a practical model of urban gardening on the ground.
The CCG has been implementing and offering the Urban Gardening programme to children since 2017.