The lack of access to nutritious foods throughout the Pacific means unhealthy foods are being imported to fill the voids. Reliance on these packaged foods is causing alarming long term health issues - like diabetes and heart disease. Matters are made worst by climate change, which is affecting soil fertility and the abilities for these vulnerable communities to grow their own fresh fruit and veg.
At Mona School, in the Napir Village, North East Santa Cruz in the Solomon Islands ChildFund’s Garden Project is teaching children how to improve soil heath to plant, grow and harvest nutritious more foods.
Only 11% of children at Mona School in the Garden Project have access to fruit and vegetables daily. Through the Garden Project students are now being taught how to grow, harvest and cook nutrient rich climate resilient produce into the school curriculum.
A plant nursey has been established and is growing corn, beans, tomatoes, capsicum and lettuce.
Students are learning about soil health, composting and the benefits of increasing their consumption of fruit and vegetables.
The Garden Project brings teachers, parents and students together to maintain the nursery as a long-term learning resource. The project compliments the Napir Village Community Garden Project to increase availability of nutritious food for consumption and a valuable source of income.
