Green-fingered students have received awards for their schools after growing bumper crops of fruit and vegetables for the Sahtak Awalan’s Project Greenhouse competition launched by Weill Cornell Medicine – Qatar (WCM-Q).
The students participated in Sahtak Awalan’s Project Greenhouse competition, which challenges schools and pupils to grow the biggest and best crops and teaches them about sustainability and healthy lifestyles at the same time.
Project Greenhouse has provided more than 130 schools across Qatar with greenhouses, plant pots, soil and seeds. The crops grown by Jawaan Bin Jassim Primary School for Boys include tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, eggplants and parsley. The children prepared the pots, planted the seeds, and watered and nurtured them as the plants grew. Project Greenhouse has allowed students to work independently and in small groups and has taught them a whole range of skills. Along with learning about healthy eating, sustainability and horticulture, the project feeds directly into classes about science and the environment.
Project Greenhouse has now been expanded into secondary schools under the Khayr Qatarna initiative. This has seen a variety of crops grown in large scale greenhouses which have been given the ‘Premium Produce’ designation by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment. The crops are then distributed to the community through local supermarkets, with all profits being reinvested in the scheme.