Schools Project

As part of our ‘Peace & Environment Programme’, we currently work with 6 primary schools in Enniskillen, Garrison and Rossinver. Experienced gardeners from The Organic Centre work with teachers and children in each of the schools to create an organic ‘kitchen garden’ growing vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers.

The project promotes ‘eco-literacy’ within the context of the primary curriculum, and draws upon best practices in collaborative and self-directed learning. As well as learning to grow their own food, the weekly gardening sessions cover a wide range of environmental issues such as composting, recycling, and the interconnectedness of natural eco-systems. Most importantly, the children learn to work with nature, not against it.

The project also involves cross-community sessions based at the Organic Centre, where children from both main religious communities engage in shared activities that further develop their environmental awareness. The schools also come together for a shared harvest celebration. Understanding the importance of natural bio-diversity and inter-connectedness can be a very effective way for children to learn the value of religious and cultural diversity.