Summary
“Through these sustainable initiatives the students imbibe many life skills and entrepreneurial skills”
“When a child appreciates the role of agriculture in their everyday life, they are more conscientious about their own impact on our earth and want to share what they’ve learned with others”
Organic farming and agriculture helps to keep the environment healthy by mitigating pollution levels. By levelling down the amount of residues in our country’s edible products, we reduce hazards to human and animal health. In the contemporary world, it is equally important for our children to understand organic food and sustainable farming. Taking cues from the same, the students of Gold Crest High School, built by the Vilasrao Deshmukh Foundation, organised an Organic Farmers’ Market in association with 21 Organic. The initiative aimed to create awareness in the local community about ‘Fairtrade’, an organisation that works for the cause of farmers.
Mrs. Kavita Malhotra, principal of Goldcrest High School, Vashi, spoke to The Telegraph Online Edugraph about their novel initiative. With over 43+ years of experience in the Education sector, she has had varied experiences from Teaching to Staff Mentoring, Administration, Setting up Schools, to Building Education Brands. We bring you some insights from the chat.
1. What is the purpose of organising this event called Farmers' Market?
Making students understand where their food and clothing comes from and the importance of sustainable agriculture is essential. When a child appreciates the role of agriculture in their everyday life, they are more conscientious about their own impact on our earth and want to share what they’ve learned with others. Projects like Organic Farmers’ Market helps students to gain practical knowledge through their experiences, which results in lifelong learning and the development of life skills.
The Organic Farmers’ Market is being organised every Friday. This will help students to create awareness amongst parents and the local community about Fairtrade thus making this a sustainable project.
2. How do you envision your students benefiting from initiatives like these?
By interacting with farmers, students will ask questions about and understand:
- Where their food comes from
- Daily tasks that take place on every farm and problems faced
- Greater awareness about weather and how it affects farming
- About seasonal vegetables and fruits
- Understand about a variety of fresh produce
- What is Organic farming? What kind of manure do they use and how do they save their crops from artificial fertilisers/pesticides
Understanding farming teaches students to have a greater appreciation for food, discover that healthy food can be tasty and developing healthy food habits. The Organic Farmers’ Market may also inspire children to take up agriculture as an occupation.
3. How important is it for students to know how to be socially responsible and keep working for the welfare of the society?
The value of social responsibility is inculcated in students through active participation in the Goldcrest Earth Objective (GEO) project launched in the academic year 2013-14. This motivates students to live more sustainably, in harmony with all existence.
Our crusaders of the GEO project lead sustainability initiatives within the school community through various activities. They advocate the thought that we need to take action now to protect our environment before it’s too late.
At Goldcrest High, Vashi, Fairtrade is a part of the GEO project, where students attempt to make a difference in the lives of people who grow our food, by engaging with ‘Fairtrade India’ an organisation that works for the cause of farmers. Fair trade is a global movement advocating that manufacturers and producers promote fair prices, better wages, sustainable development, and a sustainable livelihood for farmers and workers in developing countries.
Through these sustainable initiatives the students imbibe many life skills and entrepreneurial skills. They become critical thinkers and problem solvers. They develop compassion and evolve as responsible citizens.
Community outreach programs, Sustainable Development Goals, Fairtrade and Eco schools are some of the projects which facilitate the embedding of international learning throughout the academic year.
“Organic Farmers Market” is an initiative by the students of Goldcrest High, in association with 21 Organic and supported by SHARAN, to create awareness in the local community about ‘Fairtrade’. Its aim is to enable organic farmers to get a fair price for their produce by connecting them directly to the local community eager to buy fresh, healthy, and organically grown fruits and vegetables. Goldcrest High is proud to be part of this very worthy endeavour.
4. How do you think such events prepare students for the future and make them career ready?
Projects like Organic Farmers’ Market helps students to gain practical knowledge through their experiences, which results in lifelong learning and developing life skills.
Students also work on projects like Fair trade, Sustainable Development Goals and Eco projects, Recycling, Composting, Environment learning etc. At Goldcrest High, there is a hands-on learning environment, where students apply their learned skills and knowledge to solve real-world challenges and come up with meaningful solutions.
Indian agriculture is affected by several environmental issues including global warming, climate change, soil, water and air pollution. However, as more and more people become aware of these ills plaguing our environment and our lives, a more concerted effort is being made to use organic farming as an alternative to less environment-friendly alternatives. With this initiative, Goldcrest High aims to make students global citizens by making them responsible beings, promoting a sustainable lifestyle by growing and eating organic.
Last updated on 02 Dec 2022
