DOHA: Students at 15 primary schools across Doha were challenged to grow fresh fruits, vegetables and salad plants in the Greenhouse Initiative by Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar’s (WCMC-Q).
The aim of the initiative was to teach children about fresh, healthy food and to encourage them to eat more fruit and vegetables. The initiative was part of WCMC-Q’s Sahtak Awalan (Your Health First) campaign and saw greenhouses, plant pots, seeds and compost given to the primary schools.
Pupils of Nosaiba Bint Kaab Girls Primary were found to have grown the best crops. Students at Safiya bint Abdul Muttalib School and Al Quds Model Independent School for Boys were second and third respectively.
Nesreen Al Rifai, Director of the Department of Government and Public Affairs at WCMC-Q, said the top three schools had done extremely well but that the most important thing was that everyone who had taken part had learned more about the importance of eating fresh and healthy food.
“Our health is one of the most valuable gifts we have and we need to take care of it. A health survey in 2012 showed that more than 90 percent of people in Qatar do not eat the recommended daily amount of fruit and vegetables. The Your Health First campaign, along with the Greenhouse Initiative, aims to change that. We wanted to teach young children the importance of eating fresh, healthy food. By learning good habits when young they are more likely to continue with them as they grow older.”
In all, the children were provided with seeds and growing instructions for parsley, coriander, arugula, onions, radishes, tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and cucumbers. All the schools that benefited were nominated by the Supreme Education Council (SEC).
Jaber Alshawai, Assistant Director of Communications at the SEC, said: “We are very pleased to work with all partners in “Your Health First” campaign and will continue to support all its initiatives. We met today for the Greenhouse Initiative, which aimed to encourage school students to grow and eat healthy foods. We will evaluate this experience with all partners and we will prepare for the next steps, taking into consideration the interests of the students and the community alike.” The top three schools have now all received trophies to mark their achievement.
The Peninsula
