The Green Schools Project, within the framework of which the year-round greenhouses will be built in 20 secondary schools, has been presented in the capital city. The first greenhouse was presented today to the Nur-Sultan city Akimat. The Project being implemented by Bulat Utemuratov Foundation is aimed to develop eco-education and careful attitude toward nature. It has successfully proven itself in Almaty schools, where the project participants harvested a total of 1.26 tons over the last school year. The capital city schoolchildren will join the initiative this school year.
Construction of the year-round greenhouses under the Project has been already started in 20 schools of Nur-Sultan. All greenhouses will be made of a strong galvanized steel frame and covered with cellular polycarbonate. An automatic drip irrigation system will be installed to ensure the required level of humidity. The infrared heaters are installed to maintain heat, and in winter, the energy-saving water heating system, working on the principle of the home batteries and installed along the garden-beds, will also turn on. Heating will be turned on and off automatically by the thermostatic controller and temperature sensors.
“This is a very important joint ecological and social project for us, that helps to educate the future generation to be hardworking and environmentally educated. On behalf of the Mayor’s Office of the capital, we express our gratitude to Bulat Utemuratov Foundation and all those involved in the construction of 20 greenhouses in the capital’s schools,” said Eset Baiken, Deputy akim of Nur-Sultan.
“The Green Schools project is a year-round project. I am sure that it will have a great influence on understanding environmental problems and fostering diligence. Every student of the school will see for himself how the plant grows, how to take care of it. And these are useful skills for the future,” said Gulmira Karimova, Chairman of the Committee of Pre-School and Secondary Education of the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The Green Schools Project in the capital city is the second similar project in the country, earlier Almaty schoolchildren could estimate the advantages of the school greenhouses. In 16 schools 2-3 harvests were gathered for a total weight of 1.26 tons. The most popular crops were the cucumbers, there were 425 kg of the cucumbers, 255 kg of tomatoes, 113 kg of sweet pepper and 166 kg of fresh herbs gathered. The pupils also grow strawberry, broccoli and beets, which go straight from the garden-bed to the school canteen and then to the children’s table. Understanding that delicious fresh salads for lunch are the result of their own work motivates the schoolchildren even more not to miss the classes in the greenhouse.
“This is one of my favorite projects, we have built 16 greenhouses in Almaty and schoolchildren have harvested more than a ton of vegetables over the past year. One of the most important goals of this project is the introduction to work. As a medic, it is very important to me that the Green Schools project is related to health. After all, health is a healthy diet and it depends on how much we eat vegetables and fruits,” Almaz Sharman, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Bulat Utemuratov Foundation, shared.
Besides construction of the greenhouses, Bulat Utemuratov Foundation and invited experts have developed the guidance manuals for the schoolchildren and teachers. Experienced agronomists, who have become the greenhouse coordinators, control compliance with the recommendations.
The Green School Project is not limited to the classes in the greenhouse. For example, additional master classes were organized for the schoolchildren on waste sorting and recycling, and a competition was launched among the schools to collect wastepaper in Almaty. Through the joint efforts of the teachers, schoolchildren and their parents, about 14 tons of wastepaper were collected and sent for recycling. Similar events will be held in the capital city schools to encourage teenagers to adopt environmentally friendly lifestyle and develop their responsibility and decision-making skills.
Source: Newtimes.kz
