WCM-Q’s giant leap with Project Greenhouse

“The students liked it because they were able to work on their own, watering the soil and growing the plants themselves. They learned that vegetables are important for a healthy life and the importance of nature and the environment.”

Making a change  from routine  books, notes, pens and exams young students have grown tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, onions and a variety of other fruits, vegetables and herbs as part of learning about benefits of healthy eating, importance of sustainability and the need to build a healthy nation.
The young students  took part in Project Greenhouse, an initiative run by the health campaign Sahtak Awalan: Your Health First, itself a programme of Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q). 
As part of the initiative schools received a greenhouse, soil, seeds and growing instructions and were challenged to cultivate the best crop. All greenhouses have now been visited representatives of the Project Greenhouse and the winning students  with the ‘greenest fingers’ have been named as the students of Moza Bint Mohammed Independent Elementary School for Girls. Al Khor Independent Preparatory School for Girls came second, and Al Shafallah Center third.
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, the environment and even mathematics; students at the winning school regularly measured their plants to record the growth.
Significantly, teachers have said that the children have really enjoyed the project, so they have been broadening their knowledge – as well as their diet - while having fun. 
10-year-old Noura Abdulrahman Al Hamady at the Moza Bint Mohammed Independent Elementary School for Girls, said she had enjoyed the project, particularly planting the seeds in the soil and watering them. Her classmate, Mariam Essa Al Hamady, (9)  said she and Noura had grown tomatoes and that she now eats more fruit and vegetables. At a ceremony Noura, Mariam and their classmates received a trophy to commemorate their victory. 
Shaikha Al Mansoor, the Principal of Moza Bint Mohammed Independent Elementary School for Girls, said Project Greenhouse had been a great learning experience.
“The students liked it because they were able to work on their own, watering the soil and growing the plants themselves. They learned that vegetables are important for a healthy life and the importance of nature and the environment. They really looked forward to the fruit and vegetables ripening,” she said. 
She also said that the project had also been a success at Moza Bint Mohammed Independent Preparatory School for Girls, of which she is also the principal, where the students and teachers made salads from the crop they grew.

Second and third place winners Al Khor Independent Primary School For Girls and the Shafallah Center were also honoured.
Ablah Al Kawari, Principal of Al Khor Independent Primary School For Girls, said:  “We are thrilled to have won second place for the best crop in Project Greenhouse, part of WCM-Q’s Sahtak Awalan campaign. Our students benefited greatly from this fruitful project, and they are now more aware of the importance of agriculture and creating a greener Qatar. They are also keener today on eating fresh fruits and vegetables and replacing fast food with easy-to-prepare healthy and nutritious meals. We look forward to actively participating in future initiatives that raise awareness, benefit our students and nurture their extra-curricular interests.”

Mohammed Al Sada, Managing Director of Shafallah Center for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD), a member of the Qatar Foundation for Social Work, stressed the importance of the center’s participation in the innovative Project Greenhouse, and commended the cooperation between SCPD, WCM-Q and its partners.  Al Sada congratulated SCPD’s students for taking third place in their first participation in the competition, and applauded their determination to overcome the challenges of planting seeds and nurturing the young seedlings. He also thanked everyone involved in Project Greenhouse, which helps raise public awareness about health and sustainability, especially amongst school children, and contributes to achieving a healthier society and building new generations that adopt healthy eating habits.
Project Greenhouse is now in its third year and is constantly rolling out the program to more schools.

The Peninsula