What began as trial gardens in two schools in 2012 expanded to two provinces, 14 schools, benefiting 3,000 children and 380 adults. The students enjoy nutritious lunches from the plants they grow, families replicate school gardens at home, and malnutrition has been eradicated in some areas.
Direct feedback:
“FPS is a useful program because it is purposed to empower children in their context to harness local food plant resources to feed themselves and their families in response to the emergency facing the developing world in terms of the rise of malnutrition amongst the human population, particularly children.”
“We have observed that the teachers get very excited over the information contained within the publications and have loved learning so many new things. The staff in the schools are equally respondent and have been enjoying learning more about the nutritional values of the fruit and vegetables and are planning meals accordingly.”
“We have found that schools (where we have currently established all of the FPS gardens), particularly the teachers, love the detail and layout of the FPS Guide especially the adaptation to the local produce found within Vietnam and the information/training time with them is always lively. They are very surprised by some of the information contained within it as it reveals much they didn’t know about the nutrition found within plants or parts of plants that they did not know. The publication/s are very useful in ensuring this important knowledge is passed on, as well as how to care for the crops.”
“We have had parents curious about the gardens and asking lots of questions so that they can go home and replicate for themselves. Additionally, teachers from schools in other villages have travelled to schools with FPS gardens with the express purpose of copying the gardens and the precepts that gardens and program are founded upon.”
“Additionally, enrolments in some schools have radically increased specifically due to the better quality of food being offered at the schools.”