Encouraged by local communities, Adam Stieglitz and Aaron Ebner decided to build greenhouses in schools across Peru to teach students about sustainable agriculture and provide nutritious meals.
In 2009, during their graduate studies, Adam Stieglitz and Aaron Ebner started researching more responsible forms of development. They decided to test their school greenhouse model in one of Peru’s campesino communities. The idea? Share local agricultural heritage with young people while fighting the malnutrition suffered by many indigenous, high-altitude communities in the Cusco region.
Following the success of the pilot project, and motivated by support from communities, the duo decided to set up the Andean Alliance for Sustainable Development (AASD). Working with schools, the AASD helps build greenhouses and involve teachers and students in maintaining and managing them.
At school and in the community
Since 2010, 12 school greenhouses have been built in the Cusco region and 1,000 school children have participated. The School Garden Initiative not only increases children’s understanding of nutrition and farming, but also develops a sense of autonomy and responsibility. These school greenhouses have also inspired families to build their own with support from their village and the AASD.
The School Garden Initiative is currently working with 10 indigenous communities in the province of Calaca, Cusco, where subsistence farming generates limited revenues.
Would you like to support these communities in Cusco?
Elsie Gabriel wants to move towards a more ocean- literate society. This young activist has created the Ocean Schools program in India for young people and local communities.
Proper Strand Lopers is a Belgian citizen’s initiative born from a Facebook group. Education and awareness-raising about beach waste is central to this.
Allowing both land and people to flourish, connecting traditional communities in the Amazon area, researchers and environmentally engaged groups is the goal of the Meli Network project. A flourishing cooperation inspired by the Meliponini bees.
To get involved in a collective adventure:
Discover meaningful projects
Choose your preferred project to embark on
Contact the project owner
Discover inspiring initiatives around the world and find innovative solutions
Duplicate the proposed sustainable solutions
Establish new partnerships
Find inspiration and discover new ideas
Connect and share experiences with other innovators around the world
Contact us to propose your project
Discover the innovations carried out by citizens in your CSR fields of action and in the regions of your choice
Support through funding or by providing skills in your areas of expertise
Contact the project leaders
Find inspiring stories of engaged citizens to enrich your editorial work
Help local projects increase their impact and make them known to your audience
Contact the project managers
Discover citizen initiatives around the world
Invest in local projects aligned with your strategy for sustainable development
Contact the project managers