Svarnim Puducherry-Sri Aurobindo Society is implementing the Comprehensive Health & Athletics Management Program (CHAMP) in 15 government schools in Puducherry. We would be celebrating the auspicious occasion of a new agricultural season - "Aadi Perukku"- which takes place in the Tamil month of Aadi - mid-July and mid-August. One of the initiatives under the programme is to introduce project-based learning where children will create a nutritional garden in the schools and learn the wonders of plants/herbs by growing them and experimenting/learning in the process. Traditional seeds will be sown in the school kitchen gardens to introduce them to organic farming.

Education on Agriculture: Teaching the students about nature as a science through experiential learning about the values and needs of organic farming, water conservation, and uses of agriculture & water resources.

Nutrition and immunity: Stressing the importance of nutrition with the support of a school kitchen garden to strengthen immunity and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Practical Experience: Allowing the students to participate in all phases of farming from sowing to harvesting and conserving the seeds for the next season. 

Activities:

Soil Preparation: Introduce the students on how to prepare the soil for sowing.

Choosing the Seeds: Demonstrating the range of traditional seeds and imparting the knowledge on selecting an appropriate seed for sowing.

Planting the Seeds: Guiding the students with sowing of the seeds and teaching them about the importance of water for plants.

Monitoring Plant Growth: Assisting with direction on monitoring of plant development.
Harvesting: Including the students in the process of harvesting and quantifying the same.

Grey Water Treatment: Presenting techniques for making use of grey water in all the 15 government schools in the Puducherry region.
Rainwater Harvesting: Spreading knowledge and Implementing rainwater harvesting strategies into practice.

Through this initiative, students will get thorough knowledge of sustainable agricultural practices as well as strengthen their practical farming and environmental conservation abilities and develop a sense of interconnection with the natural world and indirectly equipping them to a number of lifeskills such as critical and analytical thinking, team work, communication skills, problem solving and many more.