Stabroek News Sunday

Foundation aims to grow interest in agricultur­e with ‘Farmtasic’ contest for Linden youth

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In an attempt to raise awareness about the importance of agricultur­e, the Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges Foundation has partnered with the Regional Democratic Council of Region 10 to help 15 children start kitchen gardens.

The initiative is not only to instill the importance of agricultur­e in the children but also to pique their interest and distract them from technology, according to Foundation Member Shaquille Grant. Grant said that about three weeks ago the Foundation launched a “Farmtastic” competitio­n, in which 15 children between the ages of 4 and 6, are participat­ing to grow the best garden. Currently halfway through the six-week period granted for the children to successful­ly grow their garden, Grant said that the children seem excited. He noted that the children were selected from all parts of the region.

He said that the Foundation supplied the children with the gardening tools and equipment to start their gardens. He also said that the children were briefed on how to maintain them.

The participan­ts are also being visited by group members to see progressio­n of the gardens. Grant said that at the end of the six weeks, the first, second and third place winners will be awarded with prizes.

The gardens will also be sold as the foundation hopes to teach the children about financial benefits of gardening as well.

The Foundation is a Non-Government­al Organisati­on that started at the Guyana School of Agricultur­e in 2017. It was created by a group of students sharing a similar vision and wanting to play

their part in society by helping person who are not

that fortunate to access some basic life needs.

Grant said that since 2017 the foundation has hosted

several charitable events.

 ??  ?? Members of the Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges Foundation pose next to the tools supplied to the children for the Farmtastic competitio­n.
Members of the Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges Foundation pose next to the tools supplied to the children for the Farmtastic competitio­n.

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