New Nation School
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New Nation School EduPlant school competition. The New Nation school is situated in Vrededorp near Brixton in Johannesbrug. It is a special school because it was opened in 1996 for street kids, and still admits leaders from the shelters around Johannesburg, like Hillbrow, Yeoville, Kensington, Berea, and some stay in JHB CBD or Bretrams or Soweto. Most of the kids are from poor family backgrounds, and there are those who stay with parents in the shelters, like in Jeppes town. The school environment is good, even though the school is a bit crowded because according to its admissions, it shouldn’t exceed 500, because of the buildings and the background of the learners. There are many trees in the school, the grounds are maintained, grass is cut by ground staff. There are flowers in the front, and some beautiful rocks. The grass outside the school is maintained by CityParks. When they cut grass, we asked for it for the garden. We used the grass for mulching as well as green manure. The garden is the school is built in the main building foyer. It was not taken care of, but after attending the workshop, we revived it by turning the soil and put all the soil that was in the containers there. We planted the seedlings. The grade 6 classes first inspected the garden for a class activity on ecosystems. They counted how many different plants they could find, trees, and insects. The learners were excited to do the activity and also find snails, which they played with. Others were scared of the snail and spiders.
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Transcript of New Nation School
New Nation School
EduPlant school competition.
The New Nation school is situated in Vrededorp near Brixton in Johannesbrug. It is a special school because it was opened in 1996 for street kids, and still admits leaders from the shelters around Johannesburg, like Hillbrow, Yeoville, Kensington, Berea, and some stay in JHB CBD or Bretrams or Soweto. Most of the kids are from poor family backgrounds, and there are those who stay with parents in the shelters, like in Jeppes town.
The school environment is good, even though the school is a bit crowded because according to its admissions, it shouldn’t exceed 500, because of the buildings and the background of the learners. There are many trees in the school, the grounds are maintained, grass is cut by ground staff. There are flowers in the front, and some beautiful rocks. The grass outside the school is maintained by CityParks. When they cut grass, we asked for it for the garden. We used the grass for mulching as well as green manure.
The garden is the school is built in the main building foyer. It was not taken care of, but after attending the workshop, we revived it by turning the soil and put all the soil that was in the containers there. We planted the seedlings. The grade 6 classes first inspected the garden for a class activity on ecosystems. They counted how many different plants they could find, trees, and insects. The learners were excited to do the activity and also find snails, which they played with. Others were scared of the snail and spiders.
Learners during the inspection, before they start they garden project.
The garden has brought life to the learners because I teach them about respect in reference to the garden. I told them that if they respect nature, nature will respect them. They should not kill anything in the garden. There is a lot that they have learned because some of them do not get this opportunity as they stay in the flats in town.
Learners turning the soil, and emptying the containers that were there not used anymore.
When we planted the seedlings, we didn’t have compost. So we made a green manure, using the green plants that were cut outside the school by CityParks, and soaked into 20 litres of water. It stayed for a week and a half. Then we watered the soil. The plants are growing fast now, as I was afraid that they might die.
Learners preparing the beds after they have turned the soil
The next day after planting, the learners arrived early in school and were already watering the plants. Therefore it shows that, they are enjoying working in the garden. Every time in my class they ask if we will go to the garden. So for me it is not going to be used to punish anyone, but to motivate
them to do their class activity, so that we have time to go to the garden.
Learners planting seedlings and using the rake to keep the straight line
We are planning to plant the whole garden so that we can have enough harvest for the learners who don’t have food in their homes, as well as use in the kitchen for feeding scheme.
Photo taken after the green manure, on the 31st May 2016
We thank Food and Trees for Afrika and Woolworths for this Opportunity.
Miss Nikiwe Bam: Teacher and Project Leader
Contacts: 0834820116
