At AlterNativa3, in the current health crisis, we are closely monitoring the impact of this pandemic on the fair trade cooperatives with which we collaborate in countries of the global south.
AlterNativa3 maintains a close relationship with the Nicaraguan cooperative COMULACS, Cooperativa Multisectorial Augusto Cesar Sandino, with whom we have carried out different social projects for community development in the El Tuma-La Dalia region of Nicaragua.
From there, we have received news about the adaptation measures they have had to take to deal with the Covid-19 crisis, in this case, to keep one of the projects, the School Gardens project, going. To this end, they have sent us their "Emergency plan for the School Gardens Project II PHASE, in view of the possible suspension of classes in schools as a preventive measure against the spread of CORONAVIRUS".
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
To implement the project "SCHOOL BEDS II PHASE" in the proposed schools, taking into account the preventive measures recommended by national and international health organisations to avoid the spread of the CORONAVIRUS.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
To continue the teaching-learning processes from the practices, elaboration and execution of school gardens, with a humane and responsible attitude without putting the student population at risk.
INTRODUCTION
The nature of the School Gardens is to produce healthy food for the students, as a complement to the School Snack, to provide vitamin and mineral elements, ensuring the good physical, motor and intellectual development of the children.
Faced with this reality, the Augusto Cesar Sandino Multisectoral Cooperative (COMULACS) and the Ministry of Education (MINED) with a delegation in the municipality of Tuma La Dalia, have agreed that we cannot stop producing food, which is why we are motivated to fulfil the agreement we have signed to develop and implement the School Gardens in ten schools in this municipality.
With the aim of contributing to the technical-practical knowledge of its elaboration; to awaken in each student the interest of putting it into practice in each home with the knowledge of how much, and how these help to enrich the snack that children consume daily in the centres, at the same time, alleviating the economic cost, we are committed to ensuring its effective execution without altering the measures of prevention and reduction of the impact of the Cov19.
Faced with the reality of the CORONAVIRUS pandemic, accompanied and oriented with preventive measures to avoid the spread of the pandemic, as a Cooperative, we remain committed to contributing to the production and preparation of healthy and wholesome food for children. For this reason we present the following "Remedial Plan for the School Gardens Project II PHASE, in view of the possible suspension of classes in educational centres as a preventive measure against the spread of CORONAVIRUS", in the hope that these gardens will achieve all the objectives and benefits desired by us as a cooperative and by MINED.
PROPOSALS
If, as a precautionary measure, the Nicaraguan government decides to suspend classes, we will carry out the work in the following manner:
Field work and training in schools.
Work on the school gardens with the mother and father; provide physical documents to the participants (group of children, mothers and fathers who will be in the different groups that will be formed) in order to document themselves on the procedure of school gardens (how to set up, different varieties, garden behaviour, advantages and disadvantages, putting into practice fair trade values and gender equity).
In the process of carrying out the work in the garden, create working groups with the children, mothers, fathers and promoters that do not exceed 4 people.
Establish a schedule of activities and specific days for groups of 2 children and 2 adults, one promoter or scholarship holder.
Parents and students who live closest to the school will be selected to avoid long distances to be transported.
The groups will work on a rotational basis so that everyone can be included, documents will be given to all children who are included in the process of forming school gardens.
Take all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of CORONAVIRUS:
Hand washing, use of alcohol, use of masks, keeping the recommended distance.
In terms of Project Budget Execution, we have targeted the following measures.
The promoters and trainers will travel by motorbike to the orchard site, as the Ministry of Health (MINSA) has declared that one of the places with the highest risk of contagion is public transport.
The reports, reports and justification of expenses will be done from home and we will share all the information with each other via email or WhatsApp.
Evaluations of the work for follow-up purposes will be carried out as far as possible if only the trainers and the coordinator are present.
Scholarship Component:
Most of the students benefiting from scholarships are university students. So far no university has suspended classes.
If face-to-face classes are discontinued and delivered online, we will encourage everyone to join in virtual classes.
- 19-05-20
