The Gozo College Sannat Primary and Special Unit has embarked on a new environmental project with the name of ‘Harvest the Drop to Harvest a Crop.’

The project was inaugurated in October by Parliamentary Secretary Clint Camilleri with HSBC Malta CEO Andrew Beane, as well as members of The Energy and Water Agency.

The school explained that the project involved the installation of drain pipes so that rain water from the roof will be collected in a large underground reservoir within the school premises instead of being drained down the valley. This water will be used to water the vegetables in the school’s kitchen garden.

It said that the benefits of implementing and running such an environmental and climate-action project are numerous. The project is student-centred and is run by students themselves under the guidance of their teachers.

The aim is to empower the students to take ownership of projects related to the environment and to water conservation. The students are learning about the importance of conserving rainwater as it minimises the effects of drought and water shortages and is more cost-effective.

The school went on to explain that the kitchen garden is the catalyst that reconnects students with the natural world and the true source of their food. It also teaches them valuable gardening, agriculture concepts and skills that integrate with several subjects, such as Mathematics, Science, Healthy eating and Physical education.

The benefits of the `Harvest the Drop to Harvest a Crop’ project become evident on occasions when the school opens its door to the community.

During Open Days and official visits to the school, students show parents and visitors around the kitchen garden and adjacent premises, explaining how rainwater is collected and used to irrigate and sustain the kitchen garden.

The onus is on the students, under the guidance of teachers, to highlight the importance of water conservation and its lasting impact on the world that we are living in.Lately the school said that it has also started raising the native and endemic Black Maltese Hen, an ancient breed of local chickens dating back to the 6th Century BC. This project is in tandem with the existing project:- Harvest the Drop to Harvest a Crop.

During the (EWWR), European Week for Waste Reduction, GC Sannat Primary & Special Unit together with the Ekoskola Committee, participated with their action:- Feeding Food Waste to Maltese Chickens.

Students are feeding their Maltese chickens with their food leftovers from school and home. Such food leftovers are bread, fruits and vegetables remains.

Students take care of the kitchen garden and the unwanted vegetable leaves and weed are fed to these chickens.

These actions are taking place throughout the scholastic year, the school said. The collected eggs are being used during the breakfast club and cooking sessions going on at school. Some are also sold to students, staff and parents.

The school highlighted the fact that this innovative project at GC Sannat Primary and Special Unit is the very first one in the Gozo College. “The students show a high sense of excitement of having this opportunity for hands-on experience in this matter.”

This action is educating them to reduce waste by feeding it to their free-range chickens and in return having organic eggs for cooking. They are taught the importance of conserving nature even by reusing food waste.

“This project is raising awareness among our students about sustainable waste management” said the school. They are gaining a sense of responsibility in taking care of these chickens and vegetables in order to have the final product.

The students are also acquiring knowledge in how to grow and produce their own food. In this case, having their Maltese chickens fed food waste and producing organic eggs which is a potent source of protein.

GC Sannat Primary and Special Unit concluded by saying “a big well done to all the students and their teachers involved for taking this excellent and successful initiative.”

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