Students get first-hand experience raising fish in Senegal’s only aquaculture program at the high school level.
As the school year winds down, Keur Soce High School’s STEM Garden is marking its two-year anniversary, and the impacts so far have been outstanding! Students are mastering valuable skills and further solidifying their understanding of life and earth science, physics, and math ― preparing them to start a career or continue on to University. In addition to providing practical education, the garden is helping to strengthen the school as a whole.
Students and faculty work together to prepare the harvest for market, helping to teach practical business skills as well as evaluating yields.
Schools in rural Senegal face significant funding challenges, and Keur Soce High School (KSHS) is no exception. Fortunately though, the produce and fish grown here are now providing revenue to help bolster the school’s budget and provide scholarships for students who are taking on garden leadership roles.
Building Future Leaders: For students going into agricultural careers, the aquaculture and agroforestry lessons they’ve learned will help them to succeed in the face of worsening effects of climate change in Senegal.
“Even though we’re children of farmers, the methods of our fathers and the methods they’re bringing here, there is a difference.”
Lamine (center, Garden President) with other students showing another of their substantial harvests.
Some students are even taking the initiative to use their new skills to start their own personal enterprises. Take Barra, for example, who now has a thriving garden at home providing produce and extra income for his family.
Barra with his mother.
“I know I can succeed in this profession because I really love it… During Ramadan I harvested a lot. My mother took it to the market to sell and some others even came here to buy.”
Barra’s garden is just one example of the amazing achievements the students at KSHS are making, and it’s clear that the support they are receiving now is helping to set them on the path to becoming successful entrepreneurs and leaders in their communities.
Barra (right) with his siblings who also help in the family’s new garden.
