Trees for the Future (TREES) worked in two schools in Marília, Brazil, to promote  Moringa oleifera as a source of nutrition and as the basis for agroforestry in home gardens. The project included education on environment, nutrition and health, and was well received by students and their families. Many families have adopted moringa in their home gardens and in family meals, and are showing greater environmental awareness. The project is hoping to expand to many more schools, making use of online distribution of training materials.

Lessons Learned

1. Focus on a small number of communities to begin with, allowing communities to take ownership of the project and building momentum.
2. Work first with children because they are willing to try new things and can influence the adults in their families to do the same.
3. Help parents to understand, support and participate in the children’s activities.
4. Collaborate with as many sectors as possible (e.g. health, education, environment, agriculture) to provide a holistic approach.

Problem

Brazil, despite rapid economic growth, continues to have people suffering hunger and malnutrition, and rural areas are consistently worse off than urban areas. In 2010, field staff of TREES noted that schoolchildren were eating their main meal at school because there was not enough food at home. Furthermore, local markets lacked options to provide children with a diverse diet.

The Project

Project staff decided to use moringa to introduce agroforestry, which makes good use of limited space. This was part of a three-step programme.
First, schools and children had to develop “an environmental conscience”. Teachers created a curriculum that included topics such as recycling, sustainability and food security, to help students understand their relationships with the environment.
In the second step, students brought empty food packages to recycle into plant pots. TREES staff provided moringa seeds and supervised the students as they planted the seeds. The school designated a nursery area for the seedlings, which were pruned of leaves about once a month.
The third step, at the end of the school year in December, hinged on students taking their moringa saplings home and leaving the nursery empty for the next year’s students. During this third step parents were invited to workshops at school, where TREES staff explained how to grow a variety of plants in a small space and how to prepare and use moringa in diets. Staff also visited families at home to measure the trees and offer additional advice, and asked adults to report on the ways they use moringa and how moringa benefits the family.

Impact

TREES staff report positive changes in the three key areas targeted by the project.

• Environment awareness has increased, with almost all parents now bringing reyclables to the school instead of throwing them away, and children caring for the moringa trees at home.
• Nutrition has gained in importance, with all the students reporting that they like the taste of moringa powder in their food. Almost all (90%) have tried a recipe at home that they learned at school, and 55% say that they are eating home-made moringa powder at least three times a week. Blood tests, to measure nutritional status directly, are planned.
• Education has improved too, with better attendance and higher grades, and students showing more interest in practical garden classes. Some students who previously had problems in class are responsible for the nursery and plants and are proud to be valued and to have information to share with other students.