Sustainable Farming Kit

1. Collaborative design: Engaging local communities and stakeholders to ensure cultural relevance and practicality of the
Sustainable Farming Kit.
Kit components: Designing and selecting materials, tools, and resources that facilitate sustainable farming practices.
Educational materials: Developing informative guides, handbooks, and interactive materials that cover topics such as
climate change, sustainable agriculture techniques, and environmental stewardship.
Interactive elements: Incorporating games, puzzles, and activities that promote active learning and critical thinking.
Seeds: Providing a variety of seeds, including climate-resilient crops, to encourage biodiversity and adaptation to local
conditions.
Soil management tools: Including soil testing kits, composting materials, and organic fertilizers to promote healthy soil and
enhance crop growth.
Irrigation systems: Introducing water-saving techniques such as drip irrigation or rainwater harvesting methods to conserve
water resources.
Pest and disease control: Equipping the kit with organic pest control methods, integrated pest management techniques,
and natural remedies to minimize chemical use.
Farming tools: Supplying essential tools like shovels, hoes, and pruning shears to support farming activities and ensure
proper crop maintenance.
Educational resources: Providing educational materials, charts, and visual aids to enhance students' understanding of
sustainable farming practices and climate change.
Educator training: Conducting workshops and training sessions for local educators and climate change ambassadors on how
to effectively utilize the Sustainable Farming Kit in their teaching.
Hands-on learning experiences: Organizing practical sessions and field trips where students can actively engage with the
kit, learn sustainable farming techniques, and experience the impact of climate change on agriculture firsthand.
Community involvement: Encouraging students, parents, and community members to participate in the co-creation of
educational materials and the development of local solutions to address climate change.
Monitoring and evaluation: Establishing a system to assess the effectiveness of the Sustainable Farming Kit in promoting
sustainable practices and measuring the impact on students' knowledge, skills, and environmental consciousness.
PROCESS:
1. Design and Development:
2. Kit Contents:
3. Training and Implementation:
Sow and Grow: Cultivating Change
Abroad with the Sustainable Farming Kit
BACKGROUND: My interdisciplinary project "Oh, The Places You'll Go! A Learning Series on How to Successfully Study,
Travel or Live Abroad for Minorities" aims to break down barriers preventing youth from historically marginalized communities
from accessing international experiences. Concurrently, my previous MakerEd "Mobile Minds for Sustainability" initiative
focuses on empowering students aged 10-18 in Sub-Saharan Africa with climate change education and fostering sustainable
practices. Within this context, the Sustainable Farming Kit emerges as a crucial component of the Mobile Minds for
Sustainability initiative. Integrating principles of Maker Education, the kit empowers Sub-Saharan African students to actively
engage in sustainable farming practices and take action against climate change. By incorporating the distribution of the
Sustainable Farming Kit into a volunteer mission abroad aligned with the "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" project, a unique and
impactful experience is created, combining interdisciplinary learning, Maker Education, and international engagement.
By Kiah Sophia Lawrence - M1
PROBLEM: As rural sub-Saharan African communities grapple with the escalating impact of climate change, a lack of knowledge
about what they can do to make a difference and access to the tools needed to do so, hinders their ability to take meaningful
climate action and adopt more sustainable farming practices. The most critical motivators for change in these communities,
students aged 10-18, lack access to quality education and hands-on experiences that can help them to combat climate change.
SOLUTION: The Sustainable Farming Kit provides students with hands-on opportunities to learn about sustainable agriculture
techniques, the impact of climate change on farming, and ways to foster environmental sustainability within their communities.
Students will apply their knowledge to address local environmental challenges and contribute to their communities in the fight
against climate change in a meaningful way. In addition, by helping to distribute this kit to underprivileged communities abroad,
participants in the "Oh, The Places You'll Go!" project can actively contribute to the Mobile Minds for Sustainability initiative
while expanding their own horizons.
Acquisition of knowledge and skills to combat climate change.
Increased resilience and ability to adapt to environmental challenges.
Development of leadership and problem-solving abilities.
Sustainable farming techniques promote food security and economic stability.
Local solutions to climate change challenges are co-created and implemented.
Cultivation of environmental consciousness and stewardship among students and community members.
BENEFITS:
Empowering Sub-Saharan African students:
Community Development
Incentives for Adoption of Sustainable
Agricultural Practices
Climate Change and Sub-Saharan
African Agriculture
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-020-00617-y
Source: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/africa-in-focus/2021/05/20/figure-of-the-week-climate-
change-and-african-agriculture/