Utete, TZ – Dream of banana harvests started last year when Siasa primary school welcomed visiting students – May 2025
In 2024, a dream took root in Siasa school, and one year later, Siasa served its first banana breakfast grown from its own garden for the school’s 10 teachers, and 950 students, including those with special needs. This marked a milestone step for the community school’s Grow-Own-Breakfast (GOB) program to improve children’s health, attendance and performance.
This success story began through a dynamic collaboration between KCM, Better Lives, and True Adventure, with support from student volunteers from St. Conleth’s College, Ireland and Parmiter’s School, UK. Together, they established an organic garden by planting 30 vegetable beds and 30 banana trees, building a protective fence, and trenching for a water stand near the garden for sustainable year-round harvests.
Beyond the garden, The Volunteers also contributed to a safer and better learning environemt by repairing toilets and classrooms, and supplying books, stationery, and sports equipment kit, painting murals or educational wall art for early learners students, and donating mattresses for the young children to rest on during their break.
Each week, Dickson, the KCM manager and volunteer families mentor the school’s student garden club about practical sustainable garden practices, like making compost and natural pest repellants, and water management to ensure long term food security.
Looking ahead, Siasa School plans to expand the garden to increase yields for feeding and selling surplus vegetables and bananas at nearby local markets. This will generate income to support gardening operations and serve breakfast. With a student-to-teacher ratio of 95:1, funds raised will also help bring in much-needed part-time teachers.
The garden is now a foundation for learning, community engagement, and sustainable development of school breakfasts. The outcome of the collaboration is being sustained and creating a lasting impact that is transforming lives.
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