What if education started in the soil? Across the world, school gardens are more than just a source of food — they are a source of opportunity. These gardens provide hands-on learning, leadership skills and nutrition, ensuring that students — especially girls — can stay in school, build confidence and prepare for the future.
For Earth Day, we’re highlighting three inspiring stories of students using school gardens to improve their lives, families and communities.
Bangladesh: A rooftop garden bringing health and happiness
For 14-year-old Pallabi and 13-year-old Razia in Bangladesh, their school’s rooftop garden is more than just a green space — it’s a classroom, a kitchen and a source of inspiration.
With the support of Plan International’s Joint Action for Nutrition Outcome project, their school created a thriving urban garden where students learn to grow fruits and vegetables.
"The garden helps us understand how food grows and why nutrition is important," Pallabi says.
But the impact doesn’t stop at school. The girls teach their families and neighbors how to create home gardens, so they can grow their own fruits and vegetables.
"My parents were inspired to grow vegetables at home," Razia shares. "Now, we don’t have to buy as much from the market, and we eat healthier meals."
Even in urban spaces, this garden is proving that students can grow more than food — they can grow knowledge, health and change.
Rwanda: A student-led nutrition club fighting malnutrition
For 16-year-old Alice in Rwanda, school gardens are not just about food — they’re about saving lives.
As a leader of her school’s nutrition club, Alice helps train parents and students on gardening, nutrition and health. The club has already helped create more than 90 kitchen gardens at homes near the school, ensuring that families — including those who have relocated seeking safety and opportunity — have access to fresh, healthy food.
"We teach families how to grow their own food so that children don’t suffer from malnutrition," Alice explains.
Thanks to their efforts, more children are eating a mix of healthy foods, helping them focus better in school.
Alice’s leadership proves that when young people are given the tools to make a difference, they create lasting change in their communities.
Kenya: Growing food and leadership through 4K Clubs
In Kilifi County, Kenya, sixth grader Elizabeth is determined to make a difference through her school’s 4K Club, an agricultural program where students learn to grow food, care for the environment and support their families.
With her region suffering from severe drought, Elizabeth and her classmates know that food shortages aren’t just a school issue — they’re a survival issue.
"Kenya has been experiencing a prolonged drought, fewer trees and less fresh air circulation," Elizabeth explains. "This means we don’t have enough to eat at home or at school. That’s why I joined the 4K Club — to be part of the people who are helping Kenya."
Through Plan’s partnership with Kenya’s Ministry of Agriculture, students in 4K Clubs grow crops like watermelons, yams and eggplants — not only providing food for their schools but also learning valuable agricultural skills that will help them in the future.
Elizabeth’s story shows that young leaders are already finding ways to ensure their communities have enough food — one garden at a time.
How school gardens transform learning and lives
— Teach hands-on skills: Students learn farming techniques, teamwork and responsibility.
— Improve nutrition: Gardens provide fresh, healthy food for students and their families.
— Encourage leadership: Girls take charge of planting, growing and maintaining gardens, building confidence and problem-solving skills.
How you can help
Through our Gifts of Hope catalog, you can support programs that provide school gardens, farming tools and nutrition programs to students worldwide.
Help students create sustainable gardens that provide food and learning opportunities.
