To address societal problems faced by men, the Esimaje Foundation provides entrepreneurship opportunities, including the Shade House Project.
Consisting of aquaponics and hydroponics systems, the Shade House Project, launched at Russell Latapy Secondary School on Wednesday, will give students hands-on experience in agricultural practices.
Chairman of the Esimaje Foundation, Dr. David Toby, said: “To get the skill of agriculture and see how powerful agriculture could be, what we need, we need to learn. Traditionally, we don’t get too much involved in agriculture. Our parents might plant flowers or something, but we don’t really plant food and get involved in it. Everybody is using this word today, entrepreneurship. We have to become agricultural entrepreneurs.”
Using plant growth as an example, Minister Adrian Leonce encouraged students in the project to apply the same approach to achieve their dreams.
“So when you plant your seed, you protect your seed, and when the seedling comes out, what do you do? You pull out all the weeds around it. So in your dreams, in your life, in your goals, plant that seed that you want in your life, and when the weeds and things come around you to distract you, or to try to stifle you; that dream that you are growing, just do what you do with this and weed out all the negativity.”
Highlighting the importance of agriculture, given seasonal changes and market prices, Minister Pennelope Beckles-Robinson advised on the adaptation of agricultural practices.
“A lot of persons who own land would tell you that they can’t get anybody to work their land, and a lot of parents will tell you that their children are not interested in agriculture, but you know, in the short time that I’m here, I want to ask you to reflect on that seedling that later becomes a crop for you to later harvest.”
Sponsored by the Green Fund, this project, one of the many agricultural efforts in schools across the country, continues to prepare students for a future in agriculture.
Student Thomas Ellis pledged: “We promise to make the most of this opportunity, to learn, to grow, and to carry forward the lesson of sustainability and change in farming.”
Using the aquaponics system containing tilapia and the hydroponics system producing a variety of vegetables, the goal is to foster entrepreneurship and life skills for students.