Santo Domingo, February 10, 2015

Colegio Loyola is one of the star schools participating in the EcoHuertos Program, an initiative of Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD)'s Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF). It was one of the first educational centers to become part of the Program in 2011, and in 2015 a large number of its students and teachers are taking charge of the school garden, which is the pride of the community. In this photo story we can see several student groups planting this first year’s seeds.

Santo Domingo, February 2, 2015

The Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF) will host the fourth edition of the first audiovisual competition in the area of environment and sustainable development in the Dominican Republic, the Globo Verde Dominicano Award. This year’s competition will include a special category for high school students: the Globo Verde Junior, which joins the Public Service Announcement, Short Film and Photography categories.

Santo Domingo, January 23, 2015

As part of the monitoring program that is carried out with the schools that already have built their own garden, on January 22 the EcoHuertos Program Coordinator, Cristiana Cruz Menier, visited Colegio
Loyola in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic.

Washington, January 21, 2015

Following its successful screening in 13 international festivals, ¿Garbage or Resource? A Dominican Republic Experience is now available online for free at Global Foundation for Democracy and Development’s (GFDD) Youtube Channel. The 17-minute documentary, produced by Global Foundation for Democracy and Development (GFDD) and Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo (Funglode), is one of its kind in its genre in the country, that shows us how recycling has become a significant economic opportunity for Dominicans. Through various business and educational projects, the viewer learns how, besides the obvious benefit to the environment, recycling brings economic development through the creation of new businesses and industries.

January 23, 2015

With extensive assistance was held, on Tuesday, January 20, the Induction Workshop of Eco-Huertos program in the Escuela Básica Concepción Bona, located in Hato Nuevo,
Manoguayabo in the municipality of Santo Domingo Oeste, Province of Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

The group of participants was varied and was composed of representatives of the school community, including students; teachers and school personnel, as well as janitors, the PTA and technical school district, among other attendees.

The workshop was hosted by Cristiana Cruz Minier, program coordinator, who noted that "enthusiasm and the constant desire to learn characterized the group, that actively
participated with questions and comments about what’s a garden and its usefulness, as well as what are the materials needed and how to organize the items to build a sustainable garden, among other issues”, she emphasized.  

At the end of the workshop each participant was presented with a copy of the guide "How to Build a School Garden", a practical manual published by GFDD / Funglode for students to learn, in a very simply, how to make a garden. Attendees were instructed on the content of the guide and its utility. They also received a brief explanation of the different types of gardens, which plants can be grown and their care, among other tips to follow when creating a garden.

"It was great when, at the end of the workshop, a group of teachers and students sang a song alluding to the future garden they will have in school, which is the product of a joint effort of the whole community," said program coordinator Eco-Huertos.

Created in 2012, the Eco-Huertos program aims to support the creation of sustainable and organic gardens in schools and communities throughout the Dominican Republic, and to support, through practical field activities, the areas of natural science contained in the curriculum. The program also raises awareness of the importance of a balanced diet and
emphasizes the value of consumption of fruits and vegetables.

Santo Domingo, January 18th, 2015

The EcoHuertos program held its first workshop of the year on January 16th: it took place at Liceo Técnico Manuel del Cabral, located in El Almirante, in the municipality of East Santo Domingo, and comprised more than 50 people, including students, teachers, managers and support staff.

Santo Domingo, August 14, 2014

The fourth edition of the DR Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), an initiative of FUNGLODE/GFDD, will be held from September 10-14 in 10 cities: Santo Domingo, Santiago de los Caballeros, Puerto Plata, San Francisco de Macorís, Baní, San Juan de la Maguana, La Vega, Samaná, San Cristobal and Sosúa and a total of 20 venues and an inviting lineup for schools, universities and communities.

Santo Domingo, June 10, 2014

In celebration of World Environment Day, and as part of its mission to raise awareness and deepen the understanding of environmental issues, the Dominican Republic Environmental Film Festival (DREFF), a GFDD/FUNGLODE initiative, successfully carried out a series of events between June 6th and 9th.

June 1, 2014

EcoHuertos program presentation- National Book Fair 2014

On Thursday June 1st at 10:00 AM, Cristiana Cruz Minier gave a presentation on GFDD’s EcoHuertos program as part of the 2014 National Book Fair activities.

The presentation highlighted, among other things, the purpose of the program, procedures and its conservationist philosophy to an audience comprised of teachers, their students and other independent visitors.

At the end of the presentation, participants asked for more information on how they could become part of the program, while other asked in depth questions about managing their own lawns, ornamental plants and vegetable gardens.

March 3, 2014

EcoHuertos Follow-up Site Visits

On March 3, 2014, GFDD/FUNGLODE’s EcoHuertos Program under the leadership of Cristiana Cruz Minier, undertook follow-up visits to three schools to look at the progress of their respective school vegetable gardens. 

8:00 AM: Youth in Development School, Cristo Rey. 

A positive aspect of the visit was that she took me to the garden where I met Professor of Physical Education, Ricardo Paula, who is in charge of the garden and was cleaning the garden when we arrived.

He told me the tomato seeds we donated had not germinated, but that he brought some seeds from his father’s farm in Azua. The rest of the seeds we planted germinated successfully including beets, lettuce, spinach and carrots. The ornamental and aromatic plants donated were also thriving and very beautiful. Professor Ricardo has been motivating the students and setting a good example for several of them who are working in the garden.  

Conclusion: We recommend that Professor Ricardo Paula take the lead and officially organize the EcoHuertos Group within the school. The program will endeavor to maintain contact with him directly on its progress.

9:30 AM Capotillo Educational Center, El Capotillo. 

The wall garden is looking great and has been a success! The gardening boxes located in the eastern hall of the garden were unkempt and inundated with water. 

Conclusion: It was suggested that they move their flowering beds to better location, letting them dry, and painting them with an anti-fungal solution. 

10:40 AM Republic of Paraguay School, Ciudad Nueva.

Professor Johnny Wilton Rosa de Jesus greeted me at this school.  The garden was clean and looked well tended. They added space to plant more seeds and to set up a nursery. They undertook an observation campaign and, in doing so, discovered that the animals attacking their plants were not pigeons but rather slugs.  I instructed them on how to eliminate the slugs.  One student went onto Facebook to share his experiences at the garden with others. 

Conclusion: There is a need to carry out the Pollinators and Pests course before the close of the school year.