SEISUD

In 2006 GOAP and Peter found each other in the development of a biological school garden near the primary school of which Peter was the head master. In addition to the normal classes, children were taught biological gardening. The enthusiasm extended to the students of the high school and they started to participate in the gardening activities. Via the children also the parents, all farmers, were involved in the educational project.

The project is now active in four villages with about 20,000 inhabitants, 90% of whom belong to farmer’s households. The following activities are attended: The development and educational activities around school gardens. The products are processed in school meals; Teaching 20 groups of farmers the principles of biological agriculture. Making and applying compost (rather than burning organic material) is profitable for future harvests. They are also helped to introduce animal traction: training of groups in the use of oxen and ox-carts; Environmental programs: planting of trees and cleaning of the village areas and compounds; Guinea fowl project: a better race is introduced in the villages, which considerably raises the production, in comparison with the ordinary birds. More information about these activities can be found on SEISUD’s own website

A big additional project in the area is the Ghana Institute of Organic Farming. GIOF is a recently founded school for practical farming, which is a logical outgrowth of SEISUD activities. School-leavers or drop-outs, as well as adult male and female farmers can get a one year education in biological agriculture. A first group of students started in October 2014. Also 2 and 3-year courses are foreseen that will be part of the regular higher professional education in Ghana. It is the aim to teach teachers who then can demonstrate and educate farmers in a wider area about biological farming. GIOF is still in the process of further development. GOAP intends to support this project whole-heartedly in the coming years. One of the ways to do this is to interest other (Dutch) parties to join in support; so far the following organizations have contributed to the foundation of this school: Stichting Gelijke Kansen (Equal Opportunity Fund); ASML Foundation, Eindhoven; Triodos Foundation; Wilde Ganzen; Kiwanis West-Friesland; Impulsis; Cordaid; many bigger and smaller donations GIOF has its own website.