The Shuar school garden (shuar aja unuimiatainiam): a case study in CECIB Murushi-Ecuador

Abstract

The research on the school garden in the CECIB Murushi, focused on investigating the activities developed by the educational community in order to improve the quality of food with the products of the area and reduce chronic malnutrition in the population. It is important to point out the benefits of having a school garden – shuar aja; Among them is the ease of having nutritious and chemical-free food, the enthusiasm of students to learn the cultivation of different products and carry out the whole process. The experience of the process shows us that the revaluation of their own ways of life, knowledge and language in everyday use, strengthens the self-esteem of women, their families and the collective. Also, the difficulties that arise for the elaboration of the project were analyzed, being mainly the lack of support from other teachers, the difficulties of transportation and the lack of time to not have incorporated this activity within the academic curriculum. In addition, the process involved in the selection of the seed, its cultivation and harvest, for the Shuar culture was analyzed. The project was carried out with the support of teachers, students and the community.