On March 17, the project “School Gardens” was launched following the initiative of Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of IDEA Public Association, Goodwill Ambassador of UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Leyla Aliyeva.

The project “School Gardens” was launched in Secondary School No.234 in Khazar district. Being realized at the initiative of Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of IDEA Public Association, Goodwill Ambassador of FAO Leyla Aliyeva, the project will, in general, significantly contribute to improvement of the ecological condition in our country.

During the first action under the project, 100 almond, pomegranate and plum trees were planted with participation of Leyla Aliyeva. In the framework of the project “School Gardens”, being jointly implemented by IDEA Public Association, FAO and Ministry of Education, planting of fruit trees is planned in backyards of secondary schools in 8 districts – Goychay, Shamkir, Hajigabul, Guba, Masally, Oghuz, Khazar and Zagatala. To be organized step-by-step in other districts of Azerbaijan too, the tree planting actions will continue until the end of April, in the framework of the project. Some 5 thousand fruits trees such as apple, pear, sweet cherry, plum, walnut, nut, pomegranate, persimmon, almond, and quince are expected to be planted in over 40 schools, according to the climate and earth cover of the districts. The primary objective of implementing this project is to advocate use of ecologically healthy food among pupils, and ensure the efficient use of school backyards and landscaping thereof.

Vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, founder and head of IDEA Public Association Leyla Aliyeva is a FAO goodwill ambassador since 2015. Combating famine, ensuring food safety and creation of healthy food systems are the primary directions in this entity’s activity.

Then Leyla Aliyeva met the school staff and familiarized herself with pupils’ handicrafts. It was informed that pupils are provided comprehensive information at “Vital Knowledge” lessons in order to boost their ecological knowledge. With ecological education and enlightenment having been priority directions in its activity, the IDEA Public Association has implemented a number of projects jointly with the Education Ministry in order to involve the young generation in the efforts aiming to protect the environment, and to have a positive effect on the ecological condition of educational institutions, improving pupils’ knowledge of the environment.