Zhasyl Mektep / Green School greenhouse project (Kazakhstan)
Astana / Almaty, Kazakhstan · Operator: ブラト・ウテムラトフ財団（プロジェクト実施）／スローフード「アスタナ都市生産者コミュニティ」（学校菜園の展開） / The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation runs the greenhouse project; the Slow Food Community of Astana Urban Producers has driven the school-garden side
Overview
An effort to spread greenhouses and gardens through schools in Kazakhstan's capital Astana and in Almaty. The Bulat Utemuratov Foundation runs it as Zhasyl Mektep (Green School) across 36 schools, teaching children healthy-living habits and the basics of planting and growing. In Almaty the fourth season is under way with 16 pupil-managed greenhouses. In parallel, the Slow Food Community of Astana Urban Producers has created 20 school gardens over three years.
Citizen participation
Pupils of a wide range of ages, from primary school children to school leavers, manage the greenhouses. The greenhouse is framed as a practical supplement to biology and ecology lessons: students run experiments and write papers, and the project is credited with steering some of them toward higher education in the biological sciences.
Operating model
Philanthropically funded: the foundation builds greenhouses with smart drip-watering, lighting and heating systems, and has published textbooks for pupils and teachers.
Impact
Reported effects are children gaining confidence from reaching their own goals and eating what they have grown, and wider awareness of sustainable agriculture and healthy food. One of the driving figures is Aida Serik, a 28-year-old agronomist and Slow Food activist. No figures for yields or numbers of participating pupils are given in the sources.
Crops
- Greens
- Vegetables
Scale
公立学校19校と大学（カレッジ）1校に温室を設置。アルマトイでは16基の温室を児童・生徒が管理。スローフード側は3年間で20の学校菜園をつくったとしている。開始年は出典に明記がない / Greenhouses built in 19 public schools and one college; in Almaty 16 greenhouses are managed by pupils. The Slow Food community reports creating 20 school gardens over three years. The start year is not stated in the sources
In the media（3）
Web articles and features that cover this case.
- ArticleGrowing a Healthier Generation: School Gardens Spread in Kazakhstan (Slow Food, 16 January 2025) ↗slowfood.com
- ArticleSchool Gardens Spread in Kazakhstan (City Farmer News) ↗cityfarmer.info
- ArticleGreenhouses and a new airport terminal: Bulat Utemuratov's Foundation summed up the year ↗bulatutemuratov.com
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