The Ciceron R.C. Combined School was the first-place winner of the Schools Backyard Garden Competition.
The Millet Primary School came in second, while the Anse La Raye Primary School secured third place.
Launched last year as part of the Consumer Affairs Department’s contribution to Business Month activities, seven schools in District Four participated in the Backyard Garden Competition, which formed part of the department’s Food Security Campaign. For the competition, students received seeds from the Taiwan Technical Mission and were required to plant gardens while documenting the process through video.
Other schools that took part in the competition included La Croix Maingot Combined School, Roseau R.C. Combined School, L’Abayee SDA Primary School, and Odsan Primary School.
According to teachers from participating schools, the initiative offered students the opportunity to learn and nurture farming skills. “Some of the students implemented ideas that their grandparents use in the garden,” said Omica Common, a Special Education teacher at Ciceron R.C. Combined School, in a statement shared by the Taiwan Technical Mission.
Lillian Stephens, a Science and Technology teacher at the Anse La Raye Primary School, said the project grew in popularity across the school’s student body.
“I have groups of students even asking to join the farming club because they’re seeing other students engaging in farming. We even decided to do extra projects, like making our own organic pesticide and flower pots. The students plan to sell the fruits and vegetables to the community and donate some to the school.”
The Taiwan Technical Mission provided support throughout the project, including monetary prizes for the top three performing schools and additional awards for other participating schools. Project Lead Maria Jaganath assisted schools in transforming outdoor spaces into classrooms to further nurture students’ agricultural skills beyond textbooks.
The project was also supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Equity.
During an awards ceremony held at the Archbishop Kelvin Felix Pastoral Centre in Marisule on January 15, 2026, Dr Charmaine Hippolyte-Emmanuel, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Equity, said the project helps to further Saint Lucia’s youth development and future food security goals.
“This initiative represents the kind of practical, results-driven collaboration that we aim to promote across the public service,” she said. “It demonstrates how policy direction, when supported by effective implementation and strong partnerships, can translate into meaningful outcomes at the community and school levels.”
Hippolyte-Emmanuel also thanked school principals, teachers, and staff for their support throughout the project — a joint effort she believes contributed to the success of the school garden competition.
