Neha Rana is a Kadam Accelerator in Composite School Simra Boripur in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. She believes the key to good education lies in teaching more than just academics—it’s about preparing students with the tools they need to succeed outside of school walls. While students need to learn math, science and literature, developing life skills to help them navigate their futures is equally crucial. A well-rounded approach towards imparting education can benefit everyone involved.

“I saw the possibility of establishing a kitchen garden in the school campus. I convinced the headmaster of the school for allowing me to start one,” chirps Neha excitedly. She, with the help of the students and Kadam volunteers, cleaned up the area, made planting beds and sowed the seeds. Together they watered and provided proper care to the seeds, and soon the plants started growing. 

The students, besides learning gardening, also, have started feeling calmer in unity with nature. By spending time in nature and cultivating a sense of inner peace through meditation, we can begin to see beyond ourselves and recognise our connection to the larger world.  Observing the growth of the plants and dedication of the students in nurturing the garden, the government teachers also started taking interest in caring for the kitchen garden. Neha adds proudly, “We have even started consuming the produce from the kitchen garden including vegetables like radish, fenugreek, coriander leaves, etc. in the mid-day-meals of the students!”