I write this with a heart full of joy, having witnessed the true power of parental engagement in school activities. As Steven Mollo, Network & Engagement Lead for Teachers CAN, once said, “I don’t know what parental engagement is.” Indeed, the results of our journey show that many of us are only beginning to grasp how transformative parental involvement can be for our schools.
After winning the Parent Power prize money, Thoka Primary School set out to involve parents in meaningful school projects. One idea was to create a garden that would supplement the feeding scheme and provide added nutrition for learners, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The response from parents was overwhelming. Many volunteered their time and skills, and this has opened the door for even more parents to get involved in their children’s education.
The sessions we held with parents have strengthened our relationships and built a foundation for future collaboration. The school has also engaged GSAs from the BEEI initiative, who have taken ownership of the garden, coming in on weekends and holidays to water and care for it.
Through this gardening project, we’ve not only provided food for the school but also created a valuable learning tool for subjects such as Natural Sciences and Technology. Most importantly, we’ve lived out two of the five key manifesto points of Teachers CAN: engaging parents as equals and supporting learners to reach their full potential in every aspect of life.
This garden is more than just a source of food. It’s a symbol of community, collaboration, and the impact of parents and teachers working hand in hand for our children’s future
