SMU GROW Commemorates UN’s World Food Day 2015
- SMU international and local students planted ‘seeds of change’ at GROW plot
- Pilot test for recycling food waste to advocate ‘converting food to food’
- Lemongrass tea drinks made from SMU GROW harvest to raise funds for SMU’s Habit for Humanity student-led building project
The World Food Day on 16 October, founded by the United Nations’ (UN) Food and Agriculture Organisation, marks a day to take action and encourage others to do more to eliminate hunger. SMU GROW, the University’s urban farming initiative, joined this year’s global movement themed “Social Protection and Agriculture: Breaking the Cycle of Rural Poverty” to tackle hunger, malnutrition, food wastage and poverty.
In line with SMU GROW’s objectives of building a green and sustainable community both inside and outside of the classroom, international and local students from SMU gathered at the SMU GROW plot to plant seedlings from 12 countries. This symbolised the unity of different cultures coming together to cultivate seeds of change and integration, building a common spirit of feeding the world and caring for the earth. Each of these crops bears significance to its country of origin, and were planted around SMU’s recently-launched Peace Pole in a colourful and dignified ceremony.
[Photo: Students planting and watering the chosen crops that bear significance to the countries of origin. With an emphasis that the ‘international seeds of change’ are not just the plants but students embracing diversity and integration, the SMU GROW integration project was led by SMU alumna Ada Chua Ai Le and students from SMU International Connections (ICON), in conjunction with SMU GROW and Office of Global Learning. (Clockwise from top left and right) Some examples of the crops chosen are: tapioca for Singapore, calamansi for Philippines and cabbage for Korea. Visit the GROW plot to find out why the plants were chosen!]
A pilot test for converting food waste at SMU into agricultural fertiliser, in partnership with a food waste recycling bio-technology firm, took place at the foodcourt on campus. The showcase preceded a trial aimed at a full rollout at the end of this year to recycle and repurpose the campus' food waste. The efforts help purport the concept of “converting food to food” – recycling food waste into usable nutrients that help grow more food produce, while also reducing food waste and carbon footprint. They will also help generate the topsoil for the GROW plot and plants around campus.
[Photo: A food waste recycling demonstration in partnership with a food waste recycling bio-technology firm at the campus’ foodcourt. The efforts help “convert food to food” – recycling food waste into usable nutrients that help grow more food produce, while also reducing food waste and carbon footprint. They will also help generate fertilisers for the GROW plot and plants around campus.
Lemongrass tea drinks made on campus from the herb grown and harvested from SMU GROW will be sold from 19 October to raise funds for SMU’s Habit for Humanity student-led building project in Yogjakarta, Indonesia in December. SMU Habitat for Humanity will be sending two teams to help build houses together with disadvantaged rural villagers.
[Photo: Lemongrass drinks made from SMU GROW’s harvest will be sold to help raise funds for SMU’s Habit for Humanity student-led building project.]
These initiatives were aimed at supporting and encouraging contribution to the World Food Day’s goals, helping integration within the diverse SMU campus community and the world classroom, as well as GROW-ing the urban farming movement’s awareness-building on sustainable living.
The University offers diverse and enriching experiences, and believes strongly in nurturing global citizens who appreciate multiculturalism, food security and environmentalism, and contribute in making the world a better place.
Ms Bernadette Toh, Director of SMU’s Office of Global Learning that leads efforts for international student experiences and GROW, said, “The University strives to become a leader in transformative education – a building block of SMU Vision 2025 – by making a difference in our community within and outside SMU. SMU GROW initiatives, like this commemoration of the World Food Day, encourages our students, staff, faculty and alumni to take a global outlook in education. Appreciating issues in sustainability and the global environment is very much in line with our efforts in nurturing global citizens. It is heartening that many of these programmes are initiated from the ground-up. It demonstrates that our community cares about world issues and will take the lead in making a difference.”
For more information on SMU’s global efforts, please refer to SMU’s Office of Global Learning http://www.smu.edu.sg/global/
For information about GROW, please refer to www.facebook.com/smugrow or email grow [at] smu.edu.sg
For more information about SMU’s Habit for Humanity student-led building project in Yogjakarta, Indonesia in December, please visit http://www.give2habitat.org/member/smuhabitat/Yogyakarta2015
Help grow the movement and seeds of change!
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About SMU GROW and SMU’s Peace Pole The Singapore Management University (SMU) launched its urban farming initiative GROW in January 2015, joining a global movement in creating awareness on sustainable urban living, food production and consumption, and environmentalism, as well as providing for underprivileged members. GROW welcomes people from all walks of life to join the city-campus university in building a green and sustainable community, cultivating change through experiential and reflexive learning. Since the launch, GROW has seen a sharp acceleration in momentum, triggering more attention on urban farming efforts in Singapore. GROW’s activities have gained traction not just within the University, but in the larger community. Interest has come from neighbouring residents and members of the public who read about SMU GROW from prominent coverage by key national media; from other urban farmers and groups, tenants, partners; and even commercial organisations that are keen to have staff learning and volunteering. Plant boxes adoption, workshops, harvests, food-samplings, farmers’ markets events and healthy staff lunches involving various stakeholders have been organised. At the GROW plot outside SMU’s Schools of Accountancy and Law in the heart of downtown Singapore, a Peace Pole has been planted and launched during SMU’s celebrations for the United Nations’ International Day of Peace on 21 September 2015. The international symbol and monument of peace firmly grounded on SMU’s campus is the first among education institutions in Singapore, signifying the University’s commitment to promote peace and diversity. SMU’s Peace Pole is inscribed with the United Nations’ Peace Pledge in Singapore’s four official languages, just like tens of thousands across the world that are marked in the languages of the countries where they are placed. |
[Featured photo: SMU students gathered to plant seedlings from 12 countries at SMU GROW’s plot. It symbolised different cultures coming together to cultivate “seeds of change”. Each crop bears significance to its country of origin, and is planted around SMU’s recently-launched Peace Pole. The efforts were led by SMU students, and Ms Bernadette Toh (in centre with short hair and apron), Director of SMU’s Office of Global Learning that leads efforts for international student experiences and GROW.]
