As a leader in improving agricultural productivity, PotashCorp has established an important partnership with the development organization Free The Children (FTC) to improve food security in the communities where FTC operates overseas. PotashCorp founded the new Agriculture and Food Security pillar of FTC’s innovative Adopt a Village development model, across all eight countries where FTC operates.

One aspect of PotashCorp’s partnership with FTC is an educational curriculum supplement and a national speaking tour in Canada, teaching about the importance of agriculture and food security, at the elementary and secondary school levels. Through this education and empowerment, FTC inspires youth to Be the Change in their communities.

After one FTC speaking tour in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, the Grade 6 classes at St. Michael’s School were inspired to do something special for their own community. In the spirit of the speaking tour, they decided to plant, care for and harvest a garden to produce fresh vegetables that they would then donate to the Soup Haven, a Yorkton non-profit dedicated to feeding families in need.

“We do a lot of fundraising and have been involved with Free The Children for some time, but it’s always been about giving money, raising money – this garden project is a chance for the kids to learn something through that process of giving, to really make a difference with their own hands,” said teacher Cara McDowell.   With PotashCorp’s commitment to food security, the Company was pleased to sponsor the classes’ transportation costs and the purchase of gloves, garden tools and seeds. The Assiniboine Food Security Alliance donated a plot and the students were off and planting.

The partnership between PotashCorp and FTC ensures that farmers in the communities where FTC operates overseas have greater knowledge, resources and tools to farm optimally. Similarly, the St. Michael’s garden project involves the students throughout the process.

"I think it’s good that we are able to feed people in our community that do not have the same privileges as us," said one Grade 6 student.

"It's such a good feeling to help others. Making this garden has helped me to realize the impact of what an easy act of generosity can do to make a change,” said another student.

The benefits of the program are far-reaching; by participating throughout the growing process, the students are gaining a greater appreciation for the food they eat and understanding what it takes for farmers to produce food. They can look forward to a harvest that will include corn, peas, beans, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchinis and pumpkins. Someone is scheduled to tend the garden every day until the end of August.

“The kids who signed up for the project are quite excited,” said McDowell. “We had a weeding party and it was a lot of fun. Within 45 minutes, the garden was done! They’ll now know just how much work it is to grow food and care for it, especially with the project stretching out over the summer.”

McDowell is hopeful that this first year will lead to an abundant harvest in the fall and that the community garden will become an annual project.