In the new research article, Gardening School to Support Youth Inclusion and Environmental Sustainability in Morocco, PhD researcher Salma Idrissi Boutaybi, Master’s student Tiia Hartikainen from the University of Eastern Finland, postdoctoral researcher Yahia Benyamina, and research professor Sofia Laine from the Finnish Youth Research Society examine the significance of Morocco’s first gardening school in promoting youth inclusion and environmental sustainability in the era of planetary crises.
Morocco faces significant challenges as climate change accelerates rising temperatures, expanding droughts, groundwater depletion, and intensifying extreme weather events in the region. Simultaneously, the country has one of the world’s highest youth unemployment rates, increasing the risk of youth marginalization and encouraging young people to seek better opportunities abroad. The Gardening School was developed as a response to these major sustainability challenges, uniquely combining environmental conservation with youth empowerment.
The Gardening School primarily targets NEET youth (those not in education, employment, or training) and does not require a specific educational background or age, only basic literacy skills. Located in an area with high youth unemployment, many of the school’s trainees come from challenging circumstances. The school supports trainees by providing free education, school meals, and transportation, as well as practical assistance as they approach graduation. At the core of the curriculum is the teaching of ecological gardening practices and raising awareness about planetary challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity loss. Trainees learn essential skills such as water conservation, the importance of tree planting, and self-sufficient food production – skills that support both the region’s vulnerable environment and the trainees’ sustainable employment opportunities. The school also extends its practical knowledge to other community stakeholders, including architects, urban planners, businesses, and school groups, serving as a broader advocate for environmental awareness and sustainable development.
The article examines the school through the framework of planetary youth research developed by Sofia Laine. This approach aims to study young people and youth in relation to the carrying capacity of the planet, while encouraging global youth research to be conducted in an environmentally sustainable manner. The findings highlight the Gardening School as a trailblazer for sustainable development. It enhances environmental awareness among trainees and the wider community, promotes the adoption of sustainable gardening practices, and strengthens young people’s connection to the environment. Additionally, the school provides youth with the opportunity to earn a professional qualification, opening pathways to employment and entrepreneurship. In this way, the school supports youth inclusion, nature conservation, climate change mitigation, and the creation of green jobs. This educational model could be adapted to other regions facing similar challenges – environmental crises and youth unemployment – around the globe.
The article is available as an open-access publication:
Idrissi Boutaybi, Salma, Tiia Hartikainen, Yahia Benyamina, and Sofia Laine. 2024. Gardening School to Support Youth Inclusion and Environmental Sustainability in Morocco. Social Sciences 13: 687. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci13120687 (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)
