The Giving Garden

Vital Stats

samira s

Novato, CA

people helped20
People Doing It17

The Problem

During the first month of my new business/project's operation, I became acquainted with 10-18 children, residents who lived only a fence apart from the commercial building unit we were leasing and I realized that the children who spent most of their day outside could greatly benefit from a constructive program of art, and environmental education that would keep them off the streets. From vandalism to littering and graffiti activity, there were countless incidents and challenges I was faced with. On the third month of operation, a Police Officer came to my business location and talked to me about graffiti and the recent tagging behind our building unit. He explained that the graffiti needed to be covered within one week time as it invited violence into neighborhoods and went against the City’s ordinance. The officer also explained that gang-related activities in the area and it's vicinity had been a re-occurring problem and dilemma.

Plan of Action

I needed to put an end to the litter and the on-going hate-crimes, graffiti tagging. On December 15th with the help of 2 other volunteers and 16 of the children we completed the second stage of the Garden but more importantly there has not been any incidents of vandalism or graffiti tagging for over 4 months, long before there was any garden. The children have gradually learned to respect life in all it’s forms. As they begin to develop a strong sense of empathy towards Earth, peers and the adults involved, strong relationships and bonds have begun to form. After 6-7 months, the children took responsibility for their actions as their natural instinct to care and look after the crops and one another, has changed their behavior pattern in positive ways. Because of the success rate of this project, I am expanding the vision/project to the international community as I want to initiate this global model of peace-building and life-long awareness throughout communities of children and those vulnerable communities affected by hate-crimes, poverty and the gang culture. There shall be a Giving Garden in every community across the globe and there will be a peace pole in every Giving Garden that is established throughout the local and international community and this will be organized through various methods, communications, global outreach and partnerships.

Arts in Education

Education

Education Inequalities

Homelessness and Poverty

Bullying and Violence