With more than 150 students, the Raúl Gómez García special education institution, located in Holguin province. Promotes nutritional education through initiatives of the “Act Different” project implemented by the World Food Program (WFP).
Developed in the municipality of Urbano Noris, this project aims to strengthen the relationship between farmers and centers to improve agricultural production and consumption. Which contributes to a change in the diet of children, pregnant women and the community in general. Project coordinator Ruber Peña Fleitas explained to CNA.
In addition to expanding the agricultural supply and strengthening commercial ties with social protection centers and cooperatives. A group of activities are carried out to achieve a lasting impact on the health of the participants and expand their knowledge about proper nutrition.
Examples of these actions include workshops with the participation of students, teachers, parents, nutritionists and suppliers. Festivals and variety fairs that educate about the benefits of different types of crops such as tomatoes, pumpkins, beans, among others.
The coordinator commented that the latter consist of choosing different vegetables or viands and using them to prepare recipes that are later tasted in the locality where the aim is to identify the sweetest. With the best texture or culinary characteristics and to instill an appropriate food culture.
Maite Zapatín Zaldívar, director of the Raúl Gómez institution, pointed out that in her center “Actúa Diferente” encouraged the creation of circles of interest and socio-productive projects. Which allowed the development of skills and habits and the acquisition of knowledge in students with intellectual disabilities.
One of the initiatives generated is “The Productive Family” where they promote vocational orientation and a healthy diet by transforming gardens into flower beds and orchards and learning practical agricultural work. Favoring self-consumption and the interest of the students in the care and love of plants, she added.
Seven schools, including three semi-boarding schools and two special education schools, homes for the elderly and a maternity ward, are the sites to which this type of WFP initiative has been extended with the support of the Public Health sector in the territory, said Peña Fleitas.
Sponsored by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (Koica). “Act differently” is aligned with the Municipal Self-Supply Program (PAM) and the Food Sovereignty Program implemented in Cuba.
With information from CNA
Translated by Aliani Rojas Fernandez
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