EMU students' 'From Garden to Table' project: The power of nature and agriculture in special education

Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) Tourism Faculty, Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department students launched the "From Garden to Table" project at Famagusta Special Education and Job Training School under the coordination of EMU Community Involvement Center President Asst. Prof. Dr. Nazenin Ruso Kandemir.

The project, which aims to bring students with special needs together with nature, aims to draw attention to the importance of organic agriculture as well as contribute to the development of their hand skills through agricultural and culinary activities. The project started in September 2024 and continued until January 2025.

Within the scope of the project, first of all, the area was cleaned in the garden of Famagusta Special Education School. Then, EMU students and individuals with special needs came together and planted various vegetables such as carrots, radishes, mint, thyme, parsley, spinach, spring onions, cress grass, lettuce, and cabbage. During the project, Famagusta Special Education School teachers and School Principal Emirali Evcimen cooperated, while Altınoğlu Tarım contributed to the project by providing seed and seedling support.

In the final event, breakfast was prepared with students with special needs under the guidance of EMU Tourism Faculty Gastronomy and Culinary Arts Department students Erkan Kaya, Fikri Varoğlu, İrem Demiralp, Yağmur Dinçsay, and Hülya Ardağlı. Participants had a pleasant breakfast experience by experiencing the happiness of creating a product with their own efforts.

Project Coordinator and TDM President Asst. Prof. Dr. Nazenin Ruso Kandemir emphasized that organic agriculture is not only a sustainable form of production, but also a source of healing and educational process for individuals. Acting Dean of EMU Tourism Faculty at the time, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mine Haktanır said, "While increasing the interaction of special education students with nature, we offered them the opportunity to grow healthy products in line with the principles of organic agriculture. What children have learned in this process will contribute to their adoption of a nature-friendly lifestyle not only for today but also in the future."