The Orchards of the School

Social Justice and community

Creation of new green areas, Creation of areas for food production (community gardens, allotments), Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Remediation activities of sites with very poor environmental quality, Improved governance of green or blue areas, Establishment of inclusive governance mechanisms involving local communities, Introduction of NBS governance practices involving marginalised groups

To instill respect for environmental protection, promote a healthy lifestyle, and cultivate civic spirit within the community among the younger generation. To motivate workers to engage in activities that benefit their community, thereby strengthening social cohesion and addressing issues of poor community engagement. To provide a source of health and therapy for students with functional diversities. To ensure students have access to food through the harvest of sustainable fruits. To transform unused and degraded land into green spaces. To include marginalized groups by supporting children at risk and/or with functional diversities. To include the volunteers and the local students in decision making processes (Ref. 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9)

During the three years of the "School Orchard" project, over 300 employees of Antibiotice Company, along with their families, volunteered to transform unused school grounds into fruit tree orchards. This initiative resulted in more than 910 fruit trees taking root in various locations, from the metro area of Iasi (Miroslava, Proselnici, Vorovesti, Valea Lupului, Uricani, Letcani, Cogesca, Rediu, Cornesti, and Iasi), creating green spaces that also serve as a source of health for students. The project began in 2017, focusing on five schools and involving 50 employees. Agreements were established between the company, local municipalities, and schools for land preparation and project implementation. Workers removed truckloads of stones and invasive vegetation from the previously arid land and brought in suitable soil for planting. This effort allowed for the creation of a thriving orchard space. Throughout the project, Antibiotice volunteers collaborated with students from the participating schools and received guidance from representatives of the Research and Development Station for Pomiculture in Iasi to ensure correct planting standards were met. In 2017, 300 trees were planted. The following year, 70 volunteers participated in planting 400 additional trees. In 2019, the same number of volunteers planted 150 trees, and each of the 50 children aged 7 to 15 was given a fruit tree to care for, fostering a sense of responsibility and connection to the environment. (Ref. 1, 2, 3)

• Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
• Citizens or community groups
• Young people and children
• Marginalized groups: Children, young people or youth groups , People with functional diversities