CEST Ecological Brigade inaugurates school medicinal garden

As part of its environmental protection efforts, on August 7, the Ecological Brigade of the Basic Education program at Centro Educativo Salesianos Talca (CEST) in Chile, led by teacher Carla Farías, worked on creating medicinal gardens in the courtyard of the North Campus of CEST. CEST Rector Reinaldo Castro also participated in the activity, enthusiastically supporting this wonderful initiative.

The aim of the project is to create a space where students and educators can connect with nature, learn about medicinal plants, and discover the benefits of self-care through traditional herbal medicine.

The initiative was advised by the Fundación Verde Maule, represented by its creator, Eugenia Aguilera, and with the collaboration of Koni Alarcón, a TENS from CEST. From this moment of plantation onwards, the students will be responsible for maintaining the garden, which will serve as a healing and wellness space for students, teachers, and teaching assistants.

During the day, the members of the Brigade were enthusiastic and happy with the experience. Gustavo Ulloa, a 6th grade student, said: “The earth and plants are very important because they clean the air. It's healthy, and the best thing that can happen to us in life is to be grateful for another gift from God.”

For his part, Gaspar Gómez, a 3rd grade student, emphasized: “We are taking advantage of the gifts that God gives us: all of nature, which we must take care of. Today we have put a lot of effort into creating our garden, which will serve the entire school. Everything we receive is a gift from God, and we have to take care of it.”

Eugenia Aguilera praised the joint effort, noting that this project “will enrich the school environment with biodiversity and promote values of sustainability, respect for nature, and ancestral knowledge of natural health,” and thanked CEST for its commitment to instilling a culture of environmental stewardship.

The project will allow students to explore the selection of species suitable for the school environment, apply permaculture principles, learn cultivation methods, harvesting and conservation techniques, as well as the preparation and use of plants. In addition, it will be integrated into educational activities, enriching the school curriculum.