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Michiko Terada

FROM GARDEN TO CLASSROOM:

SHAPING HEALTH AWARENESS IN NIGERIA

In Abuja, Nigeria, school gardens are becoming classrooms for healthier
futures. Michiko Terada joined FAO Nigeria’s School Gardening for
Better Nutrition project as a UN Volunteer Community Development
Expert. She supervised training activities for teachers and students and
evaluated how gardening could improve young people’s understanding
of food and health.
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“I believe that providing youth with a platform and connecting their
talents and abilities is key to youth empowerment,” says Michiko. She
led sessions with teachers from across Nigeria, encouraging them to
share regional food knowledge and cooking methods. “When I also
shared information about unique foods from Japan, such as fermented
soybeans, participants were so enthusiastic that they even brought
plants with them to explain their culinary use in more detail.”

For Michiko, food is more than nutrition; it’s a bridge between identity
and understanding. “Knowing different foods can lead to recognition of
one’s own culture and identity and help students strengthen their cross- Michiko Terada (right), UN Volunteer Community Development Expert, supported a
School Garden project in Nigeria with FAO. [FAO/Emmanuel Kihaule, 2021]
cultural understanding,” she explained.

Through her work with FAO, Michiko supported young people with
knowledge, confidence and curiosity for them to build healthier futures
for themselves and their communities.