In a city better known for bright lights than fresh vegetables, a Las Vegas nonprofit is teaching children how to grow their own food — inside their classrooms. Green Our Planet, which helps schools build indoor hydroponic farms so students can learn science by growing lettuce, herbs and other produce, has been named the latest winner of the F1 Allwyn Global Community Award.
It is the second US initiative to receive the honor this season, following Girlstart's recognition at the race in Austin. The €100,000 award — worth around $117,000 — will allow the charity to expand its 'HydroConnect' programme, which combines STEM lessons with simple, hands-on gardening using hydroponics.
The method, which grows plants in water rather than soil, uses far less water than traditional farming and allows schools to grow food even in places with harsh climates or limited outdoor space. Green Our Planet already runs one of the largest hydroponics education networks in the country, working with more than 1,400 schools across 44 states and reaching over half a million students. In Las Vegas alone, the group supports more than 200 schools.
Its work is aimed at fixing two problems common in under-resourced communities: patchy access to quality science education, and the fact that many students rarely encounter fresh, healthy food.
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