While you may be familiar with the magical experiences Disney Cruise Line creates for guests around the globe, you may not know about the magic Disney is creating in its port communities. Most recently, Disney Cruise Line teamed up with the Agricultural Development Organization Bahamas in a multi-year project to build gardens across schools in Abaco and Eleuthera, donating nearly $100,000 to support the project.
“With this initiative, we want to help inspire students to explore careers in farming and teach them about building sustainable communities,” said Joey Gaskins, Public Affairs Director for The Bahamas and Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line.
The Gift that Keeps on Growing
Walt Disney Imagineers joined the Agricultural Development Organization team and dozens of students to kick off the program at Preston Albury High School in Eleuthera, where Disney is creating its new island destination, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.
Enjoying The Fruits – and Veggies! – of Their Labor
Sweet peppers, onions, lettuce, beets, cabbage, coconuts, mango trees and more will soon grow in the school’s brand-new garden where Imagineers, students and the Agricultural Development Organization team members planted a variety of seedlings and built irrigation systems. With the creation of these gardens at schools across Eleuthera and Abaco, students will really dig in to learn how to maintain their garden during the school year.
Planting the Future
This project represents a strong showcase of students, school leaders, community members and Disney Cruise Line coming together to achieve the same goal – to inspire students to learn, grow and make a difference in their communities. Because at Disney, everything we do to make magic can also make a difference.
“This project is so important because we have the chance to impact the minds and hearts of young people, watching as they discover the joy and satisfaction of growing what they eat and eating what they grow,” said Philip Smith, Executive Chairman, Agricultural Development Organization. “If we continue to grow and harvest in this way, we will reap a healthier and more food secure Bahamas.”
Students across The Bahamas now have the opportunity to learn first-hand how to grow their own fruits and vegetables. Disney Cruise Line has teamed up with the Agricultural Development Organization Bahamas in a multi-year project to build gardens across schools in Abaco and Eleuthera, donating nearly $100,000 to support the project. The Agricultural Development Organization’s Micro Gardens and School Farming Project provides schools with tools to teach students how to grow sustainable, healthy foods and manage their own garden.
Earlier this year, Agricultural Development Organization worked with Disney Cruise Line to build a backyard garden at the Ranfurly Homes for Children in Nassau, a local non-profit foster care organization.