RAENS Café strengthens school agroecology through youth leadership and community partnerships in Tanzania

A RAENS Café was convened at John Merlin Secondary School On 6 June 2026, bringing together secondary school teachers, youth champions, agroecology mentors, and representatives from key partner organizations, including Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), GAIN (Dodoma Food Systems Youth Leaders), Agri Youth Forum, and ACT4FOOD. The café provided a dynamic platform for participants to exchange experiences and reflect on the role of agroecology in schools. Through open discussions and peer learning, participants shared success stories from school demonstration gardens while also highlighting the practical challenges schools face in sustaining these initiatives. The conversations emphasized the importance of moving beyond one-off activities and embedding agroecology into everyday school life through student leadership, mentorship, and community engagement.

A major focus of the discussions was the long-term sustainability of school agroecology gardens. Participants explored practical solutions for maintaining active school clubs, improving access to tools and planting materials, and strengthening support from teachers, extension workers, and local agroecology practitioners. The café also highlighted the need for simple monitoring and documentation systems that schools can use to track progress, capture lessons learned, and showcase achievements. Youth leadership emerged as a central theme throughout the event. Participants recognized school agroecology clubs as powerful platforms for nurturing future environmental stewards and food systems leaders. By empowering students to take ownership of garden activities, schools can ensure continuity while building valuable skills in food production, teamwork, and environmental management.

The discussions further underscored the importance of creating stronger linkages between schools and local farming communities. Such connections would provide learners with opportunities to gain hands-on experience, access mentorship from practicing farmers, and explore potential pathways into green careers and sustainable agriculture.

The RAENS Café demonstrated the value of collaborative learning spaces in advancing agroecology education and strengthening youth engagement. By bringing together educators, researchers, community actors, and young people, the event contributed to a shared vision of schools as hubs for practical learning, innovation, and sustainable food systems transformation.