Teenagers with Down Syndrome learn about growing vegetables

Have you ever seen a lettuce seed? And a carrot plant? What is the origin of the vegetables we find in markets and supermarkets? To learn a little about vegetable cultivation, a group of teenagers with down syndrome exchanged the hospital environment for the rural space of Embrapa Hortaliças (Brasília, DF), in the second half of June. Instead of traditional therapeutic sessions, they got their hands dirty to produce their own seedlings and were surprised to see the different stages of vegetable growth. The teenagers are patients at CrisDown, a specialized treatment center that operates at the Asa Norte Regional Hospital, linked to the Health Department of the Government of the Federal District.

The activities began at 9 am under the watchful eyes of the participants. Researcher Marçal Jorge showed the development phases, from the seed to the production of vegetables such as lettuce, carrots, onions and tomatoes. The group, accompanied by parents and professionals from CrisDown, also visited the technological showcase – a space where several varieties of vegetables developed by Embrapa are grown.

For occupational therapist, Deidmaia Silva, the activity was productive in several aspects. “Contact with the earth and interaction with people in unconventional spaces provide fantastic therapeutic benefits. In the midst of new experiences and challenges, the answers they give are surprising”, she explains. For Dalvany Serracena, father of one of the participants, actions like these are interesting because they add knowledge and awaken various senses in teenagers. “It's a very useful experience with the advantage of leaving the hospital environment”, says Dalvany, who is the father of Millena, 17 years old. She says that she really liked what she saw and that she was delighted.

Action

This event is part of the “Hortaliças em Ação” project, which is being structured by the technology transfer and communication teams at Embrapa Hortaliças with a focus on socio-environmental responsibility and with the aim of contributing to the inclusion of people with special needs. 

Analyst Carla Timm explains the reason for creating the project. “Through programs such as Embrapa & Escola, courses and publications, Embrapa Hortaliças has met various types of demands, but we noticed the existence of this gap in relation to people with special needs” says the supervisor. For agronomist Italo Lüdke, the objective is to spark interest in the production and consumption of vegetables in a playful way. Throughout 2018, similar actions may occur based on requests from support institutions aimed at this audience.