The Plant Torch Activity

The Sugar Apple plant is being used for the plant torch activity. The imagery of the Olympic Torch is being used to pass the Sugar Apple plant from school to school throughout Trinidad and Tobago where it will be nurtured by children. The fire of the Olympic Torch, once lit remains throughout the games, despite the weather. When passing the plant from school to school,we hope that, in a similar manner it will not go out/die as we pass it from school to school.

The plant is being used as a symbol of food security for us in Trinidad and Tobago. The symbolic gesture of passing the plant therefore depicts the sharing of the responsibility of achieving the goal of food security.

The first inaugural Plant torch activity was held in 2016 as a precursor to the actual Run for Food. It started with the exchange of a Penny Piece plant between Trinidad and Tobago on February 17, 2016. The plant nurtured in Trinidad was planted in the Hollows of the Queens Park Savannah on 9th April 2016 at a tree planting ceremony. A similar activity was done in Tobago. Since then:

• In 2017, 7 schools participated and the Balata Plant was used as the “Torch”
• In 2018, 8 schools participated and the Tamarind Plant was used as the “Torch”
• In 2019, 8 schools will participate and the Sugar Apple plant is being used as the “Torch”

Participating schools received a brochure on the plant with instructions on how to take care of it. At the end of the activity students will be awarded a certificate for successful nurturing and participation.

The Schools participating this year are:

• Laventille Girls Government
• Arima Girls RC
• Matelot Community College
• Mayaro Secondary
• Tableland AC
• Penal Quinam Government
• Siparia KPA
• Palmiste Government

This year for the 1st time we have secondary schools taking part in this activity.