Clarkston High School

Of the nearly 3,000 refugees who arrive in Atlanta each year, 80% are resettled in Clarkston, GA. Clarkston High School (CHS) students come from more than 54 countries and speak 47 languages. The IRC has supported these youth through afterschool and summer programs since 1999, serving 170 teens a year.
IRC’s New Roots Program will break ground for a school garden at CHS this fall with 8 raised beds, compost bins and rain barrels. The garden will be used to bolster food awareness, teach sustainable vegetable growing, and introduce students to the basics of plant science and ecology.
Whole Kids Foundation funding will support IRC’s Youth Food Justice Academy (YFJA), an 8-week summer camp centered around the edible classroom. The YFJA will reach 50 refugee youth in Summer 2015 and will include workshops on vegetable growing, lessons on nutrition & cooking, and a tasting event. Participating youth will also maintain the garden during the summer, when many school gardens are neglected.