This Friday, June 13 saw an inspiring fusion of youth and wisdom as pupils from École de la Condamine joined elderly residents of the Quietüdine care home for a lively session of shared gardening. What might sound like an ordinary visit quickly blossomed into something more profound — an ongoing project rooted in nature and connection.
The event, part of a year-long initiative backed by Terrae, Monaco’s Department of National Education, Youth and Sports, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, and Monaco Telecom, brings together schoolchildren and seniors to cultivate more than just vegetables. It’s about cultivating relationships.
Throughout the academic year, around 60 Condamine pupils have rolled up their sleeves beside the residents of Quietüdine to nurture herbs, explore planting methods, and marvel at nature’s small miracles — from pollinators to seasonal rhythms. Over at the Rainier III Center, a parallel project sees children from École du Parc take part in similar intergenerational gardening sessions, enriching the lives of another 50 or so seniors.
The initiative, guided by the Terrae association, is as much about education as it is about empathy. Hands deep in soil, participants swap knowledge and laughter, stimulating memory, motor skills, and curiosity in the process. For the children, it’s a chance to learn from living history. For the seniors, it’s a spark of youthful energy and renewed purpose.
Financially supported by the Sancta Devota Foundation, the programme blends environmental awareness with social bonding — a rare win-win in an increasingly fast-paced world. More garden-based meetups are on the horizon, reinforcing the message that in Monaco, the seeds of solidarity are growing strong.
Image courtesy of Manuel Vitali – Communications Department: Atelier Terrae DENJS 1
