A common stereotype many of our female students have had to overcome is that “girls don’t like to get their hands dirty, or work outdoors with the soil.” This story follows the experiences of Kulna’s student leader Almanar. Almanar’s journey has taken her from a rather quiet student who found a special place in the garden to a strong advocate for sustainable gardening practices, environmentalism, a graduate of an international permaculture design course, student club President and driver of social change. When she first began working with Kulna Almanar recalls the reactions she would get from peers and staff, many who believed that outdoor gardening was not ‘girl’s work.’ But for Almanar, working with Kulna has been hard, authentic, collaborative and meaningful and filled with self-discovery and community building, you know, ‘girl’s work’.
