• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2025 ABC News
  • Living

Meet the 'Quail Guardians': A group of 6th-grade girls raising quails for their 'food desert' community

2:18
6th-grade girls raise quails for their 'food desert' community
ABC News
Catherine Thorbecke
ByCatherine Thorbecke
May 10, 2019, 1:04 PM

In the heart of Atlanta, Georgia, a group of bright young girls are looking to build and feed their community -- one quail egg at a time.

Dubbed the "Quail Guardians," a class of 6th graders at the Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy have been raising and selling quail eggs in their community, in a neighborhood where many residents have limited access to fresh food.

Sixth graders at the Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy in Atlanta raise quails to help feed their community.
ABC News

In addition to raising the quails, the students also supply their community with fresh fruits and vegetables from their school's own organic garden.

"So I knew that the school that I’m in is in a food desert, and the way I like to engage students is to look into the community for a problem and become problem solvers," Laura Pena, the school's STEM program specialist and instructional coach, told "Good Morning America."

Editor’s Picks

How a school bus driver became an 'extra mom' to her whole community

  • May 09, 2019

Michelle Obama delivers inspiring message to students on College Signing Day

  • May 01, 2019

12-year-old hopes to gift J.Lo the epic portrait he painted of her and A-Rod

  • May 01, 2019
Sixth graders at the Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy in Atlanta raise quails to help feed their community.
ABC News

Related Articles

(MORE: Female scientists start a database to showcase their work. Over 9,000 women join them)

The students decided to raise quails instead of chickens because they are smaller and easier to raise in a school, Pena said.

Student Dayanna Flores also told "GMA" that "their eggs have ... more protein" than chicken eggs.

Plus, as another student Dasha Kelley added, "Their waste helps our soil be able to grow more plants."

Fellow Quail Guardian Shavonta Nickles said the eggs have "good cholesterol and protein and it's also good for your heart and also for asthma."

"We're helping out the community and the community is also helping us out because when we sell those eggs we get money back in return and that’s how we pay for their food and that’s how they get the eggs again," Shavonta added.

Sixth graders at the Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy in Atlanta raise quails to help feed their community.
ABC News

Related Articles

(MORE: Why this teacher shared her resignation letter after quitting her job at 28)

A local resident and parent, Christina Mgbam, told "GMA" she is thankful for the food the girls provide.

"The accessibility to high quality foods, fruits and vegetables, meat is not the greatest along with the transportation in the area as well," she said. "The quail brings an awareness that you have more options."

In addition to providing their community with fresh foods, some of the girls say they are also picking up other life lessons raising and caring for the quails.

"Being a quail guardian has taught me respect and responsibility and just how to be a better person in general," student McKynzie Spearman said.

Jayden Earley, another student, said that raising the quails has also brought the students together.

"I was friends with them all at first but it just created a bigger bond once we became Quail Guardians, I really consider them all as family now," she said.

Sixth graders at the Coretta Scott King Young Women's Leadership Academy in Atlanta raise quails to help feed their community.
ABC News

Editor’s Picks

How a school bus driver became an 'extra mom' to her whole community

  • May 09, 2019

Michelle Obama delivers inspiring message to students on College Signing Day

  • May 01, 2019

12-year-old hopes to gift J.Lo the epic portrait he painted of her and A-Rod

  • May 01, 2019

Up Next in Living—

Uber Eats adds more grocery and convenience stores accepting SNAP, EBT

July 16, 2025

Paranormal investigator who helped lead 'Annabelle' doll themed tour dies suddenly

July 16, 2025

Walmart voluntarily recalls thousands of water bottles over potential injury hazard

July 11, 2025

July's full buck moon is arriving: What it means for your zodiac

July 10, 2025

Shop GMA Favorites

ABC will receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Sponsored Content by Taboola

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2025 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2025 ABC News