Grow Against Poverty has started organic gardens at seven schools in Busia County, Kenya. The 1/2 acre plots are planted, weeded and harvested by students. The vegetables are added to school lunches to increase their nutritional value. Six additional schools have requested funding to implement similar programs. Grow Against Poverty would like to provide the expertise and funding to start these self-sustaining gardens.
Too often, Kenyan students in Busia County leave home in the morning having eaten very little. Many are from families who subsist on less than $10 a week where the rural poverty rate is almost 70% and malnutrition affects 30% of the population. The school lunches of ugali (corn flour porridge ) are often the main meal of their day, but these meals lack fresh, healthy produce.
Fields for Greens is a program that adds healthy produce to the school lunches that are the main source of nutrition for many students. They learn and use organic agriculture practices to maintain these gardens. Most of them come from families who are subsistence farmers who do not grow produce organically. Students are encouraged to share their knowledge of organic farming with their families to make meals more nutritious and to generate income by marketing extra produce.
The organic gardens improve the nutritional value of the school lunches and benefit student health. The serving of school lunches helps to improve attendance and academic performance. Furthermore, in the high schools, the program increases acceptances to university. When students work with their families to implement organic farming at home, their health and general livelihoods are improved.
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