Resiliency Gardens for Ukrainian Refugees and IDPs

As the war continues to displace communities and disrupt livelihoods in Ukraine, resilience takes many forms. Our Seeds of Glory project stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of frontline communities in Donetska and Zaporizhia Oblasts. Through this initiative, we aim to provide a sustainable path toward food security and self-sufficiency for families whose farming practices have been interrupted by conflict.

This project is one of many projects that we work on to support our various partners working in Ukraine and with IDPs outside of Ukraine. This year, Seeds of Glory directly supported 500 farming families, benefiting a total of 2,500 individuals. These families, displaced or affected by the ongoing war, are given the tools to regain control of their food production. By providing locally sourced "seed sets" in collaboration with a local seed supply business, we are able to distribute essential resources that help families restart their farming efforts, even in the most challenging environments. 

Donetska and Zaporizhia Oblasts remain at the heart of the conflict. In these regions, the resilience of local communities has been tested repeatedly. The Seeds of Glory project focuses on household and farmer outreach, specifically targeting these frontline areas, whether occupied or recently deoccupied. Farming, once the backbone of these communities, has been severely impacted by the destruction of infrastructure, loss of access to seeds, and displacement of families.

What makes this project unique? Like all of our projects, the success of this initiative relies on local partnerships. We have teamed up with a local seed supply business, ensuring that the seeds distributed are not only suitable for Ukraine's agricultural environment but also accessible and sustainable. Additionally, by collaborating with a local seed supply company, we are providing invaluable support to a local business that otherwise would likely go under during these distressing wartimes that upend local economies.  Each "seed set" includes a variety of vegetables and grains that are crucial for both subsistence and market-based farming.

To ensure the effective distribution of these seed sets, we are utilizing existing grassroots aid networks and activists. These local connections help us reach even the most vulnerable populations, ensuring that no one is left behind in our efforts to foster resilience and hope.

Through Seeds of Glory, we are not just providing seeds—we are planting the foundation for future growth. By empowering these farming families, we aim to help them reclaim their independence and dignity, creating a sustainable pathway to recovery in the midst of adversity. As these seeds grow, so too will the resilience of the communities they support, offering a renewed sense of hope and possibility in Ukraine’s frontline regions.

We are grateful for the continued support of GlobalGiving and our donors, whose generosity makes this crucial work possible. Together, we are planting seeds of hope, resilience, and recovery, ensuring that Ukrainian families can continue to grow and thrive despite the challenges they face.

Summer's in full swing, and we're buzzing with excitement to share the continued success of our Resiliency Garden program in collaboration with local schools in Poland! This year marks another year of growth, not just in the gardens themselves, but also in the connections blossoming between Ukrainian refugees and their Polish neighbors.

The past few years have seen an incredible outpouring of support in Poland as they welcomed Ukrainian refugees fleeing war. Our Resiliency Garden program was born from a desire to bridge the gap between these two communities, fostering connection and a sense of belonging through the shared experience of gardening.

This year, we partnered with 10 schools in Rybniku and Kaputy, providing them with essential support, training, and resources to launch school gardening programs during the school year. Schools were selected in the fall/winter of 2023, and programs started at the beginning of 2024. From seed selection to harvest celebrations, these vibrant gardens became much more than just patches of soil. They transformed into classrooms without walls, fostering learning, cultural exchange, and the building of lasting relationships between Ukrainian refugee children and their Polish peers.

Learning that Sprouts Beyond the Classroom:

The impact of the program was, and is, undeniable. All 10 schools had a fantastic spring semester! Over 2,878 students were directly involved, actively participating in the garden programs integrated into the regular curriculum. Witnessing the joy on their faces as they nurtured seedlings, learned about plant life cycles, and harvested their bounty was truly heartwarming. Schools had varying curriculums based on school age, and programs ranged from targeting pre-school and kindergarten ages all the way up to secondary / high school teenage students. Some learned about pollinators and where our food comes from, and some learned about more technical issues like climate change and our impact on it, learning about things from CO2 circulation, complex ecological functions, waste and food composting, to food forests and green roofs, and more. Whether aged 5 of 15, all programs put a focus on nature-based and experiential learning as well as fostering connection with each other and with the plants themselves.

For the refugee children, these gardens became a safe haven. They provided a sense of normalcy, a space to connect with nature, and a chance to build friendships with their Polish classmates. The shared experience of caring for the gardens transcended language barriers, fostering a sense of belonging and community.

As summer unfolds and the gardens flourish further, we can't wait to share more updates on the program's progress throughout the year. We'll bring you stories of student learning, cultural exchange, and the remarkable resilience that thrives when communities come together through the act of gardening.