Seeds and Skills for Women to Grow Vegetables

Dear Friend,

On July 1, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) was officially shut down, following the elimination of 83% of its programs earlier this year. The impact of this closure cannot be overstated.

According to a new study published in The Lancet, USAID programs helped reduce global deaths from all causes by 15%, and child mortality by 32%. Over the last two decades, these efforts are estimated to have saved more than 90 million lives. Without them, the future is sobering: if cuts continue through 2030, as many as 14 million preventable deaths could occur, including 4.5 million children.

At the same time, public funding for humanitarian work is projected to fall by up to 45% by the end of 2025. This means a perfect storm: rising global hunger, worsening health crises, and shrinking resources to respond.That’s why your support matters now more than ever.

Program Highlight: Women Relief Aid in South Sudan

Thanks to your generosity, we are proud to support Women Relief Aid, an organization uplifting young women and mothers through agricultural training. By learning to grow nutritious food and sell surplus crops, women are building resilience for themselves, their families, and their communities

A participant in the program, shared:

“This vegetable growing program has improved my family’s nutritional status and household income. Before getting involved in Women Relief Aid’s women vegetable growing program, I used to have a lot of challenges acquiring seeds and skills to handle the crops in the garden, which made me not harvest much. Joining Women Relief Aid’s vegetable growing program helped me to get enough knowledge and skills to handle modern farming techniques that yield high quality products, For example, planting in line, setting up nursery beds. I picked up this knowledge and I started putting it into action by planting five different varieties of crops (Amarathus, Cowpeas, Tomatoes, Eggplants and Sukukma wiki) provided by Women Relief Aid. As I continue to sell surplus of my vegetable products to the local markets, it has really improved my household income. I am using the money to pay the school fees for my children, and getting other household basic needs. I say no more poverty again in my family and I am so much empowered by this program, big thanks to funders for standing firm with women of South Sudan.”

This is the power of your gift: in the face of shrinking international support, you are ensuring women can grow food, earn an income, and invest in their children’s futures.On behalf of the women farmers we serve, thank you for your commitment. Together, we are sowing resilience, dignity, and hope where it is needed most.

Links:

• The Lancet article