Seeds and Skills for Women to Grow Vegetables

We are proud to continue our partnership with Public Fund AVEP in the Ton District of Kyrgyzstan. This year, the program directly benefited 135 women and 30 students through improved access to fresh food, hands-on agricultural training, and expanded income opportunities. In total, an estimated 1,500 people benefited through direct participation or through the support shared with family members, neighbors, classmates, and broader social networks.

Over the past three years, the program has steadily expanded and evolved, introducing a new agricultural focus each season. The first year began with vegetable production, followed by corn silage training in the second year, and strawberry cultivation in the third. Women rotate through each module, gaining a comprehensive three-year agricultural education and building a diverse skill set that strengthens their families’ resilience.

This year, 45 women from three new villages joined the vegetable program, while previous participants advanced into the corn or strawberry tracks. Each group receives ongoing mentorship, training sessions, and access to the resources needed to succeed.

One of the participants shared her experience:

"I didn't know how to grow cucumbers before, but now I've mastered the process. This year I planted spinach for the first time — and, apparently, we'll get a good harvest. We grow five varieties of cabbage, two of which I've already successfully mastered and now I share my experience with other women in the group. Our participants learn not only how to grow vegetables, but also how to properly care for them. We use regular vinegar and soda against moths. We scatter wood ash, manure and chicken manure. We apply these mixtures every seven days, without waiting for the pests to appear. We shape the tomato and cucumber bushes so that the fruits are larger, thin out the rows and replant the plants.”

Previously, she had to purchase vegetables at high prices. Now, she uses spinach, beets, onions, and other crops in her daily cooking—providing her family with fresh and healthy food. She also sells her surplus produce in her village, helping to increase her household income.

Your support helps make these multi-year training opportunities possible. Thank you for empowering women to grow nutritious food, share skills within their communities, and build brighter futures for their families.

Giving Tuesday is December 2 and GlobalGiving is giving $500 million to boost donations to nonprofits worldwide. This is a great opportunity to make your donations go further and support programs like this. Thank you so much for your partnership.