Seeds and Support for School Gardens Worldwide

Seed Programs International (SPI) partnered with Sustainable Community Initiative for Empowerment (SCINE) and Poetry X Hunger to launch Growtry, a initiative that combines school gardening and poetry across eight schools in Kampala, Uganda.

Building on our earlier partnerships that established eight school gardens, this phase of the program encouraged students from each school’s Urban Farmers Club to create poems inspired by their gardens. Through themes of growing food, reducing hunger, and caring for the earth, students reflected on their experiences with agriculture in creative ways. Each school received a small grant to support teachers in organizing the poetry activities and maintaining the gardens as vibrant learning spaces.

Through this program, students gained hands-on agricultural education that promotes food security and improved nutrition. By weaving poetry into their gardening experience, children not only explored their creativity but also deepened their understanding of the importance of farming and community resilience. This approach connected practical skills with artistic expression, helping students strengthen both literacy and their connection to local food systems.

The students all did an incredible job, filling their poems and performances with imagination, heart, and hope. Their recitations were recorded in their school gardens, capturing the connection between their words and the spaces they tend. After careful consideration, first and second place winners were selected and awarded scholastic materials to support their continued academic growth.

Use this link or the link below to view the videos and text of each poem submission, beginning with the first-place and runner-up winners. The remaining poems are listed in no particular order. Be sure to scroll to the end for photos from the student presentation ceremony, where joy and pride were in full bloom!

We believe that seeds can grow more than just food — they can grow opportunity, creativity, and community. Programs like this one in Kampala show how gardening can nourish both the body and the mind, empowering young people to envision a future free from hunger and full of possibility.

Thank you sincerely for supporting this program and being a part of this work! If you have any questions or would like to connect, we would love to hear from you.

Happy Gardening,

Robyn

Links:

• Videos and Text of Growetry Poems

Hello Gardeners!

We’re excited to share an update on our continued partnership with the Sustainable Community Initiative for Empowerment (SCINE) in Kampala, Uganda. Together, we’re expanding access to nutritious food, building equitable food systems, and empowering young people through school gardening programs.

So far, this partnership has:

• Created 8 school gardens
• Trained local teachers from 9 schools in urban gardening techniques
• Developed an urban gardening instructional manual to support student learning

Kampala, Uganda’s capital, is home to over 3 million people—60% of whom live in densely populated informal settlements where basic services such as clean water, sanitation, and adequate housing are often unavailable. In these areas, poverty rates are high, and families often struggle to meet their daily food needs. The lack of economic opportunity and high rates of unemployment further entrench cycles of hardship, leaving many residents without the resources needed to address their nutritional and livelihood challenges.

Malnutrition is a particularly pressing issue, especially for children. In low-income neighborhoods, school lunches are often the only consistent, nutritious meals that children receive. Without these meals, many children are at risk of stunted growth and diminished academic performance.

That’s why urban agriculture is so powerful. With your support, we’re transforming underutilized land into productive vegetable gardens that grow fresh produce, improve children’s nutrition, and create hands-on learning opportunities. 

Want to make your impact go even further?
Join us on GlobalGiving’s July Bonus Day, July 16, when donations over $100 will be matched from a $125,000 pool. It’s a great opportunity to expand the impact of your donations!

As always, thank you for being part of this work. If you have any questions or would like to connect, we’d love to hear from you.

Happy Gardening,
Robyn