Community Gardens = Empowerment

 

In communities across Brazil, people are tending to their gardens every day. They know that with planting, hoeing, weeding, and care, their family will have nutritious fresh food to eat. They know that with good food, their children will grow into healthy happy adults.

 

And for Osmar, a father and husband, knowing that makes him smile. The fruit and vegetables he is growing on his plot will help feed his family and the excess produce he can sell at market. Osmar participates in a ChildFund community vegetable garden project in Coronel Murta, Brazil while his children are enrolled at the local Early Childhood Development Centre.

 

“I am very happy as through it my family and the day care center children have healthy meals,” said Osmar.

 

ChildFund helped establish community gardens and kitchens, enabling individuals to grow and prepare food to sell and generate income. This in turn helps them contribute to the economy and the health status of the community.

 

How ChildFund is providing food security to more families

 

ChildFund’s goal is to make lasting changes so that families are empowered to meet their own nutritional needs.  Our Nutrition and Sustainable Livelihoods programs are designed to create lasting solutions to reduce malnutrition, empower community leaders to become self-sufficient and improve children's lives. 

 

By educating parents and communities on the importance of good nutrition and exploring ways to increase food availability, ChildFund strives to ensure that children not only survive but lead healthy lives.

 

ChildFund works with communities to build food security among families and to ensure children receive proper nutrition and health. ChildFund’s Food Security Program targets communities with malnourished children and those at risk of being malnourished. 

 

With members of the community, ChildFund focuses on improving agriculture, providing income-generation activities, encouraging natural resources management and creating related infrastructure. With these initiatives, families are able to earn an income while providing adequate nutrition for themselves. Organic gardening, seed banks, poultry farming, and livestock raising are just some of the examples for this activity. 

 

For Osmar, ChildFund’s agricultural training and guidance means that his family never need to go hungry again. “I am very proud to have such an opportunity as it is something I like to do, and I have also learned a lot by exchanging ideas with the other participant families. To work in the vegetable garden is a therapy to me. Besides that I can also sell some products in the market and that is a big help to me.”

 

Standout box:

Community Gardens make a real difference to children and their communities. They empower community members to be able to provide healthy nutritious food and sell produce at markets, generating income for their families. Your support of ChildFund will ensure that we can continue to provide more families with access to the tools they need to create their own community garden. If you would like to learn more about ChildFund’s Nutrition or Sustainable Livelihoods programs visit www.childfund...