Kiryandongo district, uganda
Seeds of Hope
In addition to distributing life-saving food to children who need it most, our partners at Action Against Hunger are fighting food insecurity through agriculture programs.
Laker Lucy harvests Sukuma wiki with her granddaughter.
Approximately 1.4 million refugees...
in Uganda overall; each is given a small plot of land, but many have not been able to use their land productively. Action Against Hunger with support by SIDA, the Swedish International Development Agency – provides training, tools, and seeds for refugees to plant and harvest crops to support their families.
Meet three refugees in Uganda who are growing Sukuma wiki – collard greens – and other healthy vegetables to stretch their harvests and ensure their families have enough healthy, nutritious food to eat while also teaching their neighbors to do the same.
Poni shows off the paw paw fruits she has harvested.
poni george
“My life has changed a lot. I’m happier now that my children can easily access fruits, I no longer have to buy onions, eggplants and Sukuma so I’m able to save money for other household expenses and for educating my children. My children are healthy, and they no longer frequently get sick as they used to.”
In her role as a volunteer, Poni shares what she learned with her neighbors, showing them how to plant and help their crops grow.
Rebecca weeds her garden.
rebecca buol makesh
Since COVID-19 hit, humanitarian support has been reduced due to movement restrictions, limited supplies, and funding issues. Rebeca had to find other ways of feeding my children.
“I’m grateful to Action Against Hunger for the seeds that they distributed to us. I have planted many of them as you can see, the fruit trees we planted last year have all matured and my children enjoy eating them.”
Through learning skills through Action Against Hunger’s agriculture training program. She’s been able to grow crops like Sukuma Wiki, passion fruit, pawpaw trees, onions, and sweet potatoes. She has also helped her neighbors set up their own gardens.
Lucy stands inside her mushroom hut.
laker lucy
Laker learned how to cultivate mushrooms in 2019. Her business took off, and her success has inspired many of her neighbors. When COVID-19 hit, the lockdown in Uganda affected her mushroom growing - she could not access the raw materials, particularly the mushroom spawn, needed for production.“
From my mushroom savings, I bought a few vegetable seeds and, with the help from Action Against Hunger staff, we set up nursery beds of onions and Sukuma wiki… My vegetables are doing so well. Together with my children, we set up more nursery beds, I hope to sell the surplus from my harvest and invest more in my mushroom production.”
A member of the Action Against Hunger team helps with a tomato harvest.
about action against hunger
Action Against Hunger is leading a global movement to end hunger in our lifetimes. It reaches 25 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 50 countries, It strives to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.
Special thanks to the Action Against Hunger team in Kiryandongo, who wrote and edited these stories: Nakimuli Jeanie, Deputy Program Manager; Akwang Winfred, Agronomist; and Adyek Kevin, Field Supervisor. Photos by Action Against Hunger.
