About the Community
Location: Nyamasheke, Rwanda
Trainer: Laurent Wilson Nsabimana
Previous Circumstances
Of all the districts in Rwanda, Nyamasheke has the highest levels of malnutrition, as reported by the Health Ministry. The community has long struggled with poverty and water scarcity, creating significant challenges for its residents. In some areas, there is also frequent crime, drug abuse, and domestic violence. Much of this a result of the trauma of the 1994 Rwanda genocide.
The Permagardens Story
In November of 2023, Laurent Wilson Nsabimana learned about permagardens from Nancy Strachan and began training his community. They soon formed a group called the Sowers of Peace, which focuses on permagarden trainings and other avenues of community support. So in December of that year, when two thieves stole vegetables from two families’ gardens, the community was already prepared with a marvelous solution.
Instead of allowing the thieves to be jailed without food, Nancy Strachan and the Sowers of Peace decided to ask the authorities to release them so they could teach the former thieves how to build a permagarden: this would ensure the former thieves’ ability to grow their own food, addressing the root cause of their actions. One of them, Ngirinshuti, embraced Uwamariya, the woman who forgave him, and together they created what they called their Reconciliation Garden. They tend to it daily, discussing solutions to hunger and other community hardships.
The Sowers of Peace continued to thrive. Nancy Strachan had begun funding them when they first formed, but they soon became independent and were able to financially sustain themselves, despite their region being so impoverished. When The Permagardens Foundation formed in summer of 2024, we offered to help facilitate their efforts. One of the main ways they use permagardens is by feeding the vegetables to malnourished children sent to them by the Health Center, and teaching those children’s parents how to build permagardens. We have been funding only the permagardens projects of their group— they have several other important projects! For instance, they resolve family disputes and domestic violence, address problems like substance abuse and unplanned births, and maintain a savings and loan group.
A Note from Laurent (May 2025)
“We took 66 children off the street and found families to take care of them… We gave them clothes, shoes, we pay health insurance for them, and we are feeding them twice a month. All the vegetables we serve them are harvested from the permagardens that we taught and are still teaching our people.
Community in Action
