Stronger Children

Circumstances

• A three-year drought has severely impacted food availability.
• Many children were collapsing on the roadside on their way to school due to hunger.
• High unemployment rates have strained family resources.
• Kenya has become a dumping site for GMO seeds, leading to a loss of indigenous plants in favor of invasive ones.

Positive Changes

Since the initiation of permagardens in October 2024, Isaac Atsiaya Lihanda’s trainees reported zero cases of children collapsing due to hunger. Here are some inspiring testimonials from participants:

• Messalimu Saidi: A widow with seven children: “It has been tough since my husband passed away and the drought erupted—we had been spending some days hungry, but since I learned the new method of permagardens, we have enough food to eat.”
• Mwanamkasi Tege: A widow with nine children: “Finally, I am having enough food for my children, and I sell surplus, which has supported two of my kids to go back to school. Thank you very much for this project.”
• Binti Abdallah: Mother of five and a third wife: “My husband is unemployed with three wives and doesn’t care. Through The Permagardens Foundation, I can feed my family and provide for some basic needs.”
• Majuma Rashedi: Mother of four: “My husband is married to four women, and we have been undergoing tough times, especially regarding feeding. Since I started my permagarden, my kids no longer sleep hungry.”
• Beatrice Ngedzo: Mother of four: “I am happy as through permagardening I am now preparing lunch for my kids.”
• Mwana Harusi Chigamba: Mother of six and second wife: “I used to go around asking people for help to get food, but since I started permagarden farming, I am no longer asking for help; I have my own food from my garden.”

Community in Action