School garden, Kakamega
To ensure long-term food security for schoolchildren in Kakamega, farmland was acquired where food is cultivated, jobs are created, and the sale of surplus produce helps fund the education of disadvantaged children.
Project Background
Orphans are among the weakest members of Kenyan society. They often live on the streets and have to fend for themselves from an early age. The lack of a social system makes it impossible for the children to attend school, as school uniforms and teaching materials are not free in Kenya. Thus, there is usually little hope for a better life for these children and no possibility to escape poverty. The same applies to children from poor families, because their parents often cannot afford to send their children to school. Through free schooling, R.U.S.H. (Reaching the Underprivileged for Self Help) offers these otherwise disadvantaged children a good future. These children are helped through education in a sustainable way, and not in the capital Nairobi, but in Kakamega, a town in the west of Kenya where support from aid organizations is often not as strong as in the capital. However, this project not only offers education for primary and secondary school students, but also offers the older students vocational training in tailoring and carpentry in their own colleges.
Our Impact
To ensure long-term and sustainable food security for schoolchildren, three hectares of land were acquired in the Kakamega region of Kenya. In this school garden, maize, beans, and other agricultural products are now being cultivated, enabling the school to independently supply itself with food. The cultivation of the land has also created jobs in both agriculture and sales. The income generated from selling surplus produce provides a stable foundation to cover the ongoing educational costs for orphans and children from extremely poor families in the region.
