Fund a Sustainable School Vegetable Garden

Dear Supporters,

The shade house initiative is aimed at promoting food security and self-efficiency among residents of rural areas within the region. The shade houses also offer the community the opportunity to generate additional income.

Another area that we have been working on is to introduce shade houses into the local community .The overall objective is to implement the shade house initiative which is aimed at promoting food security and self- efficiency among residents of rural areas. 

 In Fiji’s rural communities, people consume enough quantities of starchy staple foods like potatoes, cassava, taro, rice but insufficient quantities of protein, oils, dairy, fruits and vegetables that make up a balanced diet. We all know it is important to eat a healthy, balanced diet but when the nearest supermarket is an hour and 30 minutes away by bus, access to fresh fruit and vegetables isn’t easy. These plants are often less resilient than the crops traditionally farmed in the areas and require shade and protection from pests in order to grow successfully.

The shade house initiative aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Zero Hunger :2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality. Goal 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.

Covid 19 has caused the world to rethink how we live our lives and here in Fiji they are experiencing many issues related to the pandemic. One area is unemployment - there is a high rate of unemployment and many of the community members who worked in the cities and large towns have returned to their villages, seeking a way to make a living. 

The shade house initiative is aimed at promoting food security and self-efficiency among the youth of Silana village. (18 -30 years old). Part of the objective is to increase the knowledge of community members that will help them to build their business. Four community members attended a Basic Management and Nursery Techniques workshop at the University of South Pacific (USP). The community members learn new skills to aid them and several contacts who have similar businesses up and running successfully and are willing to help with any concerns or obstacles that may arise.      

The shade house initiative is aimed at promoting food security and self-efficiency among the youth of Silana village. The majority (57%) of Fiji’s population are under the age of 30, youth and young adults represent a critical mass of Fiji’s current and future population, and ultimately its success and growth as a nation. Implementing an income generating project aimed at growing vegetables helps the youth to build a business which can offer the opportunities to live and develop healthy and productive lives. The next stage is complete construction of 2 large shade houses and a nursery .

Thank you for your support and will keep you updated with the progress.       

With Gratitude,

Fiji Kitchen Garden

Dear Supporterrs,

The overall objective is to implement a kitchen garden at Navunisea Primary school which will be run by the mother’s group. The aim of the “School Canteen Project” is to ensure that the students receive a nutritional meal at lunch time, plus to educate and capacity train the mothers club who are responsible for all lunch time meals on school days on nurturing seeds, planting sustainably, fertilizing, and maintaining the vegetable plot. During the implementation of this project we have had the opportunity to speak to many parents who expressed an interest in the shade house for their own communities .

We all know it is important to eat a healthy, balanced diet but when the nearest supermarket is an hour and 30 minutes away by bus, access to fresh fruit and vegetables isn’t easy. These plants are often less resilient than the crops traditionally farmed in the areas and require shade and protection from pests in order to grow successfully.

Working towards UN Sustainable Development Goal 2, Zero Hunger, GVI and the village of Silana are organising a fundraising event on the 28th November to provide shade houses to 15 villages across the Districts of Dawasamu and Bureiwai. The shade house initiative is aimed at promoting food security and self-efficiency among residents of rural areas within the region. The shade houses also offer the community the opportunity to generate additional income should surplice crops be grown.

Funds raised will go towards purchasing the timber, PVC pipes and netting required to build the shade houses. GVI will then work with the communities to decide the best locations, construct the shade houses and offer advice and support on how to grow the plants through working closely with the ministry of Agriculture who support local community initiative which benefit the communities health and wellbeing . We finish constructing one shade house in the community of Driti , we will keep you updated with the progress.

There is nothing better than empowering people to make a difference in their own lives, and that is exactly what we are aiming to do. We thank you for your support in helping families and communities provide themselves with healthy meals.

With Gratitude,

Dawasmau Kitchen Garden