Fund a Sustainable School Vegetable Garden

Hello!!!!

Over the past few months, our Sustainable Gardens and Aquaponics project has taken some incredible steps forward in Zimbabwe and it’s all thanks to your ongoing support.

In October, our CEO and volunteers from the Murph Foundation visited us here in Zimbabwe, joining our Africa team for what was truly one of the best weeks we’ve had in years. With their guidance, energy, and expertise, we partnered with Women in Agriculture and a local children’s home to launch hands-on training and revamp existing systems.

Highlights:

• Women’s farming training: We welcomed 16 women eager to start farms to support their families and potentially earn an income. The first session focused on vermicomposting, a natural and free method to improve crop growth essential in Zimbabwe where soil fertility is low and fertilizers are expensive.

• School and children’s home systems: We repaired and upgraded existing Aquaponics and Industrial Vermicomposting systems, enabling children and communities to farm again and access fresh, nutritious food.

• Collaborative strategy sessions: Together with our local schools, children’s homes, Aquaponics team, Women in Agriculture, and our amazingly talented CEO, we developed a sustainable model for empowering women and feeding children. He has some incredible ideas!!!!

Challenges we’re addressing:

1. Systems become unusable when trained staff leave or resources are lacking.

2. Women face difficulties accessing land due to limited opportunities and bureaucratic delays.

3. School feeding programs are struggling.

4. Fertilizer is too expensive and water is scarce.

5. Many women are unregistered at birth, preventing access to government services, education, and banking.

Our Solutions & New Initiatives:

Our CEO, Tyrone Bennett, sat and listened to every issue and with his knowledge of every program around the world brought us together, they say power. in numbers is key and I for one was really. excited with these ideas....

• Birth registration program: Through our Paperless Children program, we support registering children and women, ensuring access to government services for $18 per child. https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/help-paperless-children-in-africa/ 

• Women land ownership: Women in Agriculture works with the government to fast-track land applications for women.

• Women-led farms: We are launching a program to train women and fund their Aquaponics systems, herb gardens, beekeeping, and vermicomposting. A local farming student will assist, and produce will be split: part donated to schools, part generating income for the women, and a percentage returned to the charity for reinvestment. After 2–3 years, systems are recycled to help new women farmers, creating a circular empowerment model.

Global Potential

While this pilot is currently focused in Zimbabwe, we see this as a global approach. If successful, the model can be replicated in Costa Rica and other communities around the world, combining sustainable farming, women’s empowerment, and community nutrition. Zimbabwe is the testing ground, but the lessons and systems we develop here have the potential to impact communities everywhere.

We are actively raising funds to repair existing systems, begin initial women farmer training, and use the Aquaponics systems to kickstart a larger greenhouse for the children’s home. This greenhouse will feed 60 children while generating income to sustain social support programs.

There’s so much happening, and the potential is enormous. We’re incredibly excited to take you along on this journey — together, we can grow healthier crops, empower women, and feed communities not just in Zimbabwe, but across the globe.

Thank you for being part of this transformative work!