Growing lasting good health

We partnered with Verena and her family when her children were diagnosed with malnutrition. She is a single mother of three children and we met her at one of our health clinic partners when her youngest child was diagnosed with malnutrition. We provided Verena with seeds for fruits and vegetables and two chickens for raising eggs. With the help of Gardens for Health agricultural staff, Verena is now growing orange sweet potatoes, beets, amaranth, peanuts, cassava leaves, avocadoes and passion fruit. Venera also participated in health education sessions led by Gardens for Health community educators on topics related to the physical causes of malnutrition, like hygiene and making balanced meals, as well as the social determinants of malnutrition, like gender-based violence and family planning.

Over the past three months, her young child, pictured here, has gained two kilograms, and moved away from a diagnosis of severe acute malnutrition to moderate malnutrition. His oedema, a result of the swelling due lack of nutrients, has significantly reduced, as well as his hair color has changed from light brown (another sign of malnutrition) to black. Verena is working hard to make him, and all her children, healthy.

The solution to malnutrition starts in the field of Verena and in her home. Her commitment, coupled with your generosity and the right resources and education, is truly building healthy lives and lasting change.

Thank you.