Herat is on an oasis, and consequently within the city has not suffered too much from drought over the years. However, you do not have to go far from the city to discover areas of need. This project believes that given the right information, and some of the basic materials, women can grow foods in their own garden that will meet the nutritional needs of their families reducing preventable illnesses and helping the family and community to prosper.
Women are given lessons on nutrition and agriculture, including composting and seed harvesting, in groups over a 6 month period. At this time they are also given seeds to plant in the small gardens attached to their homes. These women then use what they need for their families nutritional needs, and harvest the seeds so that they can grow these plants again the following year, bringing continued benefit to these families and this community. It is hoped that the women would pass on this knowledge to their relatives and friends, extending the impact of the project.
The local team of women who give the training have formed good relationships with the communities in which they work, and they monitor the work done, encourage the women, and try to assist in any difficulties that they find. It is hoped that in the future this work will expand to include poorer communities, and we hope to be able to work with women who do not have their own gardens, but need to work outside the homes on land outside the village. This, at this current time is not possible, but we hope that we can increase the impact of this project having learned lessons from the pilot stage. |
