May 2022 – With the High Diversity Gardening project, participants are trained in smart and sustainable vegetable gardening in their own garden. Furthermore, participants learn how healthy food contributes to a healthy body. They also receive tips on how to improve their financial situation, for example, by selling surplus on the market. The project has about 200 participants this year.

Sadia was one of our 2020 contestants. She has four children under the age of 18. She tells her story: “Before I took part in the project, I didn’t know how to garden and how to cook healthy food. For example, I didn’t know how to cook spinach and I didn’t know how it is beneficial for our health or our body. I always only thought of meat, rice and fatty foods as food. But now I understand that vegetables reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, prevent some types of cancer, lower the risk of eye and digestive problems, and have a positive effect on blood sugar levels, which can help you have a healthy appetite.

After we were given resources and seeds of vegetables, and we were trained how to grow vegetables, our lives changed a lot. The guidance makes me a strong woman and I work in my own garden where my children and I use the vegetables. I remember the days when I didn’t have money to buy books and notebooks for my children, but I sell some extra vegetables to give these things to my children. Now that we eat more vegetables, my children are healthier and stronger than before, they can remember their lessons better and their skin becomes clearer too. Many thanks to the Village of Peace team who are working to increase women’s knowledge and fight malnutrition and anemia in families.”