The 10th of June, our vzw Durable Sustainable Initiatives, Belgium-Kenya (DSIBK), was invited by the board of VGP Foundation to present our projects in Bonde, Kenya. This was a great opportunity to possibly get a donation for one of our projects.
We presented our different projects.
- To provide Bonde with drinkable water.
- To improve agriculture by vocational training of sons and daughters of farmers. We will also involve Bonde residents in this training program.
- To get more children to school.
A few days later, we learned we would receive a large donation for our agricultural education project.
We are hoping to receive money for 5 greenhouses with a rainwater catcher for irrigation, mainly for the gardens of the poorest people in Bonde who have no land to grow vegetables. The donation we asked for also includes a fence around this agricultural unit.
A pilot unit is already built.
This generous donation from the VGP Foundation will help the people of Bonde improve their lives.
- In the 5 greenhouses, seedlings will grow and be provided to the residents of Bonde, first for free. Farmers will pay a small fee for them. Learning to grow seedlings and plant them properly in farmers’ fields and residents’ land is an important part of the education.
- Besides better income for farmers, they also provide the people of Bonde with food they cannot grow themselves.
- The vegetables residents grow on their land will help reduce the food insecurity that affects 70% of Bonde residents for at least 4 months after the dry season. A big win for their health.
- The surplus vegetables they grow can be sold in local markets, which will also improve residents’ incomes.
- The irrigation system, possible through the rainwater catcher, is not only important for freshly planted seedlings, but also essential during the dry periods, even in recent years during the rainy season. In the dry season, it can help to get an extra harvest.