A three-year project, Food Empowerment of Kenyan Farm Women, is being launched by the Rotary Club of Charlottetown Royalty and Farmers Helping Farmers.
The project will help women in Nkubu, Kenya become self-sustaining through the purchase of gardening tools and water storage tanks, as well as training in the growing of vegetable crops for use and sale. The project has the financing in place and work will start soon. Rotary club member Winston Johnston, a lifetime achievement member of Farmers Helping Farmers, spent three years getting this project started and approved.
The project has been made possible through a Rotary International Global Grant, which means Rotarians around the world are supporting the initiative. The Rotary Clubs of Charlottetown Royalty, Hillsborough, Summerside, Kentville, Wolfville-Mudcreek, Rotary District of 7820 and Rotary International are all contributing to the $87,900 project.
Managed by the Rotary Club of Nkubu, Kenya, the project has evolved from an earlier Rotary project.
"The previous district project was very successful with significant enthusiasm shown by the Kenyan farm women," says Johnston.
Farmers Helping Farmers will provide resources and technical expertise, primarily with their experienced trainers already in Kenya. The goal is to empower women in Kenya for economic gain to be able to sell food surplus to fulfil daily needs and to pay school fees to educate their children. The women farmers will be active participants of the project by taking part in all aspects of the work.
At a glance:
The public is invited to support the work of Farmers Helping Farmers in Kenya by attending the annual Beef Barbecue at the Harrington Research Station on Saturday, 4-6 p.m.
For more details, visit Farmershelpingfarmers.ca.
