Adopt A Garden is an initiative which aims at making orphanages in Cameroon food secured by assisting them with the resources needed to grow their own vegetables and be self-sustainable. Our goal is to achieve zero hunger in orphanages in Cameroon.
According to UNICEF 2012 report, Cameroon reported 13000 children orphaned by multiple causes such as HIV/AIDS, poverty, conflict just to name a few. Although much progress has been made since the introduction of the Millennium Development goals, orphaned children are still exposed to challenges such as hunger, child trafficking, poverty, and recruitment by violence extremism groups, limited access to education and medical care. Orphanages in Cameroon are highly reliant on grants and donation from individuals which are common during festive seasons, with no clear model for sustainability and in the end tend to struggle with basic needs such as food once the donations dry out.
Recognizing that in early childhood, adequate nutrition is necessary for healthy growth, proper organ formation and function, a strong immune system, and neurological and cognitive development, it is imperative to worry about the wellbeing of the thousands of children housed in orphanages around the country, who dream and aspire to have a better future. It is for this reason the Adopt A Garden was created.
Every year, we identity orphanages with the challenge to feed the children. We collaborate with the orphanage and the children to grow indigenous vegetables in their yard, to be monitored and managed by the children, our agents and an expert till the time of harvest.
Well-nourished children can learn new skills, think critically and contribute to their communities.
Adopt a Garden is expected to work with 10 orphanages in Cameroon through a period of 5years. It is estimated that each orphanage houses approximately 25 children therefore in a period of 5years we must have secured food for at-least 250 children housed in 10 orphanages in the North West and South West Regions. These children aged 0-17 years of age are at a period where adequate nutrition is needed for the proper growth and functioning of their systems.
Whilst we recognize the physical mental and health impairments of the lack of adequate food, it is worth noting that the lack of food has social consequences as well. For example, hungry children are more vulnerable to child labor such as child slavery, prostitution or recruitment as child soldiers into violence extremist groups. Hunger also affects a childβs education as it deprives them of their physical and mental strength to attend school.
During the 3rd edition of the Adopt A Garden project, we are calling on volunteers (individuals, associations, groups) who would like to partake in this activity to contact us in order to know more about the modalities of this project.
