HYDROPONIC GARDENS
ARE CHANGING LIVES IN
NAIROBI , KENYA
by Stephanie Matlock Allen
One very special garden project you should know about is Awesome Blossoms in Kenya . The program is supporting the installation of hydroponic farms at several schools in the slums of Nairobi . It provides training and incomes to the women who tend the crops and fresh vegetables for the schoolchildren .
The American Women ’ s Club of Hamburg and other FAWCO clubs are currently raising funds to support Awesome Blossoms . This innovative idea was chosen as the current “ Target Project : Environment ” beneficiary . The AWCH has so far donated $ 3,488 toward Awesome Blossoms .
And it ’ s so deserving ! The garden endeavor is part of Safe Spaces , a community outreach center founded by Peninah Nthenya Musyimi in the slums of Nairobi . Peninah is a charismatic and ambitious leader who has been working hard to improve the lives of women and girls . Over the past fifteen years , her program has empowered 1,200 girls through academics , sports , arts , and health guidance . They have become advocates for themselves and for their villages .
Awesome Blossoms ’ s hydroponic gardens are another way to provide skills , education , incomes , environmental improvements , and healthy lifestyles to the women and children of Nairobi . The compact gardens use a unique vertical water-based growing system that is incredibly efficient and productive . Each school farm includes 500 hydroponic gardens .
In June , the first donation of FAWCO funds was used to install a hydroponic farm at Our Lady of Mercy Shauri Moyo , which serves 950 young girls . Safe Spaces is training seventy-five female entrepreneurs to manage the farm and sell the crops . The FAWCO funds will support upcoming farm installations at two more schools . Their first school-based hydroponic farm was installed in 2019 and has been a successful model .
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