2019
THE SONDER PROJECT YEAR–END REVIEW
Our Approach
to Food Security
What makes our Community Farms so
important and unique?
In 2018, The Sonder Project piloted two
community farms in our partner communities
in Burkina Faso to help families increase food
security and generate income. Over the past year,
we’ve focused our attention on developing these
farms and supporting the communities to manage
them effectively. Each farm is led by a community
leadership team made up of at least six men and
six women who oversee the work schedule and
the collaboration of its members. Our local project
manager meets with the leadership team weekly
to ensure accountability and to troubleshoot
challenges as they arise.
In its first year, our farm in Komsnedego has
helped 143 members (supporting over 1,200
people in the community) generate the equivalent
of an additional month’s worth of income for each
member’s family. And there’s potential for far
more progress. We are currently in the process of
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Panama City residents and volunteers from The Sonder Project gather for a
community work day at our community garden.
What people are saying:
increasing the waterflow of our systems, as well
as training the members to increase the efficiency
of the farm. In a country that, over time, has seen
decreasing annual rainfall totals, our partner
communities are a literal oasis in the country.
“The community garden in Panama City relieves
stress for me. In a community recently devastated
by a traumatic hurricane, gardening has the added
benefit of being therapeutic!”
Why Community Gardens?
– Stephanie T., Community Gardener
Food security in the United States is not
guaranteed. Even where food is accessible for low
income families, it often lacks nutrition. Moreover,
too many preservatives and artificial sugars lead
to poor health and obesity.
In addition to supporting food security, all of the
gardeners we surveyed in Panama City have said
the garden makes them feel more connected
to their neighbors. Gardening has also proven
therapeutic to trauma survivors and provides a
space where neighbors can cultivate vegetables
as well as genuine friendships.
Growing one’s own food is the best way to
encourage healthy diets regardless of one’s
socioeconomic status. We also believe the
connection to local communities through our
technology and internet-driven society has
suffered. As a result, we believe establishing
gardens locally will help increase food security and
strengthen community as members experience
life outdoors and work together in a communal
garden setting.
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