Project Update: SE Asia Foundation supports the Home Food Garden Project
The Home Food Garden Project has been a great success, with the SE Asia Foundation recently supporting a cohort of 100 low-income families in Pouk district. These families were provided with training, resources, and mentoring to establish food production using their existing land. The project has had a significant impact, as all 100 families successfully completed home garden, health, and budgeting courses, and received packs of seeds, fertilizer, and other farming resources to establish their gardens.
The achievements of the Home Food Garden Project are impressive. Not only did 100% of families increase their knowledge of basic chemical-free farming, health, and the environment, but 50% of families also increased their income by selling their vegetables. Moreover, all 100 families now have access to nutritious vegetables for their personal consumption.
The impact of the project can be seen in the stories of Phea and Heuy, two participants who were able to improve their livelihoods through the Home Food Garden Project. Phea, a 53-year-old with a big family, was selected to join the project and received training, materials, and seeds to establish her garden. She was able to earn around $2 to $3 per day by selling her vegetables, which has helped her family to buy food, medicine, and to spend on important events. Similarly, Heuy, a fifty-year-old with a husband who used to sell ice cream, was able to use her spare land to grow vegetables and sell them to her neighbors. This has helped her family to have access to nutritious food and extra income.
Of course, there were some challenges faced during the project. The rainy season caused some problems, as too much rain and flooding made it difficult for families to grow their vegetables. However, the project team was able to provide guidance to participants on how to select adaptable vegetables and use containers to grow their crops if their lands were underwater. The project also faced the challenge of transport, as families needed to travel to attend workshops and receive their resources. However, the team was able to coordinate with village chiefs to find transport solutions, so that families could participate in the project.
Overall, the Home Food Garden Project has been a tremendous success, thanks to the support of the SE Asia Foundation. The project has provided families with the knowledge, resources, and skills to grow their own food and improve their livelihoods. We would like to express our gratitude to the SE Asia Foundation for their support in making this project possible. We hope to continue our work in empowering communities and improving livelihoods through similar projects in the future.
