Zaina is a resident of Jinja district in Eastern Uganda. She is one of the women supported under the 100% Homegrown project to set up a kitchen garden to grow food and earn an income. The 100% Homegrown project was funded by the UK government, through the UK Aid Match fund.
Starting Kitchen gardening.
“I was introduced to kitchen gardening through one of my colleagues with a disability called Sylvia during one of our women group meetings. She explained to us how it works and that it would help us earn some money to support our families. I decided to join, and as of now, I’m happy to say that it has completely changed my wellbeing.
“After the training from Sylvia, I was given seeds, a watering can, and a hoe. This inspired me to start growing my vegetables immediately.”
“Previously, I wasn’t engaged in any kind of business, so I had no source of income. I depended on my husband to provide for the family entirely.
“At some point, my family didn’t have anything to eat. I started growing vegetables, this is no longer an issue for my family.”
Disability justice activists at the forefront.
“I appreciate that a fellow person with disability trained us on kitchen gardening. Sylvia being a person with disability too, best understood the right approach to training, and the challenges we as people with disability face, and the right solutions needed.
“After training, I had the opportunity to decide what vegetables to grow, and how to run my garden project. This gave me the chance to get even more creative and do what works and what I felt was right. This has helped me get good yields from the garden.”
Impact.
“I sell some of the vegetables to members in my community and get money which I save with a local women’s saving group. From the group savings, I have been able to purchase two goats. These reproduced, I sold them and now bought two cows.
“I don’t have to buy manure for my vegetable garden, I get it from cow dung and urine from the cows I acquired.”
“My home has changed for the better financially and in terms of diet. I am no longer spending money to buy vegetables. I instead get them from my kitchen garden.
“I sell some vegetables to members of the community. They come to my home to purchase vegetables, and this has boosted my income.
“My confidence and self-esteem skills have been boosted since I started growing my own vegetables. I can speak among crowds or even to people in my neighbourhood to teach them about kitchen gardening and what I have learnt so far.
“The women’s savings group has a weekly meeting at my home. I have the opportunity to also teach them my skills and knowledge in gardening. They also support me by buying vegetables whenever we hold our meetings. I also sell seedlings to those who have an interest in starting their kitchen gardens. I am proud that I have extended my expertise to other people in my community.
“Before, I had very little knowledge about gardening, but I have learnt a lot. I have even learnt marketing skills and can now market my vegetables to people in my community.”
“At the training, we were taught to record every sale we make to track income and expenditure. This has helped me learn and understand bookkeeping which has helped my business grow.
“I have a plan to expand my kitchen garden and even add more different kinds of vegetables.
“I encourage fellow people with disabilities not to feel hopeless and to utilise any good opportunity that comes their way for growth and development.”
This project was funded by the UK government, through the UK Aid Match fund.
FIND OUT MORE
100 % HOMEGROWN PROJECT
Many older disability activists have proven the multiple benefits of a kitchen garden, including cultivating their self-esteem and independence. They are now determined and inspired to share their personal experiences with a younger generation.
FAZIRA’S STORY
Fazira is a disability activist in Jinja, Uganda. She has a small kitchen garden that she has adapted to her requirements and grows food for her family, dependents and even her neighbours.