Mackelina’s kitchen garden brings nutrition and connection
Before joining a support group…
Mackelina, her husband and their five children rarely consumed vegetables. As for others in their community, a lack of rainfall and poor farming soil contributed to the family’s food insecurity and made nutritious foods, like vegetables, hard to come by.
However, when Mackelina joined the support group that meets in her local Game Community of Isiolo, she received seeds to start a kitchen garden and training on ways to achieve nutritional security for her household.
Spinach growing in Mackelina’s kitchen garden
Mackelina took the training seriously and immediately put what she learned into practice by starting her own kitchen garden. She now grows enough spinach, cucumber, amaranth and watermelon to feed her entire family two weeks out of the month.
Through the support group, she also got the idea of generating income by selling surplus vegetables in the local market.
She told Mbae Leon, Kiunga’s project officer:
“Thanks to Kiunga for opening my eyes to kitchen gardening knowledge and for providing start-up materials. This year, I have easy access to food, especially vegetables, and my family eats rich and varied meals daily.”
Mackelina (red), along with a visiting HIV expert from the Ministry of Health and a fellow support group member, start new plants for her kitchen garden in a gunny bag.
While this is an incredible impact for Mackelina’s family, the benefits of the kitchen gardens don’t just stop there! The activity also strengthens the support groups and even creates meaningful connections with others in the community. Mackelina says, “The kitchen garden has strengthened our friendships and family ties in the villages.”
As we work toward improving the physical and emotional health of people living with HIV/AIDS through education, access to resources and meaningful connections with others, this is the very thing we hope to see -- and it’s possible because of your support.