Permaculture training for young people, Uganda

Jinja Uganda, is Uganda’s second largest city; on the one hand it is a prosperous economic hub; on the other, you only have to scratch beneath the surface to see the deep poverty that children on the streets live in. Life on the streets is one of extreme hardship, with constant danger of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. 

We have partnered with S.A.L.V.E. International, an NGO out on the ground who are offering young people on the streets a safe place to stay, whilst supporting them to resettle back into a loving home. At the Halfway Home where the children stay, Exodus Travels Foundation is funding the ‘Growing for the Future’ programme which provides training in sustainable agriculture techniques. 

Lessons cover a wide variety of aspects of permaculture farming such composting, water conservation, soil quality, animal husbandry and how to grow nutritious food at home even within small spaces and slum areas by using sack or container gardening. All of these practices help families increase their food production and combat the impact of climate change. Children who have been on the ‘Growing for the Future programme’ are given a start-up package of seeds and tools once resettled to their families to help them to keep using their skills and become more self-sufficient.
These lessons are shared with their families and their communities, with an emphasis on building up the young people’s self-confidence during the training so that they believe in themselves enough to share their skills.

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