How did the anonymous donor come about?
Mary D. Steiner, Director:
Recently, I answered the phone at my desk. A man asked me if there were any projects that we wish we could fund if we had $25,000 to match. He and his wife heard about Give Us Wings a couple of years ago and have wanted to help. They recently inherited some money and, even though his wife is very seriously ill, they have decided to give it away. They want to remain anonymous and they want the money to be used to change lives for the long term. The donors are giving the money as a match plus. If we can match $25,000, they will give us $30,000!
How did Give Us Wings choose the project?
Mary Steiner:
Immediately, I knew which project was a fit. A project to bring comprehensive organic farming training to the people of Nyaoga, Kenya.
Why Nyaoga? On Lake Victoria is Nyaoga, a beautiful place where most people own a little land. Through the people's hard work and your generosity over the past eight years, the people built and this year opened a clinic that they operate. Together, we completed a project that brings clean water to over 15,000 people.
But the people are still hungry. The land is depleted. People have few tools or the knowledge to make the most out of the land. People grow only maize and beans and a few greens because those are the crops they believe will keep them from starving. No fruits and very few vegetables grow in Nyaoga.
Malnutrition and AIDS are rampant. The clinic and water will bring more health, education, counseling, and antiviral drugs. But without adequate nutrition, people with or without AIDS are dying too young and too often.
Spend a night in Nyaoga and you will hear the wailing of another family preparing to bury a loved one. Many deaths are related to malnutrition.
Now, with the generous gift of $30,000 and your generous matching $25,000 dollars we can help put in place one of the final transformational, sustainable pieces-- food.
How will the money be spent?
For about $500 a family, we can provide a one year training in organic subsistence and commercial farming training and the tools, trees, and seeds needed to get started for 101 families.
Each family will receive organic farming training including subsistence and commercial farming, animal husbandry, crop diversification, nutrition and business training for 101 families in Nyaoga. Included in the training: tools, seeds, fruit trees, chicks, and goats to get started.
Have you done this type of training before? Does it really work?
Yes and yes!
In these days of world food shortages, being able to provide food is essential. We have done organic farming training in other areas. We have seen the results firsthand:
- Production triples
- Nutrition in the food increases
- The land is organically replenished
- Health and energy levels improve and so does the economy.
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