Combating malnutrition in Kakuma Refugee Camp Kenya

Combating malnutrition in Kakuma Refugee Camp Kenya

25 Feb, 2020 | General

In the 2018-19 Permafund micro-grant round an application by Faulu Productions to establish a permaculture food production system in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya was supported with AU$2,000 to help combat malnutrition in the camp.

Faulu Productions is an organisation that consists of refugees, volunteers and supporters from all around the world. Their mission is to promote agriculture and education, to help create a safe, sustainable living for refugees and to empower them to improve their lifestyles.

The project has established a multi-site permaculture system with 200 participants establishing 5 by 10 metre garden plots in their own compounds and contributing to the maintenance of the larger Kakuma community garden and central Turkana permaculture community gardens.

Preparing garden beds for seeds

The gardens are modeled on natural ecosystems combining ecological, engineering and environmental principles. The designs have used integrated natural water resource management systems and sustainable architecture, so the project is self-maintaining, regenerative and an ongoing source of fresh produce and biomass.

Newly planted beds and maturing crops

The objective has been to help the refugees to become self-sufficient. The key component of the plan was water conservation with an investment in water storage (40 water tanks to harvest 2,000 litres). Digging tools and bulk seeds were purchased and watering cans to help prevent splash erosion and the destruction of young seedlings.

Preparing the harvest for sharing

The participating workers have been resourceful collecting mulch materials and manures and contributing earth building skills.

Making mud bricks for house construction

Trees were planted in the gardens for shade, erosion protection and to provide chop and drop material to assist with mulching & soil creation.

With no “qualified” experts inside the camp the participants are using YouTube to learn the practical skills of permaculture, including watching videos by Australian experts including Geoff Lawton and Morag Gamble.

This project is viewed on the ground as 100% sustainable because it has created job opportunities among refugees, improved the quality of the camp’s environment and helped improve community health and well being. More permaculture inspired enterprises and initiatives are being undertaken following this ground-breaking project.

The community appreciates all donations.

The Kakuma Refugee Camp suffers from regular, severe flooding, the most recent being in early February 2020. Houses have been destroyed and belongings and food washed away.

Flood damage to buildings

Continuing permaculture projects not only supply food and hope but also prevent erosion and washaways as trees and plants take root.

Newly planted gardens and maturing crops

Your generous donations to Permafund support this and other permaculture related projects in Australia and overseas and are very much appreciated.

For more information contact the Permafund team at permafund@permacultureaustralia.org.au

 

What does good permaculture aid look like?

5 Jun, 2014 | People in Permaculture

Lessons Learnt Report — Permaculture, Livelihood and Nutrition Project, Sri Lanka

Supported by World Vision 2008-2012.
Report prepared for International Permaculture Conference Cuba 2013 by John McKenzie & Sarah Gorman
Here is a very good read on how permaculture improved livelihood and nutrition of rural householders in Sri Lanka…

Summary

The aim of the Permaculture Project was to improve farm yields for small-holder farmers in rural districts of Sri Lanka. The project promoted mixed crop food gardens and animal raising to improve household nutrition and offer micro-enterprise opportunities. The project was funded for four years and targeted a selected 1156 smallholder households in six different districts.
Participating households received training using adult education techniques such as farm visits, farmer group meetings, training workshops and leader farmer mentoring. Direct benefits were provided; seed, chickens, fruit trees and cement for building sanitation improvements. A small number of cows and goats were supplied to each community as a start-up grant to establish Animal Banks. Each household decided for themselves how they’d implement their improvements and how they’d use the crop yield either for home consumption or for sale.

Findings

The participating households were keen supporters of the project. Near 87 % of households surveyed reported the project had assisted them and they would be continuing the techniques. Many households reported their food gardens were producing all the vegetables they needed plus surplus to share or sell.
In all six project communities the farmers had begun organising themselves and groups were forming around seed saving, animal banks and leader farmers. They spoke about networking with each other to share and increase their effectiveness, about forming local registered organisations and the possibility of forming a national organisation to promote seed saving and food gardens. The training was nominated by the participants as the project’s most useful element.
The evaluation posed the question; “Were they ready for the project to move to another community?” In each of the community meetings held the response was positively that they had the knowledge and enough organisation to continue the work themselves and project staff could move to another district and teach them there.

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