In past blog
entries, I have posted videos of both the Garden of Eden, and the research
station out at Somongue. I have mentioned the nutrition garden, but
have not said very much about it. The nutrition garden is the third major
garden here that CEFA is working with.
The Central
African Republic has a very high malnutrition rate, and since the military
take-over back in March, these already high numbers have doubled in some places!
The Gamboula hospital is one of the only places in the country that has a
program to try to get these kids back to health. Clarise, who is in charge of
the nutrition center, makes special food and porridges daily for the kids.
Since the program is individually funded, it is difficult for her to be able to
buy all the food she needs to keep the kids eating.
The nutrition
garden helps solve this problem by providing vegetables, fruits, and leafy
greens for up to 30 kids, as well as providing nutritious snacks for the kids
between meals.
As an added
benefit, families of these kids can learn about how to grow these plants, how
to prepare them, and can take seeds home with them when their children get
better.
Here is a short
video about the program.
http://youtu.be/wSNX8q32SSA
