Vegetable Gardens & Internet for Indian Youth

Summary

The Growing Connection trains youth and their communities to grow produce with water-saving, high-yield techniques and connects them to the Internet for info, advice, and communication with peers.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Increases in extreme weather (droughts, rain) has caused farming families in the Indian province of Andhra Pradesh to lose crops and income. Seeds dry up or wash away, leading to cycles of debt, poverty and hunger. Over 5000 farmers committed suicide in 2006, seeing no other way to escape debts. Through TGC, farmers grow nutritious produce in a containerized water-saving system, protecting seeds from the weather, while receiving knowledge and tools for sustainable economical agriculture.

How will this project solve this problem?

Young people grow fresh produce to feed their families and then sell the surplus to break the cycle of debt and hunger. Internet access through TGC connects youth to info, advice, education & financial opportunity, and to their peers around the world

Potential Long Term Impact

This project will give marginalized people (youth, farmers, orphans, the disabled) in Andhra Pradesh the tools and knowledge to grow food through droughts and monsoons, stabilizing income, increasing access to education and economic opportunity.

Project Message

"India's belly is not full. When India's belly is full, India's mountains will be named, her rivers will run clean and her children will be free from poverty."
- Fr. Vijay Mohan Reddy Bakrapet, Community Leader

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources