Gardens Give Hope, Health, and Income in E. Africa

Thanks to supporters like you, we are supporting 10 organizations throughout East Africa to bolster food security and climate resilience for families facing extreme hunger. This year, we launched our first program in Somalia, with local partner Kaalmo Relief and Development (Kaalmo).

Why Somalia? In Somalia, the situation is particularly dire. The country is experiencing its worst drought in decades, and over 6 million people are facing acute food insecurity. Because of the lack of government infrastructure, it is particularly difficult to get aid dollars into the hands of local organizations doing the good work of uplifting their communities. Our work with Kaalmo is one small step in getting resources into the hands of those that need it most.

Kaalmo’s support of farming initiatives in the Dawa River Basin in Somalia is a valuable contribution to the fight against food insecurity in the region. By helping communities to cultivate climate resilience, Kaalmo is helping to ensure that they will have access to food even in the face of erratic weather patterns.

The Dawa River Basin is an important agricultural region in Somalia. However, it is also a region that is highly vulnerable to climate change. Erratic weather patterns, such as droughts and floods, are becoming more common in the region, and these events are making it difficult for farmers to produce enough food to feed their families.

Kaalmo's farming initiatives in the Dawa River Basin are designed to help farmers adapt to the challenges of climate change. These initiatives include:

• Helping farmers to build water irrigation and management systems. These systems direct rainwater in a way that allows for better irrigation of crops during dry periods, and protects crops during times of flash flooding.
• Helping farmers to plant drought-resistant crops with specified vegetable seeds. These crops are less likely to fail during a drought, and they can still produce a harvest even when there is little rainfall.
• Providing farmers with training on climate-smart agricultural practices. These practices help to reduce the impact of climate change on crops and livestock.

Kaalmo's farming initiatives are making a real difference in the lives of farmers in the Dawa River Basin. By helping farmers to adapt to climate change, Kaalmo is helping them to produce more food and feed their families. This year, we are working with 370 farmers and their families, impacting over 2,200 people. 

Here are some ways that you can support Kaalmo Relief Development's work in Somalia:

• Become a monthly, recurring donor to this GlobalGiving page
• Share this GlobalGiving with 5 friends, urging them to give $5 or $25 a month to support these life-saving food security programs
• Reach out to us directly at getinvolved@seedprograms.org to organize your own event to raise awareness or money for the cause!

As always, thank you for your immense generosity. We couldn't do this work without you, and we are proud that you've entrusted us with your donor dollars to make a real impact in farming communities around the world.