Food Security and Agriculture

Hello dear friends,

Greetings

On behalf of Darfur Women Network (DWN), I would like to express my joy and appreciation for your continued support and donations. Without your support our work would not be possible. Special thanks goes out to GlobalGiving, which provides us with an online avenue to gain partnerships and connections, broaden our exposure, and train our volunteers/board members.

Many of the survivors of Darfur genocide were farmers before fleeing their villages to cross the border into the Touloum refugee camp in Chad. Upon arrival in the camp, they lack the resources to cultivate and grow their own food. The Food World Program only provides them with small portions to feed their whole families. Your donations will help provide these families with the resources to provide enough food to keep everyone fed, and even provide a source of income.

During our End-of-the-Year Campaign, our Food Security & Agriculture project received $360 in donations from our generous supporters. DWN has volunteers who are eager and ready to raise awareness about the hungry refugees in these camps and help provide them with the means and resources to begin growing their own food and provide an income-generating operation.

A decision was made to begin this project before the rain falls in June, generally when planting takes place. Asida is the main dish for the refugees, which is a plain dough made from sorghum, dried meat, and okra and doesn’t require farming. In order to provide families with a change in their main dish, we purchased two Spaghetti Machines so the refugees can make spaghetti for their children.  This will allow them to eat something other than Asida until the harvest, which is generally in October. A DWN representative is leaving for Chad in February to secure the land rental that is necessary to kick off this project.

Thank you

 Dear friends, 

I am so glad to share with you our update repost. first, let me thank you for your generous donation and support that allows us to serve the survivors of Darfur genocide in their refugees camp,Touloum , Chad. 

DarfurWomen Network (DWN) is a 501c3 tax exempt, US based, Darfurian-led non-prot organization, whose mission is dedicated to working collectively with immigrants and survivors of genocide from Darfur in refugee camps to determine their needs and work together to fulll their needs for recovery and transformation, based on the principle of education, awareness, and economic empowerment. Together we CAN make a difference!

The Darfur refugees in Chad were farmers before they ed Sudan in 2003.They are depending on theWorld Food Program for food, which hardly

covers their need. Rations are low because the food distribution from theWorld Food Program used

to feed 4 people. Now it has to feed 12 people. Malnutrition is a tragic epidemic among children

that live in the camp due to them being located in the desert.

During my visit to theTouloum refugee camp, I witnessed numerous children with malnutrition.The food that is distributed within the camp is sorghum, lentils, and oil, with the absence of any income generating sources in the camp. It is hard to find something to purchase in their market. I went to the market in the camp, and I found very few commodities.What commodities I did nd were outrageously priced.  For example, there was only one display selling goat meat. I experienced hunger eating the sameAsida (made from the sorghum) as the refugees because they have no other choice.As a result, we call on you for your urgent assistance to establish small-scale farming and home gardening projects to allow these refugees to produce their own food.The project will provide over 1,000 refugee families with rented land, seeds, equipment, and the investment to grow their own food and to empower themselves.

Farming and cultivating their own crops is a powerful mission to transfer the refugees from hunger and dependency to self-sufficiency.

• We have already transferred some refugees to one of our ongoing projects, Safe Stoves for Darfur Mothers, an economic empowerment project that started early in 2014.
• Chadian authority supports and encourages agriculture sector to connect with the local people to raise their awareness about the benet of sharing or renting their land to the refugees from Darfur.

Together we will make a difference!