Gender Equality Guatemala Project #18717

Seeds and Skills for Women to Grow Vegetables

by Seed Programs International

Summary

We provide vegetable seeds and support to women in agriculture! Women farmers produce more than half the developing world's food, yet own less than 2% of land and receive little support - such as seeds, tools, and knowledge. We join with women's gardening efforts in the most impoverished countries worldwide including Madagascar, Guatemala, Liberia, and Kenya. By providing top-quality vegetable seeds and locally-driven support, women can access a path to empowerment, income, and nutrition.

$175,000
total goal

$52,237
remaining

1,573
donors

6
monthly donors

4
fundraisers

8
years

Challenge

"The persistence of hunger this decade is unacceptable morally and socially," said John Kennedy in 1963. Still, over 3 million children under age 5 die of malnutrition and 144 million are affected by stunting each year. World-wide over 700 million people live in poverty and 690 million are undernourished. Women are best positioned to create change and save lives. Most women farmers grow staple crops like maize and cassava, which fill bellies but don't give nutrients to grow healthy bodies,

Solution

If women had the same access to quality seeds, tools, and training as men, increased food production in 34 developing countries would lead to 150 million fewer hungry people (UN). GlobalGiving donors have provided well over 100,000 seed packets - enough to grow over 330 tons of food where it is needed most. With your help, we've already reached several project goals - thank you! Our new goal will allow us to fund women-run vegetable production projects through 2023.

Long-Term Impact

Seeds and knowledge have this in common: neither is a one-time, consumable resource. Both can be multiplied and passed to others. SPI partnerships help move populations to locally-driven solutions. For example, women can start small seed or produce businesses to sell food goods at market in their towns or cities. Women empowered with knowledge and resources for agriculture, marketing, and nutrition can lead their communities in ending hunger and poverty.