But Environment Africa brought hope to her and other members of the community by setting up a vegetable growing project.
“Most of us were hopeless. My husband died and I was left alone to fend for the family,” she said.
Today, the NGO is sustaining many through various projects in other areas including Chikanga, Hobhouse and Dangamvura high density suburbs.
“We are so grateful for this project. We are now able to feed on these vegetables and we also sell them – getting some income to sustain ourselves. Our lives have been transformed,” said Shoko in a recent interview. She leads a group of eight people growing vegetables.
Environment Africa gives hope to the hopeless
“We are there to work with other members of the society,” said Spiwe Tembo, the Environmental Africa Field Officer for Mutare.
She said Environment Africa’s mandate was to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by ensuring environmental sustainability and giving communities knowledge of how to carry out self-sustaining income-generating projects.
“Members are supplied with different kinds of vegetable seeds, mainly traditional vegetables, and educated on better methods of farming.
Tembo said some members also took part in livestock production in Mutare’s high density suburbs.
“We are also into livestock production in Sakubva and Hobhouse and this has improved the standard of living of many people,” she said.
“We have been doing very well on this project and we are selling chickens to various organizations and individuals,” said George Chitere from Hobhouse.
Post published in: Environment