For the first time, 14-year-old Karie and her mum didn’t have to worry about where their next meal would come from. They knew exactly where – their very own, flourishing vegetable garden! They even had extras to share with neighbours and to sell for additional income.

“I helped plant the seedlings and I am in charge of watering the plants every day,” said Karie. “It is important to eat vegetables because it keeps our body healthy,” she continues.

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, putting food on the table wasn’t always easy for Karie’s single mum. With the impacts of the pandemic, it would have been impossible if it wasn’t for Karie’s sponsor through the Child Sponsorship Programme.

The mother and daughter duo, along with other households in their community, were provided with a home gardening kit so they could grow their own food long into the future. World Vision also ran training sessions on natural farming techniques using compost and other readily available resources as a long-term strategy to combat food insecurity without them having to rely on expensive fertilisers.

Karie and her mum’s first vegetable garden would become their last day of hunger; their first nutritious meal is the first day Karie has the energy to focus on schoolwork that will open up doors of opportunities.