Help Women in a Small West African Village
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Background:
From December 2017 to September 2019, I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in an obscured village in Senegal, West Africa name Koar Projet. I was shocked to learn households in Koar Projet experience “starvation season”; a period in which people typically run out of food and adults may go days with insufficient calorie intake. The rest of the year, they experience moderate food insecurity with individuals facing uncertainties about their ability to obtain food and having to compromise on quantity and quality. Diet staples include rice, corn, and peanuts with limited availability and access to fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat.
Garden Establishment:
Working with 150 women and their selected Gender Champion, we applied and received a grant through Peace Corps to establish a women's garden that covers over 5 acres. The garden was completed towards the end of my service and has been an invaluable resource to the community; it provides both fresh vegetables and a source of income for the women.
Problems:
This raining season, the community has faced a lot of challenges with the garden. First, heavy winds knocked down and consequently damaged one of the solar panels, and now, over 40 meters of the fence was pushed down by floodwater. Displaying ownership of their space, the women pulled together money from accumulated profits to purchase and install a new solar panel.
However, their savings is not enough to fix the wall. Without the wall, livestock (goats, sheep, and cows) will enter the space and consume and/or trample the crops.
The video link is a part of a playlist of 5 videos showcasing the fallen wall as well as current crops such as cassava, eggplant etc.
Plead: On behalf of the women of Koar, I am seeking to raise $600 to fund the reconstruction of the wall. Any help you can give will be appreciated. When we reach our goal or at the end of September, I will post a MoneyGram receipt showing the transfer of money to Senegal, West Africa.
Thank you for your support!
From December 2017 to September 2019, I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in an obscured village in Senegal, West Africa name Koar Projet. I was shocked to learn households in Koar Projet experience “starvation season”; a period in which people typically run out of food and adults may go days with insufficient calorie intake. The rest of the year, they experience moderate food insecurity with individuals facing uncertainties about their ability to obtain food and having to compromise on quantity and quality. Diet staples include rice, corn, and peanuts with limited availability and access to fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat.
Garden Establishment:
Working with 150 women and their selected Gender Champion, we applied and received a grant through Peace Corps to establish a women's garden that covers over 5 acres. The garden was completed towards the end of my service and has been an invaluable resource to the community; it provides both fresh vegetables and a source of income for the women.
Problems:
This raining season, the community has faced a lot of challenges with the garden. First, heavy winds knocked down and consequently damaged one of the solar panels, and now, over 40 meters of the fence was pushed down by floodwater. Displaying ownership of their space, the women pulled together money from accumulated profits to purchase and install a new solar panel.
However, their savings is not enough to fix the wall. Without the wall, livestock (goats, sheep, and cows) will enter the space and consume and/or trample the crops.
The video link is a part of a playlist of 5 videos showcasing the fallen wall as well as current crops such as cassava, eggplant etc.
Plead: On behalf of the women of Koar, I am seeking to raise $600 to fund the reconstruction of the wall. Any help you can give will be appreciated. When we reach our goal or at the end of September, I will post a MoneyGram receipt showing the transfer of money to Senegal, West Africa.
Thank you for your support!
Organizer
Cherish Wanter
Organizer
Calkins, OR