Organic Gardens
Organic Gardens
Food shortages and the rising costs of basic nutritional needs have been growing across the world. Asia America Initiative, One World Institute and our Philippine-based local partner organizations have entered communities in all regions of the island archipelago. We provide seeds and train local farmers and malnourished families to grow food using organic methods. Together, we host on-site and on-line events to educate people from all walks of life on nutrition and hygiene. We also provide books and school supplies for the children and adult supplemental education programs. Our goal is to create national model programs that can be replicated globally. Currently, we have a half-million organic gardeners of all ages enrolled in our programs in a variety of communities across the 7,000 Philippine islands.
What began in 2022 as typhoon relief work in these areas following the Covid pandemic has blossomed into a larger, more sustainable peace and public health program. It became apparent that many communities were looking for ways to grow their own food in order to offset high food costs. The added benefit is they are now growing quality fruits and vegetables without chemicals. "We are helping the growers by providing information and online resources as well as hosting workshops on how to do it "the organic way," says our key partner Dr. Yolanda Stern.
Our in-person and on-line training events are well attended and we also host community meals in rural villages to encourage participation in our model program of community and school feedings supplemented by organic gardens of all sizes. We see mountain village communities accepting new practices with enthusiasm. We are thrilled to report that in the past 12 months, 450,000 people have joined this widespread collective to become new or better gardening centers to support economic growth and families' nutrition.
With your help, we are supporting communities to overcome extreme poverty and communal violence through integrated literacy, livelihood skills, and health support. Before the pandemic, we created a social media network for educators of all faiths to share new skills, hopes, and dreams. Mothers and fathers of pupils assist teachers to cook daily meals at school. We have provided thousands of books, school supplies, garden tools, and fresh water systems. We are pleased to donate more seeds, organic fertilizer and tools to expand our programs into many new areas in the Philippines and across the Asia-Pacific region.
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