Short description

I personally know what it means to lack nutrients. I aim at establishing a “Fruits and Veggies” pantry in Sembabule to improve micro nutrient access and intake in children and women, as well as empowering them.

The problem I aim to solve

Micro nutrient deficiency, especially for iron and vitamin A deficiency (VAD), is highly prevalent in children and women of Uganda. I would like to tackle vitamin A deficiency because in Uganda, horticulture has grown and there still is room for further growth with surplus harvests of crops like carrots, lettuce, pepper, green leafy vegetables and mangoes. When excess is donated, collected and delivered to the needy, this can help solve VAD.

My solution

Healthy eating does not mean just eating enough, but eating a variety of food including vegetables and fruits. Eating fruits and vegetables rich in micro-nutrients and vitamins is necessary for a healthy body and mind in children and women. Vitamin A is required for embryo development, growth, boosting immunity, iron utilization, gene formation, during lactation, and can be provided by diet rich in proactive vitamin A from plants. The project intends to collect and distribute healthy but unmarketable products. It will handle a wide range of donations of high value fruits and veggies rich in micro-nutrients especially vitamin A, from growers of all farm sizes and deliver them to the needy such as schools and charities. The project will arrange gleaning programs, provide transport and storage facilities that ensure safety and efficient handling and distribution. Use of experts to help pupils and teachers learn to garden through technical assistance, practical skill training, provision of seeds, and seminars to change their mind set. It will also provide nutrition education and recipe demonstrations to women through workshops to improve their cooking habits and food knowledge as well as improving diet quality and micro nutrient intake. This will limit the effects of VAD such as blindness, susceptibility to diseases, stunts and prevent the burden care of malnourished children present to women.