Dear Friends, Although 2020 has been a destabilizing year on so many levels, it has also helped us put things into perspective. For us at GHI, it has been a reminder of the value, privilege, and honor of having a network of supporters like you, and the importance and urgency of meeting the nutritional needs of children and communities. There’s an African proverb that goes, “The wind doesn’t break a tree that bends.” Throughout this challenging period, we have all done our fair share of bending. But with your help, we’ve held on to our core values, readapted our program, and bent closer to reach the growing number of those in need. Our interventions this year included immediate COVID-19 support to partner health clinics and community health workers, essential direct food aid to families most in need, and a readapted Maternal Nutrition Program. At GHI, we organized community-wide nutrition counseling, screened children for malnutrition, and formed partnerships. All together, we reached more than 100,000 people across Rwanda. I commend our entire team, whose grit made everything possible!
SOLOMON MAKUZA Executive Director Gardens for Health International
We’ve learned resiliency, and above and beyond, we have ensured that we come out of this period with an improved organization and stronger spirit. We believe that our three-year priorities to uphold adaptation, learning, strengthening partnerships, integration, and commitment to local leadership will serve as a guiding star in advancing our mission in the coming years. As we look to the months ahead, we take courage and strength in the validity and relevance of our mission and our broader community’s spirit, support, and trust to meet the moment’s challenges and opportunities. We are committed to promoting and preserving maternal and child nutrition together. Thank you for joining us in the fight against child malnutrition. With love, gratitude, and vegetables always,
Solomon
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CONTENTS LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR
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OUR MISSION & MODEL
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COVID-19 RESPONSE
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OUR CORE PROGRAMS
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OUR PARTNERS
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CELEBRATING VIRTUALLY
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OUR IMPACT
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STORIES FROM THE FIELD
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LOOKING FORWARD: STRATEGIC PLAN
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THANK YOU
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FINANCES
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Photo: New mother Rachel and 1-week old baby Ian attend a GHI training at Rubungo Health Clinic when bringing Ian for vaccinations. 3
THE PROBLEM The majority of the world’s poor are farmers, yet millions are malnourished. In Rwanda, the disconnect between agriculture and nutrition is striking: 72% of families grow food for a living, yet 33% of young children are chronically malnourished. This simple concept, that food alone does not equal good nutrition, is at the heart of our mission. THE SOLUTION To tackle the root causes of malnutrition, we equip families with seeds, skills, and knowledge to create vegetable gardens, prepare balanced meals, and keep children healthy. Transformative impact is possible by investing in the nutrition of mothers and young children, because well-nourished children get sick less often, perform better in school, and are more likely to escape poverty.
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ABOUT US Our roots are in Rwanda. Since 2009, Gardens for Health International has worked hand-in-hand with local communities to end malnutrition. Our innovative curriculum on agriculture, nutrition, and health topics was designed in partnership with local mothers; our trainings are led by talented educators who come directly from the communities they serve; and our dedicated staff is 96% Rwandan. We believe in changing systems, not treating symptoms. Integrating agriculture and nutrition into the health system is the only sustainable solution to effectively treat and prevent malnutrition. We work in close partnership with the Government of Rwanda by teaming up with community health workers, delivering trainings at local health clinics, and advising policy.
AGRICULTURE: Farming for life, not just a living The long-term cure for chronic malnutrition isn’t found at a health clinic, but it can be grown in one’s own backyard. We partner with malnourished families to enable them to plant home gardens full of diverse vegetables so they have a lasting source of nutrition. We provide seeds and hands-on trainings in skills like composting, creating pesticides, and other techniques to maximize crop yields using the limited resources already available to families in rural Rwanda. NUTRITION: Knowledge is the key to change For parents to provide their families with nutritious foods, they must first understand what nutrition is. We teach parents essential knowledge like the benefits of a healthy diet, what makes a balanced meal, and breastfeeding best practices. Our innovative One Pot One Hour lesson demonstrates how to cook a healthy meal with limited time and resources, so that every mother can provide her children with the nutrients they need to thrive. HEALTH: A comprehensive approach to a complex problem Sick children often become malnourished, which makes them more likely to get sick yet again. Breaking this cycle requires addressing all the factors that lead to malnutrition. In engaging trainings full of song and dance, we educate mothers and their partners to identify symptoms of common illnesses and teach proper hygiene practices. Our comprehensive curriculum goes beyond the basics, promoting family planning and creating a safe space to discuss gender-based violence.
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A NUTRITIOUS RESP
In March of 2020, the COVID-19 virus reached Rwanda, resulting in weeks of lockdown followed by country-wide restrictions to mitigate the spread of the virus. The combined effects of COVID-19 and the resulting mitigation measures disrupted the daily lives of Rwandans, affecting their ability to make wages and feed their families, and increased the number of people at risk for malnutrition. We halted our normal program for several months and got to work serving our community where we were needed most, all while ensuring access to healthy food and sustainable agriculture for the most vulnerable. Photo: GHI provides direct food aid straight from our farm headquarters to vulnerable families.
PONSE TO COVID-19
Responding to COVID-19 WE BUILT CAPACITY Government health clinics were in need of support in managing the overarching effects of the pandemic. We leveraged our existing relationships to build the capacity of the overwhelmed health system by screening children for malnutrition, providing life-saving face masks and handwashing stations, and training community health workers in the effects of the pandemic on nutrition.
WE INCREASED UNDERSTANDING We increased community understanding of COVID-19 by reaching a wider audience through our partnership with health clinics. We delivered nutrition counseling and COVID-19 education to women and their partners at the point-of-care.
WE PLUGGED IN To ensure the safety of our partners and staff, we continued to conduct our work virtually when possible. We stayed connected to our program graduates by sending nutritionand health-related mass text messages.
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WE GAVE With the pandemic affecting families’ ability to work and go to the market, we provided food from our farm headquarters and other staple items such as soap to vulnerable families.
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I don’t have as many customers as I used to, and I can’t easily move between locations to sell my items. So, getting basic needs like food is hard. The vegetables I received here today will help us eat a healthy meal and save money for other needs at home. I’m so happy I came today, and I’ve learned a lot. I want to plant my own garden at home, so I can start eating healthy! — ENATA MUHORAKEYE, MOM OF 1
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WE KEPT DADS INVOLVED We continued our fathers’ engagement program, in which we host a two-day workshop for the husbands of program participants. Ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic, 50 fathers graduated from our program, learning essential nutrition and agriculture topics and getting involved in the health of their families. WE LEVELED UP Before the pandemic put a temporary pause to our program, 483 mothers graduated from our Maternal Nutrition Program, equipped with seeds, skills, and knowledge to keep their newborns happy and healthy.
WE STUCK AROUND As part of our ongoing sustainability efforts, we organized 46 peer support groups made up of 1,234 graduates across Musanze District. In these groups, women support one another in maintaining healthy nutrition and financial habits.
WE PRIORITIZED We prioritized health and safety. In September 2020, we resumed our Maternal Nutrition Program after a six-month hiatus. We ensured the continued safety of our program participants by enacting COVID-19 precautions such as face masks, smaller class sizes, and handwashing stations. We adapted our curriculum to include COVID-19 awareness and prevention lessons. At the end of our 14-week long program, 139 mothers and 39 fathers graduated safely in December 2020.
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UN WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME: COMMUNITY LINKS THROUGH EDUCATION Musange Primary School’s gardens are a source of pride, says head teacher Claude. “They’ve been a space for learning, for both students and teachers. The gardens are a source of information, and as we all know, knowledge is power.” The school is one of 104 that GHI supports in partnership with the Nobel Peace Prize-winning UN World Food Programme. Despite school closures related to the COVID-19 pandemic, school garden activities haven’t stopped. The seed bank has been a particular focus of the school. “We’re multiplying seedlings, to distribute to families and reach as many students as we can,” explains Claude. “I’m worried about food insecurity resulting in poor nutrition during COVID. This would have ripple effects on students’ performance in school.” But Musange Primary School is doing its part. “We’re increasing access to nutritious vegetables with seedling multiplication and distribution. We’re engaging the agriculture club in trainings at the school, and those maintaining the garden receive part of the harvest. And we’ve identified 38 vulnerable families around the school to distribute our veggie harvest too.”
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“The school gardens really link the school to the community,” Claude reflects. “I hope that my students stay healthy, by practicing everything they’ve learned from our agriculture and nutrition lessons. And I hope that they’ll support the rest of their community through good hygiene and nutrition practices.”
KATE SPADE ON PURPOSE FUND We trained mothers and their partners on key nutrition topics such as breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and hygiene in partnership with the kate spade on purpose fund at the Masoro Health Clinic. We also delivered lessons on agriculture; mothers and their partners learned about bed-building, planting and transplanting, and composting.
AKAGERA NATIONAL PARK We partnered with Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s wildlife preserve and safari, to train 27 at-risk neighboring mothers with essential agriculture, nutrition, and health lessons.
DMM.HEHE We expanded our reach virtually by partnering with a DMM.HeHe, a mobile technologies company that digitizes trade and offers service delivery. This allowed us to increase our nutrition-sensitive awareness in the Rwandan community.
WE CELEBRATED
That we are each other’s harvest: we are each other’s business: we are each other’s magnitude and bond.
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— GWEDOLYN BROOKS
Photo: Mamas prep a One Pot One Hour meal in February 2020.
GIVING THANKS This year was unlike any other. The coronavirus has transformed the way we communicate and did not allow us to celebrate our customary in-person harvest celebration. Despite all the hurdles, we were able to celebrate the year’s achievements virtually with friends near and far.
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Our Core Program
Sustainability Program
46
peer-support groups in Musanze district
community leaders gained key knowledge on health, nutrition, and agriculture
program graduates enrolled in peer-support groups
932 1,234
program graduates received nutrition-sensitive messages on their phones
4,357
children screened for malnutrition in Gasabo and Musanze districts
school-age children received hands-on nutrition learning all across Rwanda
16,084 85,000
COVID Response 10,169
mothers & partners received nutrition sensitive training
2.8+ tons
of direct food aid to 215 families
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handwashing stations established at health clinics
4,336
face masks donated
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Parenting healthy choices
eannette and Philemon are small-scale farmers in Kayanga, Rwanda. They’re also new parents. “We’re so blessed; it’s a happy adventure to raise a child.”
In December 2020, both parents graduated from GHI’s Maternal Nutrition Program. “Life is better now,” nods Jeannette, cradling 2-week old Kendra. “Every day, we prepare and eat balanced meals at home. We’re healthier now that we’ve attended trainings.” Jeannette regularly adds carrots, beets, tomatoes, and avocado to family meals, many of which are new additions in their home garden. Of course, healthy change has been a group effort. Philemon is just as eager as his partner. “I first went to trainings with my wife, and the information was helpful. It convinced me that these lessons would be good for the family, so I went to every men’s training.” At home, he supports Jeannette, putting into practice lessons on organic composting and family planning. “We want to have children we can support.” As with many families in Rwanda, COVID-19 brought hardship. The couple couldn’t work for additional income, but their garden has flourished to provide a reliable source of nutritious food. In fact, Jeannette and Philemon were so enthusiastic about their newfound knowledge, that they’re spreading the word in their community. “We’re teaching our neighbors. At first, they were surprised, but we explained everything, and now some of our neighbors have built home gardens copying these methods.” Despite tough times, the family is looking toward the future. “We wish for our baby to grow well; that’s our responsibility as parents. And for ourselves, we’ll maintain a healthy lifestyle, since we have all the knowledge and materials to achieve that.”
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Photo: Mother Didanciene overlooks her family garden with baby Alex.
2021-2023 Strategic Plan ADAPTATION We’re adapting our programs to respond to global pandemics and climate change. We’ll continue to deliver food and seed packages to affected families and review our agriculture package for climate resilience. LEARNING We’re learning from program evaluations and sharing with partners, using updated mobile data collection and engaging stakeholders online. PARTNERSHIP We’re partnering with local communities, governments, and on-the-ground experts in agriculture, health, and education. INTEGRATION We’re integrating our key trainings and messages into local systems and participating in national-level technical working groups. COMMITMENT We’re committing to local leadership, equity, and sustainability.
THANK YOU
ORGANIZATIONS Akagera National Park Amazon Smile Bon Marche Thrift Store CRI CLIF Bar Family Foundation End World Hunger Foundation
Wong Family Foundation World Food Programme INDIVIDUALS Alan Rathgeber Alexa and Peter Crowe Alyssa Palmquist
GlobeMed
Andrea Asaro
Greatergood.org
Andrew and Beth Bryan
IZUMI Foundation kate spade on purpose fund
Andrew Bryan Ann Spaulding
Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund
Anna and Ronald Thomann
New England International Donors
Anne Hafrey
Oppenheimer Foundation Rosenkranz Foundation
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The Waterloo Foundation
Anne Wanlund and Derek Brand Annie Bauer Anny Ewing
Segal Family Foundation
Archie and Nina McIntyre
Together Women Rise
Arlene Bernstein Benjamin Von Reyn
Bettina Neuefeind Bill and Joyce Fletcher Brian and Burch Ford Bruce and Terri Alpert Cecilia Yu Charles Harding Cher-Wen DeWitt Christina Campbell
Frederick and Margaret Weiss
John and Anne Louise Colman
Genevra Stone
John and Marsha Shyer
Geoffrey Morris
John Clippinger
Ginny Loeb
John Leclaire and Ruth Hodges
Grace Glenny Hal and Laurie Curtis Haley Hogan
Lorna Hogg Louise and Luke Bray Lynn Yangchana Madeleine Lord Marcia Hoffer
John Monticone
Marcia Israeloff
Joyce Mathai
Marni Clippinger
Judy Mahaffey
Mary Nutt
Julie Carney
Maximillian Greenwald
Christopher Kelsey
Heather and David Gerken
Cricket Beauregard Lewis
Helen Babcock
Katharine Newhouse
Michael Rendich
Helen Weld and Robert Strachan
Kathryn Anastos
Michele Salerno N
Kathy Weinman
ancy and John Newman
Katie Andresen
Nick Baer
Daniel and Kim Hunsberger Daniel and Mary James
Henry and Kathy Huntington
Danielle Bazinet
Hope Newhouse
Katya Redpath
Nina Stout
David Morell
Howard and Joan Gross
Kristin Finn
Norma Kuhling
Debora and Christopher Booth
Jane Gottlieb
Kristin Montgomery
Nur Farhanah Nordin
Jean Roiphe
Lani Cooper
Pamela Boll
Jeanette Perdigon
Lauren Mendell
Pamela Graber
Emily Morell
Jennifer and Ian Swope
Patricia Ribakoff
Emma Clippinger
Jennifer Markell
Leslie and Nate Levenson
Eric and Patsy Decker
Jessica Kanter
Linda Slamon
Rachel Cohen
Eric Jospe
Joan MacArthur
Eslee and Eric Samberg
Joan Sulis-Kramer
Donald and Kristin Lehmann
Frances Montgomery
Lisa and David Issroff
Phyllis Gardiner
Raymond and Maureen Lisa and Jonathan Abad Boulanger Rebecca Cohn Loretta Talios
Rebecca Eaton Rebecca Jacobsen Regina and Albert Edmonds
Timothy Pratt Wilhelm and Ingrid Neuefeind
Robert Insolia
Yolanta Siu
Samantha Davison Scheryn and Fred Pratt Scott Warren Selina and Allen Rossiter Sheffield Van Buren Sophia Bardetti Stephen and Barbara Neel Steven and Cinny Bensen
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Thomas G. Shapiro
Richard and Brenda Sharton Roberta Guthrie
THANK YOU
Thomas and Andrea Mendell
Susan and Bradford Bailey Susan and Debby Woskie Susan Price Theresa Cohen Thomas and Sonia Faletti
FINANCES