Nyota e.V. - For children in AfricaHelp for Self-help - in context ofdevelopment cooperation

Nyota‘sGreen Garden A project of the Nyota e.V. Group Mannheim for self-sufficiency of the Nyota

Day Care Centre and orphans in need of the community Lwala

A contribution to a sustainable solution in the light of permanently increasing food costs and the current shortage of supply in Kenya.

»The best time to plant a treewas 20 years ago.

The next best time is now!«– African Saying –

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Nyota‘s Green Garden ProjectAn initiative to advance self-sufficiency through self growing / farming

Besides its existing work with orphans and pupils at its day care centre (kita) in Lwala, the associa-tion Nyota e.V. likes to impose a new working field. On additional farm land we like to grow indige-nous fruits, vegetables and corn to cover the full daily need of Nyota‘s kita. Hopefully, other local families and children in need will be supplied with food through the garden project in the near future as well. It is our goal to realize the cultivation and farming as natural as possible without using chemical additives or pesticides. By not applying the latter the soil will have the possibility to regain, be strengthened and develop a healthy base for cultivation and farming which will also allow future generations to use it.

We plan to start the project with a plot of 2-3 acres of land. Over the next months and years the size of farmland shall increase constantly. We aim at planting various kinds of herbs, vegetables and fruit trees. In order to feature the relationship and communication between the Kenyan-German Nyota-team and the local villagers, we also like to involve local farmers and other people from the village of Lwala in the project. For our group and the whole Nyota team, trust and understanding of the project within the community is very important. We believe that development cooperation projects require such an environment to be sustainable and successful.

We are still looking for donors to guarantee the financing of this new Green Garden Project

and every dollar or euro will help. Become a Green Garden - supporter. Provide help in order

to secure the local self-sufficiency.

About Nyota e.V. The association “Nyota e.V.” from Mannheim, Germany, was founded in 2003 and has provided - with the help of its donators and sponsors – more than 150 school sponsorships for orphans from the region around Lwala in Western Kenya since its foundation. The orphans are taught within the association’s own day care center (kita) and receive a first academic preparation for primary school. Professional and experienced caretakers and teachers are employed and create an environment of learning and playing games.

Our project aims at providing a sustainable contribution within the development cooperation in Western Kenya. However, it is of particular importance to us that the help that is provided contributes to the idea of “help for self-help”. We consider education as a fundamental and important aspect that enables children and the community to leave the vicious circle of poverty. Therefore, the Nyota-team aims at accepting as many children to its day care center as its capacity allows. Through our work at the day care center and the subsequent submission to primary and sponsored secondary school we try to achieve these goals. The Green Garden Project will help us to assure the permanent supply with the most important food for the children at our center. „Nyota e.V. – for children in Africa“ is a registered associa-tion in Germany and recognized as a charitable body. Nyota provides all sponsors with a receipt of their donation which may be subject to tax allowances in your country (e.g. Germany). All donations are strictly forwarded to our project in Kenya as our team members in Germany work free of charge. More information about the association and the project can be found on our website: www.nyota-ev.de

The current situation in Kenya The fight against hunger and drought

Although Kenya belongs to one of the political most stable and economical most powerful countries in East Africa more than 10 million people still suffer from daily hunger. Every day people starve because they lack food and clean water. Many people in Kenya have to walk long distances to access these resources. According to the Red Cross Kenya, more than 100 children die every day as a result of malaria diseases and 630,000 Kenyan citizens face critical health conditions. People in Kenya suffer from drying periods every year.

The Nyota Day Care Centre, which is run by a Kenyan-German team, is located in Lwala in Western Kenya close to the border of Tanzania. Although Lwala is located in an equatorial zone that experiences heavy rain seasons, people of the region are affected by drying periods every year. Extreme climate conditions, heavy rainfalls as well as food shortage during drying periods are part of daily life for the people of this region.

Regarding the year 2011, people expect another very long drying period and food shortage

throughout the year. This development also affects food prices on the local markets which

can double in peak times. The Green Garden project will limit the kita’s exposure to fluct-

uations in food prices and will enable us to act more independently.

Water is a basic need At our kita we have drilled our own well for a proper water supply and installed a water tower and basins for the storage of water during dry seasons. The new farmland for the Nyota`s Green Garden Project will also contain an own well and storage possibilities. By planting many trees the water holding capacity of the ground will raise and help to save water during dry times. In addition, trees also make the soil more resistant during raining periods and prevent erosion. By planting seasonal fruits, vegetables and corn we aim at achieving best results in harvesting and output. The goal is to supply the Nyota Day Care Centre with food over the whole year.

Self-sufficiency through self-farming

The need and advantages of self-sufficiency

Besides other problems, people in Kenya suffer because of increasing food prices at the local markets and a high inflation rate. Especially basic foods like maize meal and rice have doubled in price. Under such circumstances, the importance and advantages of self-sufficiency incre-ases strongly. In 2009 Nyota was able to buy a small but additional 0.5 acre of farmland to grow maize for the self-sufficiency of the day care centre. The first harvest was a full success. Almost 750 kg maize was harvested, which covers the kita’s full need of one year. In our small garden at the kita we also grow tomatoes, papaya and mango trees. In addition, banana and avocado trees are growing nearby.

In case we are able to realize the Green Garden Project, the complete need for food of the

kita can hopefully be covered completely within 2-3 years time. That is our Aim.

On the additional land, which is planned to be bought for the project, we aim to plant various fruit trees. Beside sun protection by providing shadow places they will also help to strengthen the ground. Another advantage is that trees do not require a lot of work in comparison to fields. A huge variety of fruits and vegetables is available in the region around Lwala. Very common are potatoes, beans, sweet potatoes, several types of banana, maniok, sukuma wiki, tomatoes, groundnuts, mangos, avocados, and papayas. A self drilled well will guarantee the water supply. A small piece of the field is planned to be available for our caretakers and the children as a “training ground” to learn and have experiences with farming and the nature in general.

Boaz and Ibrahim, employees of our Kenyan Nyota team in Lwala drying our first maize harvest in September 2010. It amounted up to 750 kg. Image right: Lunch time in Nyota‘s Day Care Cetre.

What we needTo realize the Nyota‘s Green Garden Project first of all, additional farm land is required to initiate the project. We aim at buying land near our day care centre. In addition, investments in construc-tion of a dwell, water tanks, organic seeds, and plants are required.

We are still looking for support! Join us to lay the foundation stone for a forward looking

project together! As soon as the financing of the project is guaranteed through one or

several sponsors/ donors, we will complete the following steps:

• Meeting with participating villagers and formation of a committee to discuss the project and its goal.

• Finding the optimal place for the plant program

• Setting up a team, making a plan for seasonal planting and the optimal use of space plus deriving an annual farming concept

• Buying additional farmland (c. 2-3 acres)

• Organizing the land

• Involving local villagers and sharing responsibilities

• Removing and cleaning the compound, providing natural ground treatment and natural fertilizing

• Seeding the trees, the vegetable and various fruits

• Drilling a well

• Putting a fence around the compound

• Building a hut (on concrete base) fur storage, meetings, sun protection

• Employing a worker who is responsible for the project and who coordinates daily works

• Employing a gardener for basic works

All prearrangements have been already completed. Currently we like to begin to putting the project into reality. Every contribution is warmly welcome as each donation helps us to realize the Green Garden. Please do not hesitate to contact us in regard to the project or our association in general. Your message is warmly welcome.

Your point of contact for „Nyota‘s Green Garden“ project is:

Mr. Alexander Krziwanie / Mail: ak@nyota-ev.de / Mobile: +49 (0)177 293 16 92Direct donations to the „Nyota‘s Green Garden“ project can be made through:www.betterplace.org/projects/6780 or www.nyota-ev.de

“If one person dreams on its own, it will remain a dream.If many dream collectively,

it will be the start of a new reality.”(Friedensreich Hundertwasser )

Nyota e.V - Feldstr. 87 - 68259 Mannheim - Germany Board: Franziska Kirschenlohr, Alexander Krziwanie

Donation account owner: Nyota e.V. / Name of bank: Sparkasse Rhein-Neckar-Nord Bank code: 67050505 / Account no. 38334840

BIC: MANSDE66 / I-BAN: DE 08670505050038334840 www.nyota-ev.de

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