When you think of refugee camps, you might not think about the loss of things like trees, plants, and shade. But when a town pops up virtually overnight, that tends to be the case.
This loss of biodiversity impacts everybody, and refugees not least. The new landscape can feel barren and uninspiring. Tree growth starts from scratch.
Our team in Kyangwali sat down with one community in the settlement to talk about the problem. And they came up with an idea that – fingers crossed – will really bloom into something exciting.
Mango trees play many different roles – they bear fruit of course, leading to increased nutrition for children. They provide shade, protecting against the hot Ugandan son. Their fruit can be sold at the market, giving supplemental income to families. And, they simply look beautiful.
We purchased 360 mango seedlings, enough to kickstart a community garden. Everybody was excited about this improvement – including our team!
“This idea really supports children,” said our colleague Andrew. “It’s for eating, and for the environment. Mothers and children can sit in their shade, tell stories, and spend time together. It’s really doing good.”
