Seeds of Strength: Empowering Women Farmers in Kenya

Since 2020, SANGO-Kenya has been working alongside women smallholder farmers to strengthen food and nutrition security for families and communities. What began with just 19 farmers in a single village has grown into a thriving program that has trained—or is currently training—750 farmers across 12 villages. Today, SANGO-Kenya’s work directly supports the health and well-being of more than 4,000 women, children, and other household members.

Grand Circle Foundation is excited to announce a new partnership with SANGO-Kenya to help strengthen this impact. The Foundation has a strong history of supporting schools and community development projects in the Amboseli region of Kenya and has successfully completed several projects that support school-based nutrition and agriculture initiatives to improve food security.

Together, SANGO-Kenya and the Foundation have launched a two-year training program for 120 women farmers in Amboseli. The program will roll out in phases:

• 30 women will begin training in year one
• 90 additional women will join in year two

By the end of their two years in the program, participants will graduate with the skills and confidence to grow, prepare, consume, and market nutritious vegetables—benefiting their families long after the training ends.

During the program, women farmers will receive hands-on training in:

• Organic methods for growing African traditional vegetables
• The nutritional benefits of these vegetables
• Cooking and preparation techniques that preserve nutrients
• Basic marketing skills for selling surplus produce

While selling extra vegetables can provide valuable income, the heart of the program is always “food first”—ensuring families have nutritious food on their own plates.

To strengthen learning and community connections, women farmers will be grouped based on the schools their children attend. These schools will serve as training hubs and host demonstration farms, maintained by teachers and students. The farms will provide fresh vegetables for school meals while giving students hands-on lessons in agriculture and nutrition.

The ripple effects of this program extend far beyond the 120 women enrolled:

• Children and other household members benefit directly from improved diets
• Neighbors and friends often seek out participants to learn these successful farming methods
• Graduates are encouraged to share their knowledge, spreading SANGO-Kenya techniques throughout the wider community
• Students and teachers at participating schools gain practical experience growing and consuming nutritious food

There’s also a meaningful financial benefit. Women in the community report spending up to 1,000 Kenyan shillings per week (about $7.75) on vegetables and transportation. By growing their own food, families can redirect those savings toward other essential needs.

Together, this partnership has the potential to nourish families, empower women, and strengthen communities—one garden at a time.

Visit the Amboseli community and see the work of Grand Circle Foundation firsthand during Kenya & Tanzania Safari: Masai Mara to the Serengeti. To learn more about the Foundation or to make a donation directly to a project we support, visit www.grandcirclefoundation.org.