PROJECTS

Improved nutrition, food security, micro-enterprise development, home garden extension, personal empowerment, and social change are the focus of DIG’s efforts. Because each garden is unique DIG customizes it’s projects to meet the objectives of the specific facility. These projects often include vegetable diversification where DIG implements highly nutritious but under-utilized produce such as kale, collard greens, and chaya into the growing plan. Upon the harvest of these vegetables, DIG conducts classes on food preparation and how patients can best incorporate them into their diets.

HUG, our Home Urban Garden program has been one of DIG’s most profound efforts. Individuals involved with the DIG program on hospital sites have been given the opportunity to create gardens in vacant spaces around their own homes. These gardens provide nutrition, income, physical work, and empowerment to its participants. HUG gardens directly benefit the outpatient and their family thus giving them a significant role within the family.

DIG finds it important to collaborate with established local and international organizations already working within the community. Our current partnerships are with Seed & Light International, USAID, Peace Corps, Family Health International, Catholic Relief Services, UAPO, Softpower Health and Global Colors.

DIG’s roots can be found in Senegal, West Africa, where three urban-garden projects have been established and directly impact over 6,000 patients every year. Two sites were placed within the grounds at the Fann Hospital, the first of which feeds the patients of the hospital’s infectious disease ward where over 70% are living with the advanced stages of HIV. The second garden exists at the CTA Outpatient Center which serves a relatively healthy and functioning HIV community from Senegal and its surrounding countries. This garden along with DIG’s third site in the southern city of Ziguinchor, at the Silence Hospital, are built and maintained by healthy HIV affected populations. Outpatients gain the skills and technical information needed to maintain the sites, replicate them, and serve as urban-gardening educators to their larger communities.

UGANDA

SENEGAL

NAMIBIA

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC