Vernia Saint Peaux

The day starts with a visit to the home of Vernia Saint Peaux who, with her son Vernel, shows us around her plot. She tells me how the project has helped her to produce enough pineapple, maize, plantain, beans, sugar cane and vegetables to feed her family of six. She has also been taught how to prevent soil erosion and increase the fertility of the soil by using organic compost.

The project also includes a micro credit system through which families are given a pair of pigs. Over the next two litters, each family has to return the loan by giving two pigs to a neighbouring family. Nearly 300 families have benefitted from this system so far. Micro-credit has made a big difference to Vernia’s household income and she is now able to meet all of her children’s school fees and buy medication for herself.

As we go from one family plot to another I can see that the hills around the community are noticeably greener. Over the last year the community has planted 20,000 saplings that will develop into trees to hold the soil together as well as providing fruit.

The project is moving into its second year now and I was able to meet with a community group of 40 who explained the benefits it has brought them. They told me how they have pulled together as a community to help each other, organising work parties to support each family in the difficult task of clearing new land. In the second and third years, more families will be assisted to increase their production and thereby meet the basic needs of their families.