Designing Hope has developed in 2011 a first pilot garden highlighting techniques of agroecology and permaculture in Piggs Peak, Swaziland. The success of this pilot garden encouraged Designing Hope to duplicate this initiative and link it to a pedagogical action.
Designing Hope benefited from close links with schools in Swaziland (support of orphans and disadvantaged children in 14 schools since 2011) and with the regional hospital (food distribution to HIV patients since 2005), that helped identify the beneficiaries for this extension of the project and organize the follow up.
Today a team of 6 people is in charge of training, and maintening the gardens. They work with school teachers and 240 volunteers children.They are also in charge of two community gardens, and a demonstration garden at the hospital.
When preparing the beds with the “Campagnole”, the soil is enriched by sprinkling a mixture of biochar and compost on the surface. The Campagnole will then mix this input deep into the cultivated plots. Biochar is a natural fertilizer produced … Read More
The development of the Malanti field is ongoing and the plantations begin with sweet potatoes! This species is particularly well adapted to the landscape of small mountains and hills with rocks in Eswatini, as well as its tropical climate. The … Read More
Designing Hope funds each month the distribution of 30 “baskets” at the Piggs Peak hospital consisting mainly of vegetables, partially produced by Designing Hope at Macambeni garden, on the outskirts of Piggs Peak. These baskets are intended for targeted HIV-positive … Read More
The women are busy planting the vegetables grown in the greenhouse on the Macambeni garden. The Mandala Garden is also ready for new crops. It has been covered with a layer of mulch to keep the culture beds moist.
Within the projects supported by Designing Hope, women are invited to cook vegetables from the garden during group activities. This is an opportunity to encourage families to improve their nutrition. At Fundzisa Live’ support group, the women take turns preparing … Read More
With the support of The Ivory Foundation, Designing Hope supports the Macambeni crèche, and improve the meals of its 20 disadvantaged children with vegetables produced in the garden. Depending on the season and the yield, a supplement is delivered every Monday … Read More
With support from the Ivory Foundation, a pump was purchased forEkujabuleni School, located 10 km from Piggs Peak. This pump will raise the water from the river located 200 meters below the school tosupply the school’s water reserves.The water, previously treated … Read More
The First Secretary of the French Embassy in Mozambique and the Honorary Consul of France in Swaziland went to Piggs Peak to visit the projects supported by the association. Among these, the Macambeni garden, and the crèche supported by the association.
Designing Hope undertook an awareness campaign on water saving. The washing of vegetables can be a source of waste, when it is done with running water at the exit of the tank. The purchase of basins for this purpose by … Read More
Harvest of vegetables in the garden of St. Paul’s School. The children take part to the sowing, the maintenance of the vegetables, the watering and the harvests with a woman from the association Fundzisa Live. assigned to the garden.
