Over the past few months, we’ve watched a string of milestones unfold across our Shamba Letu school farms in Kenya — harvests coming in, first-ever school lunches served, and learners settling into class with full stomachs. Here’s a look at what our partner school communities have achieved.

What is Shamba Letu?

Shamba Letu is our school farms project, working alongside partner schools to establish and cultivate farms that improve food security in vulnerable communities. The project underpins School Feeding Programs, giving children access to at least one nutritious meal a day at school, helping to lift attendance in communities where families live in extreme poverty.

Beyond attendance, the daily nutrition Shamba Letu provides supports children’s health and their ability to concentrate in class, translating into stronger academic performance.

School communities are equipped with climate-smart agriculture knowledge and skills, enabling them to grow higher-yield crops and improve the quality and quantity of what they produce. Any surplus is sold, generating income the school reinvests in student wellbeing and development activities.

So They Can’s Shamba Letu project in Tanzania is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

Chemolingot Primary School: Maize harvest complete

We’re excited to share that Chemolingot Primary School has just completed its maize harvest. The maize is currently drying, and we’ll know soon exactly how many bags the school has brought in. This harvest goes a long way toward supporting the school’s feeding program.

Samta, Kifaru Juu and Mwikantsi Primary Schools: Diverse harvests across program schools

Thanks to Shamba Letu, these program schools are now harvesting a range of crops, including vegetables, onions, beans and maize. Each school has been supported with drip irrigation systems, seeds and pesticides, along with technical training on farming practices.

The maize and beans harvested are helping ensure these schools have enough food to sustain their feeding programs, giving all children the chance to eat at school. Some schools are also selling part of their harvest to generate income for the school.

Akuisi Primary School: First ever school lunch served

Akuisi Primary School has served its first ever school lunch — made possible by its recent harvest. It’s a huge milestone for the school community, and it means learners can now stay at school longer and concentrate better in class. This photo was taken during the first lunch.

Chesirimion Primary School: 200kg of pawpaws harvested

Chesirimion Primary School has harvested around 200kg of pawpaws so far. The harvest has already made a real difference to the school feeding program, boosting learners’ nutrition and supporting healthier daily habits. The school also plans to sell some of the pawpaws, generating income to support other school activities and reinvest in Shamba Letu.

Muriricua Primary School: first ever feeding program

Learners at Muriricua Primary School have enjoyed a nutritious meal, made from produce grown through Shamba Letu — the school’s first ever feeding program. The initiative is designed to lift daily attendance, class participation and concentration, alongside better nutrition and hands-on farming experience for students.

Building Toward Food Security

Each of these updates reflects the progress our partner schools are making toward long-term food security. Through Shamba Letu, school communities are applying climate-smart agricultural training to produce reliable harvests, sustain feeding programs, and generate income that supports broader school development. We’re incredibly proud of all of the students, teachers and stakeholders who have helped to achieve these milestones, and look forward to sharing more updates from our Shamba Letu project as we receive them.