Our school farms project, Shamba Letu, has been kick started in 2024 with hands-on training. 81 children, 2 teachers, and 2 Champions in Shamba Letu clubs, at Kibowen Komen and Mlimani Primary schools  in Nakuru, participated in a training session facilitated by the local Government Agricultural Extension Officer.

Peter, a Grade 7 student from Kibomen Kowen Primary School, is one of the students who participated in the training. He lives with his family in an impoverished, over-crowded area of Nakuru, with no land at home to grow vegetables. For Peter, his school’s Shamba Letu club lets him pursue his passion for farming. With what he’s learnt, he’s also come up with an innovative way to grow food for his family.

‘I love farming. I enjoy the process of watching what I sew, grow. I am really pleased that I learnt how to make a proper seedbed, and about the different types of fertiliser to boost yields.

We don’t have land at our home, so I got an idea to use buckets and sacks instead. I have planted kale and spinach, which my family eat, especially when there’s no money to buy food from the market. The neighbours saw what I did, and now they are doing the same.’

Samuel, the Agricultural Extension Officer, shared his expertise, and covered site selection, land preparation, selection of farm inputs and planting during the sessions.

‘Training empowers children with the right skills and knowledge, so they can farm for better results. It is promising to see that children are receptive to learning about modern agriculture. I have high hopes that they will reap great yields this season.’

Rose, one of the Shamba Letu club teachers, shared that empowering her students with practical knowledge and skills, builds on what they learn in class as part of the Science curriculum, which teaches agriculture.

‘Our club’s students pass on what they have learnt to other students, when they are on the farm.  I think that the most important learning was the importance of spacing during planting, and also choosing the right seeds based on the soil. Now, our goal this year is to boost production, and be an example of what is possible in our  community.’

We are confident that with school-based Shamba Letu clubs, supported through on-going training, schools in Nakuru will see improved yield this year, and beyond.

So They Can’s Shamba Letu Project receives support from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).