Women make the desert bloom
In Chad, the situation of women is not easy, and in our pre-desert region, which is largely Muslim, it is doubly difficult.
They wanted to be able to grow their own vegetables, in the dry season (which is a large part of the year in the Guéra area of eastern Chad).
We begin to dream that women must have space, enough water, technical and material skills to be able to improve the nutrition of their families, especially that of their children.
We thought that one hectare of land (for 50 women) would be appropriate. It had to be closed to protect the orchard, avoiding the passage of animals and nomads... In addition, water is needed. WATER! In a pre-desert area and where even drinking water is scarce and a resource more expensive than gold... We need agricultural material, training in orchards, and that this training also responds to the always necessary care of the ecosystem and of nature.
The NGO Magis-Italia supported us between 2015 – 2018, 6 women's groups each year
There are some orchards that are several kilometers from the towns, but the women grow their vegetables. There is only one orchard that is owned by the women, the others are privately owned and a 10-year use agreement is signed. The fencing of the land begins, the construction of a water well, the distribution of agricultural material and seeds, training in agriculture: seedbeds, planting in lines, manufacture of pesticides with natural products and without damaging the ecosystem...
They have been intense years where women give ourselves entirely to create something new and better for each one, 25 orchards and 30 water wells have been built to irrigate the orchards, this year, 2023, the Getxo town hall, through the NGO Ayuda Más, is building 4 orchards and 8 wellswith this, more than 1,000 women will be trained in modern agricultural techniques and a similar number of families will discover the tremendous value of women when they organize. Today the women laugh happily and satisfied with everything that has been achieved, but they know that it is only the beginning, there is a long way to go... for a better diet for the family, paying for school fees and so that the girls can also go to school.
