This week, Rise Against Hunger kicked off an exciting new Empowering Communities project, Leveraging Agriculture to Unite Communities and Hospitals (LAUNCH), alongside our partner Development in Gardening (DIG), in Ziguinchor, Senegal.

In this area, malnutrition affects more than 20% of children under the age of 5. Over the next two years, LAUNCH will support 2,000 people across 16 program sites.Through the LAUNCH project, DIG and Rise Against Hunger will improve food security for vulnerable populations, including people living with HIV, undernourished children, pregnant and lactating women, and people with disabilities.The project, implemented in southern Senegal, increases the availability of nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables by establishing community gardens at hospitals and supporting participants to set up their own home gardens. In addition to the nutritional benefits, the garden produce is in demand on local markets and can generate income in a short period. LAUNCH will directly benefit over 2,000 people with increased production and consumption of produce as well as increased income and/or reduction of food expenditures.

Julie Savane, Rise Against Hunger Food Security and Livelihoods Manager, shares, “One benefit of this project is that it enables participants to apply their new skills immediately. Many vegetables grow within a few months, so families can quickly harvest the produce and begin adding it to their meals. Having vegetables available in the garden makes it easier and more affordable to have a healthy diet.” By addressing the root causes of hunger and poverty, Rise Against Hunger works to enable communities worldwide to rise and break the cycle of poverty for generations to come.Visit our Empowering Communities page to find out more about our agriculture and microenterprise programs around the globe.