The Fun and Education Global Network (FEGNe) launched its Agri-Covid Gardens project last week on July 29. The project is an initiative aimed at tackling food insecurity in the current COVID-19 era.

The launch was held on the zoom online platform and saw invited guests, students, parents and others from India, Malaysia, South Africa, Iran, Zambia, Ghana, Spain, Portugal and UK.

The event was chaired by the High Commissioner of Malawi to Kenya, H.E Agrina Mussa. Part of her address said “…. there is limited information technology infrastructure in the Sub-Saharan Africa which adversely affects online based activities. That notwithstanding, even in developed countries, the online networking potential is yet to be fully realized. Subsequently, it is only fair to go out of our ways and develop appropriate counter-measures in mitigation of the prevailing circumstances. Among other major concerns, education which is fundamental to development, hangs precariously thus demanding an imperative action.”

In June 2020, FEGNe engaged its learners in establishing individual (vegetable) gardens (Agri-Covid Gardens) which is aimed at attaining food security during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This idea was developed from the fact that during this period, there is high food consumption, yet low production due to the laying off of workers in observance of the COVID-19 protocols which has resulted from less on-farm labor, and restricted travel to farms.

Over the past weeks, the program has engaged learners in theoretical and practical sessions in agriculture. They have covered sessions on plants, their diseases, soils and their components, seeds and some agronomic practices which is geared at helping the learners understand more about agriculture.

Children have also been assigned to mentors who are coaching and directing them in their activities regarding the project.

According to the president, Kenneth Monjero Igadwa, he hopes the launch will bring all together and enable everyone to realize that children can change the world through alleviation of hunger and poverty.

At the end of the project, FEGNe will host an annual International conference which will bring together children from diverse programs to share their innovations. There will also be professional presenters and exhibitors  on Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). A  jury will review projects and select winners.