“Seeing food insecurity solved one person at a time and witnessing how those efforts multiply is truly hope becoming reality.” Tom McGuire
DIG’s Board Chair, Tom McGuire, recently traveled to Kenya with eight other participants to observe DIG’s transformative work up close.
In his refections, he highlights the profound impact DIG’s Core Programs are having on participants. What stood out most to him was DIG’s ability to move the mark around social cohesion. Fostering strong, interconnected communities is foundational to DIG work, particularly in light of our choice to serve those most on the margins of their societies. While social cohesion is a relatively complex impact to measure, it can be the most powerful one to witness. Tom’s reflections from his trip offer a glimpse into how DIG is building social cohesion for communities in Kenya.
“In June, I had the privilege of experiencing DIG’s work firsthand on the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya. My immersion into their core programs took me back to my own Peace Corps days. But what I saw and experienced far exceeded my high expectations.
I made a one-on-one visit to a DIG farmer’s home for a closer look. After being dropped off on the side of a road and hiking through wood and fields, I spent the morning with Janet, a farmer who showcased the skills she gained from DIG’s adaptive Farmer Field School. She demonstrated how she plants, cares for, and harvests nutritious crops, as well as how she composts, produces organic pesticides, and prepares chemical-free, climate-resilient DIG garden beds. She can now optimize the nutritional value and productivity of her one acre garden.”
The next day, we accompanied DIG leader Olivia Nyaidho to visit a mother in DIG’s Priority Household Program. There, I met a mother and child. The child had contracted malaria before age one and became severely malnourished. He initially received an emergency food supplement, produced locally to DIG specifications. While sitting on water containers that double as furniture in the mother’s 6 x 10 foot home, she shared her son’s story. After six months of intervention, he is back to a healthy weight, and Irene has a flourishing DIG garden. She earns $1.50 a day selling vegetables, supporting her family of four—a clear example of resilience and determination.”
Reflecting on this, Tom shares, “The community at large impressed me as being highly supportive of and grateful for DIG, even more so than I expected.” This deep sense of support is a testament to DIG’s commitment to fostering belonging, value, and connectedness. By empowering individuals and strengthening the social fabric of the communities it serves, DIG demonstrates the true power of social cohesion. These enduring relationships and the trust DIG cultivates enable communities to move forward together, building a sustainable and nourishing future.
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Tom is celebrating his birthday with DIG.
Consider joining him in growing DIG’s impact around the world
