Meet Anastasia
For millions around the world, including women like Anastasia from the Kanyabukungu Batwa group in Uganda, “food security” is an elusive concept. Anastasia, an 80-year-old widow, has spent years navigating the harsh realities of food insecurity. Caring for 14 family members, her children and grandchildren, she has been carrying the heavy burden of providing for them all. Many nights, there was no food, and she and her family went to bed on empty stomachs. To survive, Anastasia and her daughter worked as laborers, earning meager pay to scrape together enough to eat. Her large family was often a source of ridicule from neighbors, who doubted her ability to care for them.
When DIG arrived in Anastasia’s community in January 2024, she saw a glimmer of hope and eagerly joined DIG’s adaptive Farmer Field School. Despite the limited space around her home, she constructed a thriving vegetable garden. With the support and training she received from DIG, her vegetables grew lush and healthy, bringing not just nourishment but also a newfound sense of dignity and pride.
Today, Anastasia and her family no longer worry about their next meal. Her garden helps feed her household while also providing a source of income, as neighbors come to buy her produce. Once a subject of mockery, Anastasia is now respected in her community as a gardener and provider. “I will never stop vegetable gardening,” she proudly says, knowing that her garden is the key to her family’s continued food security.
Stories like Anastasia’s exemplify why food security is one of DIG’s 5 Pillars of Impact. Access to sufficient, nutritious food is not just a goal—it’s a fundamental human right. With DIG’s support, Anastasia has turned her small space into a source of hope and opportunity, proving that even in the most challenging circumstances, wellness is possible.
