Salt Spring Organization for Life Improvement and Development AIDS Africa Twinning NGO

Projects:

Gardens of Hope

Evaton West Community
Garden Project

A Day of AIDS

Peace Tiles

Driefontaine
Orphanage

Act!

Gardens of Hope*Molapo School * Pitseng School *Linotsing School *Tsepong Clinic*Ha Makhata Group

The Gardens of Hope in Lesotho bring a wide range of benefits with far-reaching results that touch upon the social, environmental, economic, educational and health conditions. Some of the most significant benefits are:

To produce tree seedlings for sale to the Lesotho Ministry of Forestry; each year this government agency purchases upwards of 2 million seedlings for the countries’ reforestation program. At $0.25 per tree, a small scale nursery like the ones SOLID builds can produce 2000 trees per quarter, with a benefit to communities of $2000 per year per nursery.
To allow schools and community based organizations to grow and sell plant and tree seedlings as fundraisers for the care and education of orphaned children. School fees at the secondary level prohibit most AIDS orphans, especially girls who often must look after younger siblings, from gaining higher education.

To extend the growing season over all 12 months of the year to ensure year-round access to fresh fruits and vegetables, and to produce surplus crops for re-sale as community fundraisers.
To teach students about the ecological value of growing trees, and to share vocational skills in nursery operation and management with community based organizations.
To teach students and community based organizations about greenhouse design & management.
To produce orchard trees as part of an overall design for sustainable farmland use. Orchard fruit and nuts provide long term food security to communities, and provide shade, fodder, mulch and compost for permaculture farms.

To produce trees for community forests to prevent erosion of fragile mountain soils andretain water.. Planting trees is an important step in re-claiming land that is being lost to erosion in Lesotho
To provide firewood for cooking and heating homes to communities who must purchase wood out of their very limited cash resources.
To provide oxygen, animal habitat, building materials, shade, and beauty to the planet. Trees are a legacy we leave for our children and the earth.

To allow schools and community based organizations to grow seedlings for replanting in their own gardens, thus cutting down the capital costs of farming.
To produce a wide variety of tree, herb, fruit, and vegetable plants thereby preserving biodiversity and improving the health of the soil and the population.
To produce medicinal herbs from a variety of global bio-regions that are effective in the treatment of local diseases, particularly the opportunistic infections caused by HIV/AIDS.
To incorporate greater emphasis on fruit and vegetables into the local diet, particularly for people affected by HIV/AIDS. Immunity is boosted by a well-balanced diet, and for those on anti-retroviral treatment a healthy diet is essential to the proper functioning of the medication.