World Vision’s GIK helps produce nutritious food

Thierry, 3, who kept relapsing after he was discharged from a World Vision nearby nutrition centre, has now access to nutritious food at his home and health status improved since then. Thanks to World Vision’s gift in kind (GIK) items. Community members of his locality agreed to contribute to kitchen garden construction at his home while working for world Vision’s GIK items they would have bought.

Thierry is a little boy living in Cumba ADP, in northeastern Burundi. When he was one year old, he suffered from acute malnutrition. He attended a World Vision rehabilitation centre for malnourished children.
Thierry kept relapsing because after he was discharged from the centre, he couldn’t get enough food at his home. His parents are poor and have small land to produce enough food for all the family; Thierry’s mum explains.
World Vision worked with community members of Thierry’s community to find out how the family and other vulnerable families of the locality can be supported.
World Vision offered to support community members that would excel in supporting vulnerable people, by giving them World Vision’s gift-in-kind (GIK) items.
At Thierry’s home they installed a kitchen garden where his family planted amaranth (a leafy vegetable). One month later, Thierry’s meal never misses vegetables, a nutritious food he needs much. This has greatly contributed to improving his nutrition status. He has not relapsed since then.
His father, Soter, says the installation of kitchen garden has not only helped them to ensure balanced diet for their children is available but also allowed them to save part of family resources that were spent for medical care of their child who fell sick so frequently.

“Today, the money we used to spend on buying medicines is used to cover other family needs. Family life has improved,: Thierry’s father appreciates.
The experience also raised the awareness of Thierry’s parents. They now participate in various community anti-malnutrition, food security and sanitation initiatives supported by World Vision.
Activities in this approach include installation of kitchen gardens to prevent malnutrition, adequate family toilets to prevent waterborne diseases and compost to improve agricultural productivity and enhance food security.
In Cumba ADP, where Thierry’s family lives, World Vision used GIK to encourage households that show outstanding participation and commitment to such initiatives.
More than 2000 community members participated and were able to set in place 111 kitchen gardens, 175 improved latrines and 163 composts. In return they received different types of clothes (sweaters for men and women, winter hats, shirts, t-shirts and jackets).
Through GIK-for-work approach, World Vision Burundi is encouraging community members to assist the most vulnerable households in meeting their needs that require physical force like digging pit latrines, setting in place kitchen gardens and composts for organic manure to increase food production.


Story by Epimaque Buterere Nikobitungwa, World Vision Burundi Communications Officer