For people living in Africa’s drylands, trees are providing a much needed source of food and income, as well as securing the quality of land that their children will depend on in societies closely tied to farming. For the communities we work with being involved in our programmes also means being empowered to take control of their futures.
Nadia Hatomye
When Nadia Hatomye’s husband left her to find work and never returned she was left to raise her daughter Ata alone.
Like any other mother, Nadia wanted to give her daughter every opportunity for a brighter future. But, reliant on what little money she could make collecting a few shea nuts and making shea butter on her own, she was unable to both feed the small family and pay her daughter’s school fees.
That all changed when Nadia became part of the village shea nut group supported by TREE AID. Working with the other women of the village, Nadia has gained their respect as an important, hard working member of the group.
For a single mother in rural Africa, overcoming the stigma so often still associated with women living on their own is a real achievement. Nadia is now generating an income by selling shea nuts – and for the first time has real hope that she can lift herself and Ata out of poverty.
Read more about how our enterprise work gives women like Nadia the power to change their lives.
Mba Bugre Gumah
Now 62, Mba Bugre Gumah has been blind for over 25 years. Yet he was one of the first in his village to join the Siisi mango group and learn how to grow productive trees and market their produce.
When it came to the group recieving a business start up load however, the other members were reluctant to keep him in the group, fearing he would not be able to contribute to loan repayments. With TREE AID’s support the group started to discuss how Mba Bugre could get the help he needed to become and active member.
In response, the group gave him five grafted mango seedlings free of charge. They also agreed to give him more next season if, with help from his family, he was able to make a success of his gift.
“Even though I am blind, I will use the support of my children to ensure that these seedlings are well cared for and protected to fruit in the near future to support my family”
Today Mba Bugre’s mangoes represent the achievements he has made in providing a secure future for his family – despite the social barriers that might otherwise have stood in his way.
Read more about how trees like Mba Bugre’s mangoes increase food security.
Aminu Salifu
Amina Salifu is 13 and lives in the village of Tonjing, Ghana, with his parents, three brothers and one sister. He goes to the local school, and his parents have been a part of a TREE AID project.
Trees are very important to Aminu’s family, and he eats many different fruits and even uses the sticks of the neem tree as a toothbrush.
Aminu says that the village would be very hot and at risk from high winds during desert storms. The TREE AID project is helping the village plant trees. His parents have attended the project meetings and have planted trees on their farm.
As part of the next generation Aminu is looking towards a brighter future – he is also raising mango seedlings at home. He is helping the nurseryman water the nursery seedlings, and the project manager has promised to have his mangoes grafted from him.
Read more about how trees have a huge role to play in creating an environment that can support a future for the next generation in Africa’s drylands.
Hassimi Guindo
Hassimi Guindo, baby Ali and three year old Salimata live in Soukoura village in Mali. Decentralisation in Mali has offered poor rural people an opportunity to claim a greater role in managing the trees and agricultural land vital to their livelihoods.
Supporting Hassimi’s community to develop local laws and managment plans has given him the confidence to invest time in encouraging natural regeneration in his fields.
He hopes to buy chickens to help with pest control when the tree cover grows, and Ali and Salimata can look forward to learning and benefiting from what Hassimi is achieving now.
Read more about how Hassimi’s care for his land and trees rests upon knowing that he and his children have the recognised rights to benefit from them.
