Ndeye Amy Diop, 21, lives with her in-laws in the small community of Walo while her husband is off working in Dakar. She started participating in CREATE! training programs about two years ago because she wanted to support her family. Ndeye says that before CREATE! started working in Walo, “the village didn’t have a market and we couldn’t find any vegetables. Now, we have created a small market where we sell vegetables that we grow in the garden site.”
CREATE!’s partnership with Walo has improved access to healthy food and food security in the community. Ndeye says, “My family eats fresh vegetables that I grow myself and I no longer need to walk long distances to buy healthy food.” She also appreciates the benefits of poultry raising in Walo. “Years ago it was very difficult to find chicken in the village but now thanks to our poultry shed we are able to eat chicken frequently.”
Ndeye adds, “My life has changed thanks to CREATE! because now I’m able to work in my village and earn money to solve my problems.”
Ndeye enjoys cooking with her improved cookstove. She says, “Collecting firewood for cooking is now easy because the improved cookstove only requires a few pieces of wood to cook a meal.”