Rooted in Resilience: Kyasira Home for Hope Orphanage & Farm

When torrential rain and flooding tore through the Kyasira Home for Hope Orphanage in Uganda, the Good Samaritan Sisters lost more than their home. The floodwaters also devastated farmland the Sisters relied on to feed themselves and the 60 children in their care, as well as a source of income. Along with enabling their self-sufficiency, the farm itself acted as a living classroom for the children, where the Sisters taught sustainable farming. 

Sr. Mary Peter Namasinga knew that the health of the children and their community livelihood depended on restoring the land using staple crops like bananas. In Uganda, matooke bananas account for up to 20% of caloric needs and are rich in vitamins and minerals. “This makes them the ideal crop to ensure food security for our children and generate crucial income by selling the surplus at market,” Sr Mary Peter reported.

With a grant from Sisters Rising Worldwide, Sr. Mary Peter purchased matooke banana seedlings and fertilizers, and also hired help to prepare the land and assist with pruning and weeding. “We also bought seeds for intercropping,” Sr. Mary Peter shared. Intercropping refers to growing multiple crops in the same area, which boosts yields and improves soil health. “We planted maize, cassava, and beans to fix nitrogen [levels] in the soil.” 

Today, the crops are thriving, and the children of Kyasira, as well as the Sisters, are once again well-fed and caring for themselves. Sr. Mary Peter reports that with the increase in food, the children are stronger and more active while at play and at work on the farm. Their immunity has rebounded, and they concentrate better on their studies. 

Thanks to you, our donors, the Kyasira Home for Hope farm is flourishing. With your help, Sisters are once again teaching their children sustainable methods for growing their own food, enabling self-sufficiency and building a future where communities thrive, even in unpredictable climates.

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