With nearly half of Senegal’s population living in poverty, life is certainly not easy in the West African country. A lot of young Senegalese brave crossing the desert and sea just for a chance to live a better life.
This was the case with Malik Ndao, a struggling farmer supporting a family with six children, and Mate Mbaye, who had accumulated a lot of debt trying to support a family of 25. They had planted peanuts and maize for years, but never managed to make enough money from their crops to feed their family long-term. As a result, they had to take on low-paying side jobs like pushing wheelbarrows and repairing radios. Despite this, they still struggled to make ends meet.
A few years ago, Malik and Mate joined the Trees for the Future program. The organization taught them to start and maintain Sustainable Forest Garden Systems that provided for them and their families. Thanks to Trees for the Future, Malik now had a Forest Garden System with over 2,463 trees, while Mate was able to grow over 1,544. They were also able to grow vegetables and other sustainable crops, ensuring they have enough produce to consume and sell all year round.
Mate Mbaye and TREES Technician Omar Ndao, who had guided Mate in implementing his forest garden
Malik and Mate’s Forest Garden Systems changed their lives, raising their families from poverty and cementing their legacy in their respective communities. Through our partnership with Trees for the Future, Nixplay is proud to contribute to this movement.
Our Seed For A Seed initiative allows us to donate a tree seedling to Trees For The Future, reducing the impact of climate change in our own small way. By the end of 2018, we should have helped plant 193,135 trees in developing African countries. With your help, we can plant thousands more.
Visit trees.org to learn more and Purchase a Nixplay Seed today to join the Seed For A Seed Movement.
Marianne is Nixplay’s Web Content Editor. Her hobbies include exploring new places, playing table tennis, and cuddling puppies. Send her a message at marianne.salazar@nixplay.com.
