FOOD SECURITY & HYDROPONICS
Our Hydroponics project seeks to create a scalable, sustainable nutrition ecosystem in Nairobi’s Eastland slums. It is a collaboration between Safe Spaces and Hydroponics Africa, a local private hydroponics firm with scientific urban farming innovations. The project installs small household hydroponics systems that provide both food and income opportunities to families plus creates a Safe Spaces urban ‘farm” and market for selling produce locally. It positions girls and women to become nutrition leaders. It will train and empower Safe Spaces’ Peer Educators and household women in the community. The project will leverage innovative hydroponic farm techniques, create a center of expertise in nutrition and urban farming, spread micro-business knowledge and develop local retail outlets to put nutritious food economically within reach of low income families. Pairing technical innovation with education, entrepreneurship, financing models, sales channels and community outreach, it will address many root causes of poverty and food insecurity in the slums. This project will pilot and develop a social enterprise model within Safe Spaces.
The Hydroponics project is part of a seed accelerator program designed and managed by Africa Funded (Climate Circle). Support is based on 10 years of experience in supporting entrepreneurs with innovative business models in Africa. Their focus is on poverty reduction and climate related business models.
Goals of our social enterprise include:
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Improve the reach of affordable food distribution and retail channels by developing micro food outlets within the slums.
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Expand gender roles and economic opportunities for girls / young women in the Eastland slums through an apprenticeship and certification program. They will gain job skills in non-traditional occupations such as sales, crop technicians and project managers.
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Empower women to increase their family’s nutrition and income without leaving their children alone and build a culture of self-sufficiency and mutual cooperation in the neighborhoods.
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Develop a funding mechanism for community members to buy and sustain these hydroponic systems by selling a
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portion of the produce to markets, restaurants and other food venues in Nairobi.
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Test business models for a scalable way to deal with the food insecurity in the slums
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Create a sustainable revenue stream to support Safe Spaces’ programs