Water as a source of Knowledge and Nutrition at Mandwanga Secondary School

Mandwanga Secondary School Students taking care of the school vegetable garden.

At Mandwanga Secondary School in Mtama District Council in Lindi Region, a simple idea has blossomed into a powerful initiative. With clean and safe water supplied by DMDO through funding from the Grille Foundation, the school community seized the opportunity to establish a vegetable garden that now nourishes both bodies and minds.

Teacher Mwamvua Otieno, the garden supervisor

Leadership and Gratitude

Mwamvua Otieno, the teacher overseeing the garden, expressed her appreciation for the project:

 “We are not only accessing better meals, but we are also ensuring that students learn how to prepare and manage gardens. Some have already started their own gardens at home.”

Students Voices

Students have also felt the impact. Zulfa Abdala, a form four student shared her excitement about the garden’s benefits:

 “Our health as students is improving and the gardening knowledge I have gained here will help me continue at home once I finish my exams.”

Zulfa Abdala

Her words reflect how the project is not only feeding students today but also equipping them with lifelong skills.

Low-Cost, High Impact

The garden was established with modest resources:

Seeds such as spinach, amaranth, Chinese cabbage and radish were purchased for just 4 USD.

Organic manure was acquired for 3.08 USD, ensuring sustainable soil fertility.

This small investment has produced a thriving garden that supplements meals and serves as a hands-on classroom.

Looking Ahead

The school’s next goal is to collaborate with agricultural experts to expand and professionalize the garden. By doing so they hope to enhance productivity, introduce modern farming techniques and inspire even more students to replicate the model in their communities.

Lasting Impact

The Mandwanga secondary school garden demonstrates how access to water, combined with creativity and commitment can transform education and community well-being. It is a living example of how small investments can generate lasting change, nourishing students, empowering teachers and planting seeds of knowledge that grow far beyond the school grounds.