Ambassador Jean-Luc Bodson of Belgium visits the backyard garden farmed by Roy Fletcher. The garden supplies seedlings and vegetables to his community.

His Excellency Mr Jean-Luc Bodson, Ambassador of Belgium has personally seen the lasting impact of Belgium assistance for people rebuilding their lives after Tropical Cyclone Pam which struck Vanuatu on March 13 2015.

Part of the USD 285 000 Belgium-funded project was the establishmesnt of urban gardens in Port Vila, with thousands of seed and seedling distributions across Vanuatu to meet the needs of those affected by the cyclone. FAO distributed vegetable seeds to urban and peri-urban households in communities affected by Cyclone Pam.

Accompanied by FAO project team members, Ambassador Bodson visited project sites located at Central School and a household in Freshwater 5 area.

Central School in Port Vila accommodates about 1000 students in the kindergarten, primary and secondary levels. Students have successfully maintained their nursery and demonstration plots with fresh seedlings and thriving produce and have established many additional plots around the school yard. They have even started cooking classes for students at the school, and have ambitious plans to construct a new cooking classroom.

“I was really impressed by the enthusiasm of the school management and the students for this project and by how they make it part of the everyday life of the school with well-kept nurseries in many corners of the premises”. Said Ambassador Bodson.

FAO Project Manager, James Roberts explained. “Coupled with the emergency project was Yumi Kam Tugeta (We Come Together) Sessions, where talented chefs from around Vanuatu provide simple and creative cooking ideas using fresh produce.” Roberts continued. “It's encouraging to see schools and families continuing with lessons learned through Yumi Kam Tugeta and expanding on those lessons six months after the project was officially completed”.

Ambassador Bodson also visited the household of Roy Fletcher in Freshwater 5 area. Fletcher has a backyard garden which is supplies seedlings and vegetables to his community as well as his household. “I share vegetables with the community, church as well as my family”, he said.

Fletcher has inspired many neighbours and family to begin their own backyard gardens and has offered to help them. Enthusiastically, he harbours ideas to expand. “My wife has stopped me from extending the garden any further because we need the rest of the space for our house”, he joked. Fletcher is very grateful for the assistance he has received. ” I'd like to thank the Belgian Government and FAO for their help".

Ambassador Bodson commented. “It is so gratifying to be welcomed by Fletcher and his family, to share their new passion for keeping their backyard garden and using the produces to have a healthier diet while saving money. The neighbours are obviously sharing their enthusiasm and envisage to start a similar garden…and I must admit that I feel like starting my own vegetable garden back in Canberra”.

Belgium remains a top donor to the FAO’s Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities, which enables both to rapidly respond to a crisis, financing the immediate purchase of essential agricultural inputs and to quickly launch field activities to protect livelihoods and safeguard food security and nutrition.

Photo©FAO / James David Roberts