Grateful GHI Photo Essay
POST AND PHOTOS BY BAILEY ADAMS // PUBLISHED JANUARY 2017
At Gardens for Health, we are constantly reminded of the many things we have to be grateful for. In honor of Thanksgiving, we asked some of our staff and partner families to share what they are thankful for with the hashtag #gratefulghi throughout the month of November. While it didn’t have to be GHI-related, almost every comment tells a story of appreciation about our organization and the incredible impact we are having in Rwanda. See a sample of posts below!
Empowerment through access to information
Inkuru mu mafoto - #Gushima
Muri Gardens for Health, buri gihe duhora twibuka ibintu byinshi tugomba gushimamo. Mu kwizihiza Umuganura (Thanksgiving), twasabye bamwe mu bakozi bacu n’imiryango y’abafatanyabikorwa bacu kudusangiza ibyo bashimira bakoresheje akamenyetso k’urwego #gratefulghi mu gihe cyose cy’ukwezi k’ugushyingo. Nubwo atari ngombwa ko ibyo ushima biba birebana na GHI, hafi ya buri butumwa twabonye bwavugaga ku gushimira umushinga wacu n’impinduka nziza turi gutuma ziba mu Rwanda. Hasi wahabona bumwe mu butumwa twakiriye tukanabunyuza ku mbuga nkoranyambaga!
Learning how to buy healthy foods at the market
“I am thankful for our dedicated staff and partner families, who all go above and beyond in their commitment to long-term community investment and empowering individuals to be active agents of change.”
“Nishimira uburyo abakozi bacu n’imiryango y’abafatanyabikorwa bubahiriza ibyo dukora, bose bakubita hirya no hino ngo bakore ibyo biyemeje mu gushora mu muryango mugari ku gihe kirekire ndetse no guha imbaraga abandi ku giti cyabo kugira ngo nabo bahinduke abantu bahora batuma habaho impinduka nziza”.
-Susi, US Operations Associate
“I am thankful for learning to prepare a balanced diet. Before I joined GHI I always had money to buy food but would only buy food in one color. But now that I have knowledge, I go to the market and buy food from all four colors.”
“Ndishimira kumenya guteka indyo yuzuye. Mbere y’uko njya muri GHI buri gihe nabaga mfite amafaranga yo guhaha ibyo kurya ariko nkagura ibyo kurya byo mu ibara rimwe. Ariko ubu mfite ubumenyi, njya mu isoko nkahaha ibyo kurya byo mu mabara ane yose”.
- Petronille, Mother and GHI Partner
“I am thankful for the Musanze mothers who came to Kigali for their first time on Thanksgiving Day to celebrate with us.”
“Ndishimira ababyeyi baturuka Musanze bageze i Kigali ku nshuro yabo ya mbere kugira ngo bizihize umuganura hamwe na twe.”
– Moses, Agricultural Inputs Manager
GHI Thanksgiving Celebration
Marcella, Program and Administration Fellow.
“I am thankful for my coworkers and friends and to have the opportunity to work in such a positive environment for an organization that makes such an impact.”
“Ndishimira bagenzi banjye dukorana bakaba ari n’inshuti ndetse no kugira amahirwe yo gukorera ahantu heza mu mushinga utuma habaho impinduka nziza.”
- Marcella, Program and Admin Fellow
“I am thankful for families being able to put in practice what they learn in our program, like building a home garden, and for the opportunity to teach mothers important topics like hygiene.”
“Ndishimira ko ababyeyi babasha gushyira mu bikorwa ibyo biga muri gahunda yacu, nko gutegura umurima w’igikoni, ndetse n’amahirwe yo kwigisha ababyeyi amasomo nkisuku n’isukura.”
– Grace, Field Supervisor
“I am thankful for our wonderful M&E Field Agents.”
“Ndishimira abakozi bacu bashinzwe ikurikiranabikorwa (M&E) beza cyane.”
- Maggie, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
[caption id="attachment_3314" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Eline, Caregiver[/caption]
“I am thankful for the hygiene that I’ve improved in my home. I’ve learned the practice of cleaning my yard, my home, my clothes, my body, and my baby’s body. I am also proud that I am now drinking potable water. I used to drink any water but now I’ve learned to purify water and remain healthy.”
Esperance, Gasbao Field Educator, meets with a caregiver.
“Ndishimira uburyo isuku yiyongereye mu rugo rwanjye. Nize umuco wo gukubura ibikari, inzu yanjye, kumesa imyenda yanjye, isuku yo ku mubiri ndetse n’iy’ umwana wanjye. Ntewe ishema kandi no kuba nsigaye nywa amazi asukuye. Ninyweraga amazi mbonye yose ariko ubu nize gusukura amazi bigatuma nkomeza kugira ubuzima bwiza.”
– Eline, Mother and GHI Partner
“I am thankful for the opportunity to intern at GHI. I’ve learned a lot and it has been a positive experience to work with the GHI staff, who are all very friendly, while also improving in work related skills.”
“Ndishimira amahirwe yo kwimenyereza umwuga muri GHI. Nize byinshi kandi byambereye umusaruro mwiza gukorana n’abakozi ba GHI, kuko bafite urugwiro rwinshi, kandi byanamfashije kunoza ubumenyi mu kazi.”
– Dominique, M&E Intern
“I am thankful for CommCare [our mobile M&E platform] and working internet.”
“Nishimira urubuga rwa CommCare [urubuga rwacu rwa M&E rukoresha telefone ngendanwa] ndetse na murandasi dukoresha.”
Eline, a caregiver.
- Eric, Impact and Learning Manager
“I am thankful for the new home garden package that helps improve dietary diversity, giving mothers the capacity to prepare balanced meals.”
“Ndishimira ibishya dutanga byose ku murima w’igikoni bifasha mu guteza imbere kurya indyo inyuranye, bikaba binafasha ababyeyi gutegura indyo yuzuye.”
- Godfrey, Agricultural Manager
“I am thankful to work with an organization that places so much value on the families in our program - viewing them not as beneficiaries, but as partners who have the power to create positive change in their lives.”
“Ndishimira gukorana n’umushinga ushingira indangagaciro nyinshi ku miryango dukorana muri gahunda yacu – ntubafata nk’abagenerwabikorwa, ahubwo ubafata nk’abafatanyabikorwa bafite ubushobozi bwo gutuma habaho impinduka nziza mu buzima bwabo.”
– Bailey, Communications and Development Fellow
Eric demonstrating CommCare at GHI annual staff training.
“I am thankful for HIV training because I thought you could only catch AIDS through sexual intercourse, but now I’ve learned all the different modes of transmission, like through contaminated blood.”
“Ndishimira isomo ryigisha ku bwandu bwa sida (VIH) kuko nari nzi ko wakwandurira sida mu gukora imibonano mpuzabitsina gusa, ariko ubu nasobanukiwe neza n’uburyo bwose wakwanduriramo, nko mu maraso yanduye.”
- Alphonsine, Mother and GHI Partner
“I am thankful for being part of such a great family at GHI where I have [the] opportunity to contribute to the welfare of underserved communities.”
Godfrey, Agricultural Manager with seedlings.
“Ndishimira kuba umwe mu bagize umuryango mwiza wa GHI aho mbona amahirwe yo gutanga umusanzu wanjye mu gutuma imiryango migari itifashije ibasha kugira ubuzima bwiza.”
- Katembo, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager
“As a farmer, I am thankful for rain because it is essential for a successful growing season, especially on our farm in Ndera.”
“Nk’umuhinzi, ndishimira imvura kuko ari ingenzi kugira ngo igihembwe cy’ihinga gitange umusaruro mwiza, cyane cyane mu murima wacu hano i Ndera.”
– Jenny, Farm Fellow
Bailey & Caregiver.
“I am thankful for the last cohort of ANC [antenatal care program] mothers that have graduated. This means we are moving toward malnutrition prevention in addition to treatment.”
“Ndishimira icyiciro gishize cy’ababyeyi bari muri gahunda yo gusuzumisha inda [antenatal care program] ababyeyi babashije gusoza amahugurwa. Ibi bitwereka ko turi kugana ku gukumira imirire mibi biza byiyongera ku kuyivura.”
- Angeline, Health Manager
[caption id="attachment_3323" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Gloriose & Family[/caption]
“I am thankful for enrolling in a family planning program. I used to think it wasn’t necessary, but after joining GHI, I have learned many things that made me change my mind and I am grateful.”
“Ndishimira kuba naragiye muri gahunda yo kuboneza urubyaro. Numvaga ko atari ngombwa cyane, ariko nyuma yo kujya muri GHI, nize byinshi byatumye mpindura imitekerereze kandi ndabyishimira.”
- Gloriose, Mother and GHI Partner
[caption id="attachment_3343" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Caregivers attend a training session at a Health Center[/caption]
“I am thankful for the willingness and commitment of caregivers' to learn what can improve their children's welfare, which is demonstrated through consistent good attendance rates.”
“Ndishimira ubushake n’ umurava abarezi b’abana baba bafite mu kwiga icyateza imbere imibereho myiza y’abana babo, ibi bikaba bigaragarira mu kigero cy’ ubwitabire bwiza badahwema kugira mu mahugurwa.”
– Solomon, Program Director
[caption id="attachment_3325" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Jean Bernard[/caption]
“I am thankful for the community lunch we always have on the farm.”
“Ndishimira ibyo kurya bya saa sita duhora dusangira hano mu murima wacu (farm) aho dukorera.”
- Jean Bernard, Program Coordinator
[caption id="attachment_3326" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Children enjoying a community lunch[/caption]
“I am thankful for how we do follow-up for children with malnutrition and how we are really able to change their nutritional status.”
“Ndishimira uburyo dukurikirana abana bafite ikibazo cy’imirire mibi n’uburyo mu by’ukuri tubasha guhindura uko ubuzima bwabo bwifashe ku rwego rw’imirire.”
– Philomene, Field Supervisor
A GHI Field Educator delivers a health training session
“I am thankful for the opportunity to conduct home visits and to meet families where they are. This gives us the chance to see how families are living, how they interact with their communities, how they prepare food, and how they care for their children. Some other organizations do not have the capacity to reach those families at their homes.”
“Ndishimira amahirwe yo kubasha gusura imiryango mu ngo zabo ndetse no kumenyana n’imiryango. Ibi bituma tumenya uko imiryango ibayeho, uko ibanye n’abaturanyi mu muryango mugari, uko bategura amafunguro, ndetse n’uko bita ku bana babo. Imishinga myinshi ntikunze gusura imiryango mu rugo iwabo aho batuye.”
- Samuel, District Coordinator
A GHI Partner Family at their home
“I am thankful for my home garden. I used to think my garden didn’t have enough space to cultivate vegetables, but now that I have learned space management, I can grow many vegetables and I am grateful for it.”
“Ndishimira umurima w’igikoni wanjye. Najyaga ntekereza ko nta mwanya uhagije mfite mu murima ku buryo nabona aho mpinga imboga, ariko ubu nize uko bacunga neza ubutaka, ubu nshobora guhinga imboga nyinshi ndetse ndabyishimira cyane.”
- Alliance, Mother and GHI Partner
“I am thankful for being part of the GHI team which is making changes around Rwanda.”
“Ndishimira kuba umwe mu itsinda ry’abakozi ba GHI, tukaba tubasha gutuma habaho impinduka nziza henshi mu Rwanda.”
- Innocent, Field Supervisor
“I am thankful for all the work we do to improve the lives of children under five and families we work with.”
“Ndishimira ibyo dukora byose kugira ngo ubuzima bw’abana bari munsi y’imyaka itanu n’ubw’imiryango dukorana burusheho kuba bwiza.”
– Jean Claude, Field Educator
Thank you to everyone who submitted your stories!!! What are you #thankful for? We always love to hear your #gratefulghi posts! Comment below, tag us on social media @Gardens4Health, or send us an email! Happy Thanksgiving and Turi Kumwe!
Turashimira buri wese waduhaye ibitekerezo bye ku byo ashimira!!! Ese wowe ushimira iki #thankful? Duhora tunejejwe no kumva icyo mwanditse kubyo mwishimira #gratefulghi! Gira icyo ubivugaho, twandikire mu butumwa wanditse ku mbuga nkoranyambaga kuri @Gardens4Health, cyangwa utwoherereze ubutumwa kuri email! Umuganura mwiza, Turi Kumwe!
The GHI Team at a group retreat.