Mushroom Week at GHI

POST AND PHOTOS BY BAILEY ADAMS // PUBLISHED JANUARY 2017

If you had told us a few weeks ago that we would be promoting mushrooms in Rwanda, we probably would have been as surprised as you are.  But in the space of a few weeks, a partnership was born. You may be asking what mushrooms have to do with Gardens for Health, but the connection is not as far-fetched as it may seem. A hallmark of our model is encouraging dietary diversity, and by promoting mushroom consumption we are doing just that. Long celebrated among many cultures as a powerful source of nutrients, mushrooms are low in calories, fat-free, cholesterol-free, gluten-free and low in sodium while containing important nutrients like selenium, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, Vitamin D, and more.

From November 7-11, Gardens for Health hosted three events in conjunction with Kigali Farms to raise awareness about the work of GHI in Rwanda and promote dietary diversity through mushrooms.

The first event was held at Kepler University. With over 100 students and community members in attendance, the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement and energy. We kicked off the evening with a presentation from GHI Program Director Solomon Makuza and Janice Giddens, Senior Nutrition Technical Advisor, about the current state of nutrition in Rwanda and the work that Gardens for Health is doing to address it. Kigali Farms’, Laurent Demuynck then presented on Rwandan fungi diversity and showed a short film on mushrooms.

The audience was engaged and actively participated in the conversations, asking a number of technical questions. Everyone stuck around after the presentation for mushroom appetizers and refreshments!

The following evening, we hosted an event at local restaurant Sol e Luna where guests enjoyed delicious mushroom appetizers while chatting with our staff. Later in the evening, GHI Country Director Anne Wanlund gave a short presentation on Gardens for Health and Laurent Demuynck provided an overview on the mushrooms from Kigali Farms.

Friday evening, the Belgian Ambassador to Rwanda Arnout Pauwels graciously hosted us at his residence for the third and final event of mushroom week. It was a wonderful evening with live music by Makumbi Sound, cocktails and drinks generously provided by Skol Beer and 1000 Hills Distillery, and incredible mushroom dishes and appetizers all at a beautiful venue. With nearly 150 people in attendance, the air hummed with the sound of engaged conversation and excitement.

Anne delivered a beautiful speech about GHI and the importance of empowering women, pulling personal testimonies and heartfelt examples from our partner mothers. “Across developing countries, 1 in 3 children [are] affected by chronic malnutrition” she stated. “In Rwanda, over 10% of GDP losses every year are linked directly to chronic malnutrition. So this is an issue that affects homes, communities, but [also] economic growth and productivity so actors at every single level need to be concerned about this issue and need to be working on it together.”  At GHI, we “complete the circle of support” to address this pervasive public health concern by addressing both knowledge as well as access barriers.

“But we cannot achieve our goals if women are not empowered”

Anne emphasizes, further commenting on the philosophy and work of Gardens for Health.  “We have a lot of work to do for women, and all traditionally marginalized groups.”  Through our Health Center Program, we work tirelessly to shift paradigms that differentiate between men and women – and between advantaged and disadvantaged groups – to give everyone an equal shot at a full and prosperous life.  Laurent closed out the evening by speaking further about the health qualities of mushrooms and presented several short films.

As the evening wore down and mushroom week came to a close, our team could not be more pleased with the outcome. Engaging students, professionals, and Rwandan and International residents alike, these events provided a unique opportunity to share our work with new audiences and engage with new thought partners. Stay tuned for future events like these as we continue to expand our reach and impact!

Icyumweru cyahariwe ibihumyo

Iyo uza kutubwira mu byumweru bike bishize ko tuzamamaza ibihumyo mu Rwanda,  ahari twari gutungurwa nk’uko namwe bibatunguye. Ariko mu gihe cy’ibyumweru bike,  havutse ubu bufatanyabikorwa.  Ushobora kwibaza aho Gardens for Health ihuriye n’ibihumyo ariko ihuriro ntiritangaje cyane kurusha uko rigaragara. Kimwe mu nkingi za mwamba gahunda yacu yubakiyeho ni ugushishikariza kurya indyo itandukanye, kandi mu kwamamaza kurya ibihumyo tuba turi muri iyo nzira. Kuba bimaze igihe bisingizwa nk’ ibikungahaye ku ntungamubiri, ibihumyo bikennye ku mbaraga umubiri ukoresha, nta binure bigira, nta misemburo ya cholesterol bigira, nta na proteyine ziva mu mpeke bigira kandi bikennye ku myunyungugu ya sodium ariko nyamara bikabamo intungamubiri nk’ imyunyungugu ya selenium, potassium,  vitamini B2, vitamini B3, vitamini D ndetse n’ibindi.

Kuva kuwa 7-11 Ugushyingo, Gardens for Health yateguye ibirori bitatu ku bufatanye na Kigali Farms mu rwego rwo kumenyekanisha ibyo GHI ikora mu Rwanda no guteza imbere kurya indyo inyuranye binyuze mu kwamamaza ibihumyo.

Ibirori bya mbere byabereye ku ishuri rikuru Kepler University. Hamwe n’abanyeshuri barenga 100 ndetse n’abandi baturage bitabiriye,  hagaragaraga umwuka w’abantu buzuye imbaraga, kandi bishimiye ibirori ubona bifite ingufu. Twatangiye umugoroba hamwe n’ikiganiro cyayobowe na GHI Program Director wacu Solomon Makuza afatanyije na Janice Giddens, Senior Nutrition Technical Advisor wacu, cyavugaga ku buryo imirire kuri ubu yifashe mu Rwanda ndetse n’uruhare rwa Gardens for Health mu guhindura uko imirire ihagaze.  Laurent Demuynck wo muri Kigali Farms nawe yatanze ikiganiro ku moko atandukanye y’ibihumyo byo mu Rwanda ndetse yerekana na filime ngufi ivuga ku bihumyo.

Abari aho bose bagaragazaga ubushake bwo kugira icyo bavuga mu biganiro, babaza ibibazo byinshi byihariye ku byaganiriweho. Nyuma yaho buri wese yarahagumye dusangira amafunguro yoroheje ateguye mu bihumyo ndetse n’ibyo kwica inyota!

Mu ijoro ryakurikiyeho, twateguye ibindi birori muri resitora yitwa Sol e Luna aho abashyitsi bishimiye amafunguro yoroheje kandi aryoshye akoze mu bihumyo ari nako bakomeza kuganira n’abakozi bacu. Nyuma gato mu ijoro,  Country Director wa GHI Anne Wanlund yatanze ikiganiro kigufi kivuga kuri Gardens for Health na Laurent Demuynck atanga ishusho rusange y’imihingire y’ibihumyo ya Kigali Farms.

Mu ijoro ryo kuwa gatanu, Ambassaderi w’u Bubiligi mu Rwanda Arnout Pauwels mu cyubahiro cye yatwakiriye mu rugo iwe ku birori bya gatatu ari nabyo bya nyuma by’ icyumweru cyahariwe ibihumyo. Ryari ijoro ryiza cyane ryasusurukijwe n’umuziki wa  Makumbi Sound bakoresheje amajwi yabo, imitobe ivanze n’ibyo kunywa bindi byo  kunywa byatanzwe ku buntu na Skol Beer ndetse na 1000 Hills Distillery, tutibagiwe amafunguro yoroheje n’amafunguro manini ateguwe mu bihumyo ndetse n’uburanga bw’aho byabereye.  Hamwe n’abantu bagera ku 150 bari bitabiriye wumvaga amajwi y’abantu baganira bishimye, banejejwe n’ibiganiro.

Anne yavuze ijambo ryiza cyane (warisanga hano) beautiful speech  kuri GHI no ku kamaro ko kongerera abagore imbaraga, aho yatanze ingero zikora ku mutima n’ubuhamya yakuye mu babyeyi b’abafatanyabikorwa bacu. “Mu bihugu biri mu nzira y’amajyambere, 1 mu bana 3 [yazahajwe] n’imirire mibi y’akarande” niko yavuze mu ijambo rye. “Mu Rwanda, hejuru y’ 10% by’umusaruro mbumbe w’igihugu bigenda ku mirire mibi y’akarande ku buryo butaziguye. Bityo iki ni ikibazo kigira ingaruka ku miryango, ku miryango migari, ariko [kandi] no ku iterambere ry’ubukungu n’umusaruro , bityo abo bireba kuri buri rwego bakeneye guhangayikishwa no kugira icyo bakora kuri iki kibazo bahurije hamwe”. Muri GHI, twe “twuzuza umusanzu wacu mu ruhando rw’ubu bufatanye” mu rwego rwo gukemura iki kibazo cy’ubuzima kireba isi yose tubinyujije mu gukemura ikibazo cy’ubumenyi ndetse n’ikibazo cyo kugira ibyo abantu batabasha kubona.

“Ariko ntitwagera ku ntego zacu igihe abagore batongerewe imbaraga”

Anne yarabitsindagiye,  ndetse anakuriza kuri filozofiya  n’imikorere bya GHI.   “Dufite byinshi byo gukorera abagore, ndetse n’andi matsinda y’abantu basigajwe inyuma n’umuco.” Binyuze muri gahunda yacu ikorera ku bigo nderabuzima,  dukora ubutitsa kugira ngo duhindure amateka n’ingero bitandukanya abagore n’abagabo – ndetse n’atandukanya amatsinda y’abahabwa amahirwe menshi n’abahabwa amahirwe make– kugira ngo tugerageze gutanga amahirwe angana y’ubuzima bwiza kandi bufite iterambere. Laurent yasoje ijoro avuga birambuye ku byiza by’ibihumyo ku buzima maze yerekana na filime ngufi nyinshi zitandukanye.

Mu gihe ijoro ryari ririmbanyije ndetse n’icyumweru cyahariwe ibihumyo cyigana ku musozo wacyo, nta kindi cyari kunezeza abakozi bacu nko kubona birangiye neza. Abanyeshuri bitabiriye ibiganiro,  abakozi b’umwuga, abanyarwanda ndetse n’abantu batuye mu Rwanda baturutse mu mahanga atandukanye, kuri bose byabaye umwanya wihariye wo gusangiza ibyo dukora ku bantu bashya no kumva ibitekerezo bishya bivuye mu bafatanyabikorwa bacu. Mukomeze mukurikirane amakuru yacu maze mwiyumvire ibindi bikorwa nk’iki bizaba mu gihe kiza mu gihe dukomeza kwagura abo dukorana nabo no kongera impinduka dutuma zibaho!