Women at The Plaster House have many reasons to be anxious. Their child comes for a corrective surgery not available in rural Tanzania. Their stay is dictated by the length of recovery time of their child, following surgery for a correctable disability. Treatment cost is a challenge for so many families, and they have to help their little ones regain skills like walking and eating again. Financial, emotional, spiritual and physical worries are a daily battle. 

Today though, the women are in the garden. Happy Martin, an ECHO East Africa trainer, leads a hands-on planting training for mothers while their children are being cared for by The Plaster House caregivers. There is joy, excitement, and fellowship. 

Many of these women had never heard of katuk before but as they have come to trust both the food and care of The Plaster House, they’re willing to give it a try. “Because so many come to The Plaster House from remote areas, ECHO is reaching communities it might never reach otherwise. And, because the women are so enthusiastic, we know that what they are learning will be spread in their families and communities,” shared ECHO President/CEO David Erickson.

ECHO not only trains the mothers, but helps by training the gardeners working in the garden plot itself. This plot helps The Plaster House continue to feed 200 people every day, with 45% of all the vegetables grown in their own garden. ECHO has been a resource and inspiration for their garden and chicken flock for the last five years and continues to serve both the staff and clients. 

“ECHO’s seminars in our Mama’s Education Program are amongst their favorites, and they respond well to Happy’s teaching style,” wrote Bronwyn Winchester of The Plaster House. Many have learned to prepare, dry, cook, and grow vegetables that they didn’t know were edible such as chaya, cassava, moringa and katuk. Our staff and children also benefit from the vegetables growing in our garden. We are so thankful for ECHO’s partnership in Tanzania.”