Every year on 16th October, World Food Day celebrates the power of food. It’s a time to raise awareness of issues such as global hunger, share the actions needed to strengthen food systems sustainably, and acknowledge the diversity of food cultures across the world.
In this blog, some of our VSO family share their favourite mouth-watering recipes and highlight the work they’re doing to promote sustainable farming practices and healthy eating.
Kenyan beef pilau from volunteer Fridah
For Fridah in Kenya, “food is more than just fuel; it’s about bringing people together, a story, and a celebration of life. That’s why I believe food security is not a luxury; it’s a basic need. Everyone deserves to sit down to a warm, nourishing meal, share stories with loved ones, and know there’s enough for tomorrow. That’s the heart of a healthy Kenya, and that’s why I’d love to share one of my favourite Kenyan dishes with you.”
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Because of you, Fridah is spreading food security awareness via radio shows, social media, and webinars. She’s training people in the actions they can take, while also campaigning for vital policy change. This is important because in 2024 Kenya grappled with the most severe drought in four decades, killing thousands of livestock and crops and leaving millions of people without adequate food and water.1
VSO volunteers have also been working closely with female farmers. The agricultural sector forms the backbone of Kenya’s economy, accounting for 33% of GDP,2 and women farmers play a crucial role in this. Despite this, women’s rights are curtailed, with limited access to water, seeds, finance, land ownership and markets.
Thanks to you, VSO volunteers like Fridah are giving power back to female farmers. They’re training farming groups to make compost and to prepare their land with organic fertiliser instead of using harmful chemicals.
Before, many female farmers had to walk for three hours to get water for their crops and livestock. But VSO has provided them with solar pumps, giving them more time to engage in other economic activities to improve their income. The farming groups were also connected with local markets to further boost income.
Female farmer voices often go unheard so, to amplify these, VSO is supporting them to form collectives and rally together to ensure their rights are recognised.
To help deal with the effects of drought, VSO has also provided both male and female farmers with livestock, including goats, which have a gestation period of only 150 days. This means they can multiply quicker, providing milk and meat to sell.
Bangladeshi tomato bhorta inspired by Maleka’s vegetable garden
Maleka is a farmer and mother. She grows vegetables including tomatoes which have benefitted from VSO’s Safe Food initiative. A simple yet delicious recipe to make from tomatoes is tomato bhorta.
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Powered by your support, VSO volunteers have provided women like Maleka with bottles of clybio, an organic biofertiliser. Clybio enhances plant growth and yield and is less toxic to the body. They’ve also trained Maleka and 1,750 other women on how to make this.
The use of organic biofertiliser is important because in Bangladesh, food adulteration, (the act of intentionally adding cheaper or harmful substances to food products), has reached alarming levels in recent years. Harmful pesticides and chemical fertilisers are often added to basic food items, including rice, lentils, oils, vegetables and meats, to increase profit while health hazards are ignored.
VSO volunteers have also trained women like Maleka on the process of mulching-spreading a layer of organic or inorganic material over the soil surface to improve plant health. Mulching significantly reduces water loss from evaporation, helping to conserve moisture in the soil. VSO also gave Maleka seeds to grow bitter gourd, pumpkin, cucumber, tomato, capsicum and coriander.
“I am a housewife, and before I didn’t have any income sources. I participated in the VSO initiative and received training on how to produce organic vegetables using Clybio, vermicompost and mulching. I grew vegetables like capsicum, broccoli, tomato, and chilli using the techniques I learnt from VSO. I get a total profit of 60,000 Bangladeshi taka (£365) from selling vegetables from one season. I have used this money to buy clothes and necessary stuff for my children and husband. With this money, I also contribute to my children’s education,” says Maleka.
Pakistani chicken biryani from volunteer Khajida
For Khadija, a favourite dish that is guaranteed to bring the family together has always been chicken biryani. “Whenever I make biryani, all my family members become very happy. Biryani is a dish that is enjoyed on every occasion, but it is especially prepared for weddings, Eid, and other joyful events,” Khadija tells us.
With your support, VSO volunteers like Khadija are helping children understand the importance of a healthy diet, giving them the chance to thrive. Khadija has helped run 216 health and nutrition awareness sessions for Pakistani and Afghan refugee children in VSO learning centres and schools in Pakistan.
During these sessions, students and teachers were taught about the importance of eating a healthy and balanced diet comprising milk and dairy products, pulses, meat, eggs, fruits, and vegetables, as well as drinking enough water and maintaining a healthy body. This is vital work, as eight out of ten Pakistani children don’t eat the right type and quantity of food, 3 impacting their ability to learn and explore a world bursting with possibility.
“Educating children about healthy foods is really important, as when children eat nutritious food, it leads to improved physical and mental well-being. Fostering such habits among the younger generation is essential for building a healthier and stronger society,” says Khadija.
VSO has also provided 7,500 nutritious food packages to children in Pakistan.
*Pseudonyms have been used to protect the identities of those mentioned.
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