Grow A Future

The Grow A Future Project?

The Grow a Future initiative, in collaboration with Genisys ARCt, takes a holistic approach to addressing malnutrition, economic disparities, and cardiovascular diseases in rural Guyana.

Through nutrition-sensitive agriculture, the project aims to improve economic sustainability and nutritional stability in local communities.

Our Aim

We want to establish sustainable economic independence and nutritional security in rural Guyana through nutrition-focused agriculture.

The global nutritional crisis, where chronic nutrition-related diseases rank among the top 10 causes of death worldwide (WHO), calls for proactive initiatives.

In Guyana, the complexity of nutritional challenges, including obesity, under-nutrition, and cardiovascular diseases, reinforcing the urgency for targeted interventions.

The Vision

The project provides seeds and establishes model community gardens that serve as educational platforms for effective cultivation.

Information on the health benefits and use of seeds is also provided. Free screenings for blood sugar levels and blood pressure are organised to monitor progress and address malnutrition-related non-communicable diseases, aiding in prevention and early detection.

The project offers guidance on money management, emphasises the importance of education, and promotes a healthy lifestyle.

Empowering community members to sell their produce fosters economic independence and contributes to a sustainable future.

Involving children in gardening ensures the transfer of knowledge to future generations.

Why Guyana?

The World Bank has identified Guyana as having one of the highest poverty rates among all the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) countries, with 48% of the population living below US$5.5 per day. One in three woman and one in four men in Guyana are reported to have diabetes or pre-diabetes.

Guyana finds itself caught in a ‘poverty trap’, that makes it extremely challenging for its people to break free from poverty. Communities need external help.

Food crisis

In Guyana, a developing nation, a multifaceted nutritional crisis is evident. Obesity coexists with underweight, stunting, and micronutrient deficiencies among adults and children.

Malnutrition and economic instability are fundamental factors perpetuating this detrimental cycle. The country is struggling with high unemployment rates, a significant emigration of skilled individuals and a soaring malnutrition rate, resulting in minimal progress and keeping it among the poorest nations.

Guyana faces extreme inequality between urban-coastal and rural-interior areas. In hinterland regions, where 80% of indigenous people reside, poverty affects 74%, and extreme poverty affects 54% of the population.

One in four indigenous children suffers from stunting, emphasising the need for targeted interventions in these marginalised regions.

How will this work?

The project is due to begin in April 2025 with an initial focus on seed acquisition, farming equipment, and employee training.

This will be followed by help to cultivate crops high in nutrition and educational workshops on balanced diets, nutrition-related non-communicable diseases, and economic independence through ‘micro gardening’ that involves and engages local communities.

The finance and management team have prepared a budget, and collaboration with organisations for funding and partnerships are currently underway.

Outcomes and Impact

- The project aims to raise awareness of healthy lifestyles, provide work opportunities for residents, and contribute to economic independence.
- By integrating agriculture, nutrition, and education, the project seeks to address the root causes of malnutrition and promote sustainable development.

Your contribution will have an impact to establish economic independence and sustainable nutritional health. Genisys ARCt’s “Grow A future” project is working on this goal and encouraging you to help raise funds for this project