Harvesting Hope

Join this project to help children in Kenya

The Challenges Faced 

Hello, I’m Sharlene Cohen, the founder of Harvest Food Forest. Since 2019, I’ve been travelling to Uganda and Kenya, where I’ve developed a deep connection with the people and the environment. Over the years, I’ve spearheaded more than ten grassroots projects with the support of friends, family, corporate partners and philanthropists.

In 2022, during a visit to Bwindi, Uganda, and Amboseli, Kenya, I saw firsthand the harsh realities many schools and children face: 

• overcrowded classrooms in disrepair, 

• teachers going unpaid unless parents can contribute, and

• children walking long, dangerous distances to school, only to be sent home because they can’t afford the fees.

This lack of access to consistent education leaves young learners stuck in a cycle of poverty, with increasing challenges like:

• environmental degradation, 

• youth gambling, and 

• early marriages.

As land ownership shrinks and ecosystems deteriorate, food insecurity, malnutrition, climate change, and overpopulation worsen, making it even harder for children to focus and succeed when they come to school hungry.

Our Solution: The Harvest Food Forest Project

The Harvest Food Forest Project has partnered with Big Life Foundation, our trusted on-ground partner, to launch a transformative initiative in two schools in Amboseli, Kenya.  Big Life Foundation’s rangers have been crucial in mitigating human-wildlife conflicts and crop raiding for over a decade.

The initiative involves creating a food forest space where organic fruits, vegetables, and native trees are grown to provide a harvest every month of the school year. The produce will supply the school kitchen, be sold at local market stalls, and any excess will go back to students and teachers. It also serves as a shaded area during lunch breaks. This project prioritises using recycled materials and emphasises sustainability throughout the process.

This initiative will turn schools into thriving hubs of education, sustainability, entrepreneurship and resilience. 

The Harvest Food Forest project highlights the use of an unique program that integrates Food—Education—Life Skills– Wellbeing—Savings—and Fun into one sustainable model as follows:

Organic Gardening: Students cultivate healthy, organic food on school grounds.

Entrepreneurship: Students learn how to turn their harvest into profit by running a small business that equips them with vital skills in marketing, budgeting, negotiating and financial management which will prepare students for real world success and self-sufficiency.

Education: Students’ educational resources are covered by garden produce profits.

Sustainability: Students and communities learn about food security, health, well-being and environmental stewardship.

Conservation Education: Students develop a deeper appreciation for wildlife and natural resources.

Our Successful Pilot Program to be Emulated

This model has been successful at Rubona Public School in Buhoma, Uganda. After establishing a food forest cultivated by students, the profits from sales at local markets have been used for providing educational materials and more seedlings. We aim to expand this model to two more schools in Amboseli, Kenya, creating a ripple effect across East Africa.

Why This Matters?

This program does more than help children grow food; it harvests hope. We are breaking the cycle of poverty and dependency by empowering students to support themselves and their communities, thus reducing the need to harm wildlife and destroy ecosystems.

Donation Packages

We’re facing a significant challenge as we work to establish our program in two schools, requiring substantial investment of $16,000 AUD ($8,000 per school) in the first year. We must purchase equipment, tools, irrigation, and seedlings and cover the costs of lead gardeners, teachers, and mentors. Additionally, we need to provide the children with workbooks, market stalls, signage, and t-shirts—everything necessary for their success.

For each $30 or above donation, you will receive one entry into the draw to win one of four Square Planters (worth $89.95) donated by WaterUps Australia (For Australian donors only).

1. No Reward Option - Act of Kindness     Donation: $5+                                  

2. Friends of the Harvest Food Forest        Donation: $30

Your donation helps us achieve our goal of establishing our food forest. Your support lays the foundation for nurturing young minds and cultivating sustainable practices!

3. Make a Scarecrow                                    Donation: $60

Your donation helps us achieve our goal of establishing our food forest which includes making a scarecrow made from locally sourced recycled materials to use in their gardens.

4. Adopt a Garden                                        Donation: $100  

Your donation will help establish one of the many small kitchen gardens within our food forest for one year, covering the cost of seeds and fruit trees, along with garden equipment & maintenance for your garden.

5. Cultivator of Change                               Donation: $150

Your donation will contribute to the salary of our lead gardener for one year who plays a crucial role in the success of our program.  They are responsible for guiding students through every step of the process—from planting seeds to harvesting crops. Without their expertise, dedication, and mentorship, the entire program would struggle to thrive.

6. Food Forest Guardian                             Donation: $300  

Your donation will help establish a large vegetable bed, fruit orchard and native shade trees within our food forest for one year, covering the cost of seeds, fruit trees and native shade trees, along with garden equipment, gardeners and teachers’ payments.  

7. Harvesting Hope                                          Donation: $500

Your donation will help create two large vegetable beds, a fruit orchard, and native shade trees within our food forest, sustaining the project for an entire year. It will cover the costs of seeds, fruit trees, native trees, garden tools, and the payments for both gardeners and teachers. Additionally, your support will help sponsor a standout student's school fees for 2026 and contribute to developing and printing the children's workbooks.

Every donation goes directly to the project, as we operate entirely with volunteers and no administrative fees. While we are not a registered charity and cannot provide tax-deductible receipts, this ensures that 100% of your donation supports the cause, with no overhead costs. Please note that a 5% fee will be added at checkout to cover the platform provider's merchant and processing costs—this is not a Harvest Food Forest expense. If you'd prefer to make alternative donation arrangements, feel free to contact me directly.

In return for your donations over $100:

• Your name will be displayed on a signpost in your designated garden & fruit orchard at the school.

• You will receive six monthly personal updates, including photos and videos, on your garden and the school's progress in general. 

Do you want to make a difference in the world?

This is your opportunity to invest in education and community development while enhancing your social responsibility. Your support means a lot to us.

Thanks for being Part of the Change!

Your donations will help us build a sustainable future for students in Amboseli, Kenya. Whether you contribute financially or raise awareness, you can be crucial in harvesting hope and fostering sustainable change in East Africa.

Together, we can nurture the seeds of tomorrow’s leaders—one garden, one student, one community at a time.

Project Impact

See the Impacts your donations made to the pilot project in Uganda

Education & Food Security: Growing organic food keeps students in class while teaching valuable agricultural and entrepreneurial skills.

Community Resilience: Parents won’t need to sell productive land for school fees, and communities gain knowledge of conservation and sustainable farming techniques.

Wildlife Conservation: Food-secure communities are less likely to engage in poaching or habitat destruction, directly supporting conservation efforts.

Our Sponsors & Volunteers

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to WaterUps for their generous donation of four patio planters.

A special thank you goes to Jacki Whalley, Belinda Walker, Sarah Mathers, and Kim Libores for their unwavering support and invaluable contributions as we work towards achieving our project goals.

Sarah and I will be on the ground starting January 6, 2025, working alongside the children, teachers, Big Life, and the community to bring the food forest to life at both schools. 

Our Budgetted Costs

We need your support to bring this vision to life. Our goal is to raise $16,000 AUD ($8,000 per school) to establish these projects in the first year. Future years will have reduced costs, as the initial infrastructure will already be in place.

We are fully committed to transparency with our donors. Below is our budget for one school in 2025. Two schools are planned for development in Kenya, both commencing in January 2025.

Every donation goes directly to the project, as we operate entirely with volunteers and no administrative fees. While we are not a registered charity and cannot provide tax-deductible receipts, this ensures that 100% of your donation supports the cause, with no overhead costs. Please note that a 5% fee will be added at checkout to cover the platform provider's merchant and processing costs—this is not a Harvest Food Forest expense. If you'd prefer to make alternative donation arrangements, feel free to contact me directly.

For any inquiries, please contact Sharlene Cohen, Harvest Food Forest, at 0428 711 709 or via email at [email protected].