Youth On Board Organization is a non-profit organization that focuses on Creating Climate Resilience Communities through permaculture initiatives in agriculture to tackle poverty, hunger, and malnutrition among Youths, Girls & women affected by war and conflict, and farmers.
Vision and Mission: Our Vision is to establish a Permagreen-Nutrition Lab as an international learning hub for permaculture. This hub aims to empower and uplift Malawian communities living in poverty by offering training and resources related to permaculture and climate actions.
Our mission involves creating Climate resilience communities by providing permaculture training to Youth, Girls & Women affected by war at Dzaleka refugee camp, local Youth farmers, entrepreneurs, NGOs, government entities, school children, individuals with disabilities, and street kids. This training is designed to alleviate poverty and address issues such as hunger, malnutrition, and resource depletion.
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Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals: Creating Climate Resilience Communities
The initiatives undertaken by the Youth On Board Organization align closely with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set forth by the United Nations. These goals include:
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No Poverty (SDG 1): By promoting self-sufficiency and sustainable agriculture practices, Youth On Board aims to combat poverty among women and girls affected by war and farming communities.
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Zero Hunger (SDG 2): Through year-round harvesting and improved food security, the organization contributes towards reducing hunger and malnutrition.
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Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3): By improving nutrition through sustainable farming practices, Youth On Board supports better health outcomes for communities.
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Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12): The focus on reducing waste aligns with SDG 12’s objective of promoting responsible consumption and production.
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Climate Action (SDG 13): Implementing permaculture practices contributes to climate action by promoting sustainable land use and reducing environmental impact.
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Achievements
From 2014 to 2023, Youth On Board Organization has achieved significant milestones in their efforts to promote permaculture initiatives in agriculture. Some of their key achievements include:
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Establishing operational permaculture hubs in communities and at Dzaleka Refugee camp
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Training women at Dzaleka refugee camp,farmers, youths, and primary school children in permaculture practices
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Collaborating with the government to integrate permaculture curricula into primary school education
The people who make a difference in the world hold the unshakable conviction that individuals are extremely important and that every life matters. They get excited over one smile. They are willing to feed one stomach, educate one mind and treat one wound. They aren't determined to revolutionize the world all at once; they are satisfied with small changes. Over time, though, the small changes add up. Sometimes they even transform cities and nations, and yes, the WORLD. (Beth Clark)
2014-2024 Achievements
Trained 9,000 youth farmers including Girls & women affected by war at Dzaleka Camp and engaged with 600 schools from 2014 to 2022. With UNDP support (2022-2024), the impact tripled to reach 27,000 farmers. Each trained Youth farmer shared knowledge with about 200 others, impacting over 5.4 million individuals. Our work showcases commitment to sustainable solutions and measurable outcomes, Achieving SDGs 1, 2, 3, 12, and 13, eradicating poverty.
Our Work:
Creating Climate resilience Communities
Integrating permaculture education into school curricula.
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By teaching students about sustainable farming practices early on, future generations we equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to address food security challenges and contribute to poverty alleviation efforts in their communities.
Our Work
Training Youths, Girls & Women and farmers how to plant indigenous crops that are climate resilient.
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One key aspect of permaculture farming is the planting of indigenous crops that complement each other. By selecting plant species that have symbiotic relationships or provide mutual benefits, farmers can create a more resilient and productive ecosystem. This approach not only enhances biodiversity but also helps restore long-lost ecosystems that may have been disrupted by conventional farming practices.
Our Work
Achieving Food Security and eradicating hunger, poverty and Malnutrition
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Our Youth farmers are educated in permaculture practices, cultivating a diverse range of crops to enhance food security, thereby contributing to the alleviation of hunger, poverty, and malnutrition.
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The diversified crops grown through permaculture methods provide a steady supply of nutritious food, thus playing a crucial role in combating hunger and malnutrition. The increased productivity from these practices lead to surplus produce that is sold or shared within the community, lifting farmers out of poverty.
Collaboration
Collaboration for Permaculture Training in Impoverished Communities
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In our efforts to provide extensive permaculture training and support to farmers in the poorest communities, our team actively collaborates with other permaculture trainers. By joining forces with these experts, we are able to utilize their knowledge and resources to reach thousands of farmers who are in need of sustainable agricultural practices.
Cooking Demonstrations
Cooking Demonstrations for Girls & Women at Dzaleka Camp and Farmers on Sustainable Eating Practices
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Since 2022, we have organized and conducted more than 350 cooking demonstrations aimed at training women and farmers on how to prepare delicious and nutritious meals. These demonstrations focus on utilizing locally harvested food from their permaculture farms. The emphasis is on sustainable eating practices, encouraging farmers to consume seasonal produce.
Permaculture practical sessions with School Children
In our efforts to promote sustainable practices and environmental awareness, we have successfully reached out to 600 schools to provide training on permaculture. This initiative includes educating students, teachers, and staff about the principles of permaculture and assisting them in setting up permaculture school gardens.
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Training Program Implementation
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The training program involves workshops, seminars, hands-on activities, and educational materials tailored to each school’s needs and resources. Our team of experts conducts interactive sessions to teach participants about permaculture design, soil health, water conservation, plant diversity, and sustainable gardening techniques.
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Setting Up Permaculture School Gardens
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After the training sessions, we work closely with each school to establish permaculture school gardens. These gardens serve as living laboratories where students can apply their knowledge in a practical setting. The gardens are designed to mimic natural ecosystems, promote biodiversity, conserve resources, and provide hands-on learning opportunities for students of all ages.
Explanation of Permaculture Zones:
In permaculture design, the concept of zones is used to organize and plan the layout of a property based on the frequency of human interaction and maintenance required for different areas. The zones are typically numbered from 0 to 5, with Zone 0 being the center of activity or the home, and Zone 5 representing wild or natural areas that require minimal human intervention. Read more on permaculture Zones .
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