In Dzaleka, where unemployment exceeds 70% and malnutrition rates are rising, the WPTAGP offers more than food it restores agency. By merging sustainable agriculture with vocational training in sustainable farming, we help women rebuild their lives from the ground up.
At Women Palm Tree Organization (WPTO), we harness the transformative power of agriculture to combat hunger, restore dignity, and build self-reliance among displaced and vulnerable women in Dzaleka Refugee Camp. Rooted in the strength and adaptability of the palm tree, our mission is a lifeline for those rebuilding their lives from the ground up.
Our organic, camp-based garden grows over 15 varieties of vegetables—including Chinese, tomatoes, and spinach—using sustainable practices like composting, crop rotation, and rainwater harvesting. Harvests are distributed weekly to 500+ families, prioritizing widows, single mothers, and young girls facing malnutrition.
Why This Matters:
Fight Hunger: Fresh produce bridges gaps in food aid, ensuring children and mothers receive vital vitamins.
Climate Resilience: Drought-resistant crops and permaculture techniques protect harvests against Malawi’s erratic weather.
Community Ownership: Refugee and host community members co-manage plots, fostering unity and reducing resource tensions.
We train 60+ women annually in:
Modern Techniques: Vertical farming, organic pest control, and soil health management.
Agribusiness Skills: Budgeting, marketing, and cooperative management to turn surplus into income.
Climate-Smart Practices: Seed-saving, water conservation, and agroforestry to adapt to environmental challenges.
Why This Matters:
Economic Independence: Graduates launch micro-farms or join cooperatives, earning up to $50/month—a critical sum in Dzaleka.
Knowledge Transfer: Women train their families and neighbors, multiplying impact across the camp.
Sustainable Livelihoods: Skills endure beyond displacement, empowering women to thrive wherever life takes them.
Before this garden, my children ate once a day. Now, we have greens every meal, and I share seeds with my neighbors.
This garden is not just about vegetables; it’s about dignity. For the first time since fleeing war, I can feed my children and dream of a future."
This soil isn’t just for planting seeds; it’s where I rebuild my life. For the first time in years, I’m not just surviving; I’m a farmer, a provider, and a mother with purpose.
These vegetables feed my children today, but the skills I learn here will feed their futures. War took my home, but this garden taught me I can grow a new one.
An NGO dedicated to empowering vulnerable women, girls, single mothers, and widows in Dowa Dzaleka Refugee Camp, Malawi.
