7 January 2026
Over 6,500 fruit trees distributed and planted!
The new year is off to a good start. Sustainable Villages Foundation, together with ‘Here for Hope’, has distributed over 6,500 fruit trees to households and schools.
has distributed over 6,500 fruit trees to households and schools.
A total of 456 households in our project area each received five avocado, four papaya and three tree tomato trees, which they planted immediately. Tree tomatoes are also known as tamarillos (solanum betaceum). They are not actually tomatoes, grow on trees and are rich in vitamin C, vitamin A and antioxidants. They originate from South America but are widespread and popular in East Africa.
Papayas can bear fruit in less than a year, tree tomatoes take about two years, and avocados can be harvested for the first time after three years in the best case. The fruits will enrich the households' diet. In the medium term, surplus fruit can be sold, contributing to an improvement in income.
We have also distributed 376 papaya, 232 tree tomato, 220 avocado, 150 guava and 80 jackfruit trees to the primary schools Juru, Cyirabo, Gatora and Mbuye. Here, too, the trees were planted immediately. They are part of the school garden programme we have organised, which aims to provide high-quality vegetables and fruit for school meals and, at the same time, teach pupils about gardening and raise their awareness of healthy eating through school garden clubs.
We purchased the avocado trees from the organisation ‘One Acre Fund’, while all other fruit trees came from the nursery of our partner ‘Here for Hope’.
We will expand both the planting of fruit trees and the support of school gardens in 2026 and 2027. A real feel-good programme!