Harvesting Memories: Dementia Care Home Garden
We are working with a charity to construct a kitchen garden near the Dementia Care Home operated by Alzheimer and Dementia Namibia (ADN), located approximately 20km East of Swakopmund, Namibia. The garden will provide fresh produce for the ADN. Their residents and those from the other old age/dementia homes in town can access the garden, as well as the children from the schools with autism and other disabilities.
The aims of the project and the associated Rotary Foundation focus areas are:
- Improve the health of residents by ensuring they have access to fresh nutritious vegetables which contain vital vitamins and minerals (disease prevention/treatment)
- Create a space where residents can get involved in gardening and connect with nature, thereby reducing anxiety, stimulating the senses, creating a sense of purpose and providing an outlet for physical activity and social connection. (disease prevention/treatment, economic and community development)
- Equip staff and garden workers with basic horticultural skills and knowledge to maintain the garden in a sustainable manner (basic education and literacy)
- Ensure the garden is sustainable through savings on the cost of vegetables for residents’ meals, generating income by sale to the local community and creating a farm environment that is appealing to visitors (economic and community development)
- Create a positive environmental impact (environment)
RCWD will support the construction, training and mentoring over a six-month period until the garden is established and can provide a regular supply of vegetables to the kitchen and generate income from sales.