–written by Bernadette Wasike, an alumnus of HHFL

Its been a while! Hello HHFL community.  Bernadette here, still your artist but this time I am here to share an update on my horticulturalistpassion.

Earlier this year, I got invited for an interview for a social media manager role and assistant project manager at St. Therese Roussel House in Karen. 

I had high hopes as I felt the interview went well, however they took awhile to get back to me. 

Then, this one particular day, I received a call from the managing Sister, set for a meeting in which I was informed that I had got that job.

The job would involve managing their social media accounts since they didn’t have any at that time so I would be responsible for creating and running their social accounts. 

I was to also work as a project assistant. They have several projects running within the facility which are a vocational school , a guest house and a small garden. 

For the vocational school one of my roles would be to draft proposals and look for funding so that these students can continue with their education. I was to also be responsible with marketing their skills to ensure successful placements after graduation.

For the guest house through social media marketing I was to be responsible for bringing in clients.

Given my background in horticultural studies, I would be contributing expert advice where necessary for the garden. 

When I joined the Vertical Garden project as the assistant coordinator, I quickly realized that this is much more than an agricultural initiative—it is a project that is transforming lives.

Many of the families we work with have limited land, making it difficult to grow enough food for their households. Through the introduction of vertical gardens, they are now able to produce fresh vegetables in small spaces, improving both household nutrition and food security. What was once an unused corner of a homestead has become a thriving source of healthy food.

One of the most inspiring aspects of this project is seeing community members gain confidence in their ability to provide for their families. Women, youth, and older persons are actively participating in the trainings, learning practical farming techniques that they can sustain using locally available resources. Beyond feeding their families, some participants have started selling surplus vegetables, creating an additional source of income.

As the Project Assistant Coordinator, I feel privileged to witness these changes firsthand. Every training session, every garden established, and every success story reminds me that sustainable solutions can have a lasting impact when communities are empowered with the right knowledge and support. So far, we have trained about 600 people and the sky could only be the limit.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve in this role. It is incredibly fulfilling to be part of a project that restores hope, promotes self-reliance, and strengthens community resilience. I look forward to continuing this journey and working alongside our partners and donors to reach even more households with the life-changing benefits of vertical gardening.