Our Mission

The Roots Project believes that agricultural and sustainability projects can make lasting differences in orphanages worldwide. Using the philosophy, "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime", we fund agricultural projects that allow orphanages to create their own source of income in order to cut food costs, produce better food choices, and eliminate the orphanage's dependency on charitable aid.

salomon shovel (2).jpg

However, our impact transcends past just income generating programs, we use gardening and farming as our tool of choice to build confidence, self-esteem, and entrepreneurial skills in children living in these orphanages.

kids last day.JPG

 

Our mission plans to combat issues like nutritional security, malnutrition, and disenfranchisement; and Ecuador is a great place to start. Ecuador is located in the northwestern part of South America and is home to around 16 million people. It is a country rich in culture, coastlines, and the most beautiful mountainous landscapes one could ever lay their eyes on.

But, it is also a nation that has faced political instability causing a skewed distribution of wealth, which in return has left a vast portion of the population living without basic necessities like food. Those who do have food don't necessarily have the healthiest options due to lack of accessibility, and those that do usually can't afford it. The issue of food and nutritional security is one that has continued to cripple the thriving country with around 25% of the population suffering from chronic malnutrition.

Yes, you read that right, a quarter of the population is suffering from malnutrition. A child who is hungry cannot compete at the same level as a child who gets three healthy meals a day. Malnourished kids are more likely to be stunted, have impaired cognitive ability, weakened performance at school, and are more susceptible to infections and death. Growing organic food and integrating them into these kids diets at the orphanage is step one on the path of being empowered. We firmly believe that these programs will open the door to endless possibilities for these children and allow them to reach their full potential, and grow into strong and healthy adults.