Fiston, 14 months old, and his grandmother, Miguelle Yassa, stand in her garden in Democratic Republic of Congo. Having their own fresh vegetables has changed their lives.

Fiston has been in his grandmother’s care since he was a severely malnourished 2-week-old  baby. After nearly a month in the hospital receiving therapeutic milk, his condition improved. Now it was Miguelle’s mission in life to maintain his health.

Their situation was not uncommon. Poor nutrition, lack of clean water, and lack of healthcare make child health a major issue in the Congo. The U.N. children’s agency reported that in the DRC, one child in seven dies before reaching their fifth birthday. 

Miguelle is confident that she can now raise Fiston to be a healthy child. World Vision taught her how to start and maintain a garden so they always have food.

“Before these gardens, it was difficult to regularly eat vegetables,” she says. “We always had to buy, and we did not always have money. Sometimes we did not eat for lack of means.”

Photo© 2014 World Vision, Alice Bafiala Mutombo