11-1B Nubian United Benevolent International Association
Grant Round:
2011 Spring
Grant Program:
Boston Grants
Grant Type:
Other Grants
Grant amount requested:
10,000.00
Grant amount awarded:
$8,000.00
Attachments
Please provide a brief description of the project for which you seek funding.
NUBIA is a non-profit and community based organization that is concerned with social, educational and cultural programs. In 2009 our organization engaged in gardening activities under a program that we named Seed & Yield at Charlestown Sprouts Community Garden, with the help of Gardening thru Refugee Organizations (GRO) and the Boston Natural Areas Network (BNAN). This activity had a great welcome from our community— especially the kids who had fun, gained knowledge and skills about gardening and the environment, and helped them get outdoors together during the summer. Besides the practical gardening skills learned by the community’s youth, they have done homework in gardening research. This was beneficial to them in learning research as a skill and implementing it in the real world. Also as a result of this success our community’s general Secretary/ Clerk proudly has been chosen and appointed by the gardeners at Charlestown Sprouts Community Garden (and the recommendation of BNAN) for the volunteer position of Coordinator for the Charlestown Sprouts Community Garden. This success has encouraged us to continue our organizing and planning for the coming summer. We are working with GRO and BNAN to build another 20 plots in Charlestown for immigrant and refugee gardeners from East Africa, including Somali, Sudanese, Eritrean, Ethiopian and Egyptian gardeners. These plots are being built in the spring using funding from BNAN and the GRO project. Additionally, we are working with BNAN to secure plots in Dorchester and Roxbury for community members. Last summer, and after we got $7000 fund we were working in three different programs. First was the family garden in Charlestown, we help 14 gardeners from the community and 8 gardeners from Somali's gardeners, and we were in top 5 in Mayor Menino's contest. Community garden was only 6 plots in Charlestown and open space in Dorchester, we had very nice season, also we were in top 5 in Mayor Menino's contest, and we donate almost 2000 pounds of produce. The last was the back-yard gardens, by working with BNAN, GRO and Food project we built 5 backyard gardens, they grow vegetables and share with neighbors. Next year we plan use more space in Dorchester beside Charlestown for our youth to continue grow fresh, organic produce, grow more new plants, to distribute in our neighborhood through our partner, The Harvest on Vine Food Pantry in Charlestown, Food pantry in Allston Brighton, the sick and elderly of our own Nubian community, and other communities. This will help the youth get exercise, learn about gardening and the environment, and, at the same time develop a sense of civic spirit and community service. In addition, our kids over the age of sixteen will have the opportunity to develop leadership skills as supervisors of the younger kids. While we are receiving help from GRO , BNAN and Food Project to build the beds, our Seed & Yield program plan has many more time and monetary consequences. Thus, we seek your generous help to meet these burdens. We have attached here some documents that illustrate some of our gardening activities from last summer (2010).
Project Summary
NUBIA received a grant in 2011 for stipends for the coordinator and teacher, overhead of the NUBIAN Center, tools materials and a grow light system for starting seedlings.
Primary Issue Area:
Food
Please break-down/categorize the program expenses:
| Proposed Item | Estimated $ Amount | Would grant funds be used for this item? |
|---|---|---|
| Overhead (NUBIAN Center rent, phone and internet service) | $3,600.00 | Yes |
| Transportation fuel | $1,300.00 | Yes |
| Tools, seeds, soil amendments, gloves, plants and other gardening materials | $1,000.00 | Yes |
| Stipends for primary Coordinator and Teacher | $2,500.00 | Yes |
| Education Materials | $800.00 | Yes |
| Lighting and seedling | $800.00 | Yes |
Whom does your group need to make this project happen?
Please explain how your group will engage members from your community in this project.
We are trying to reach at least 240 families between Nubian members, Sudanese families, and neighbors in Allston Brighton area “Allston Brighton CDC” and involve them in the project. The board members will oversee the community members, who direct the youth (over 16), and the youth supervise the kids. This structure worked well with our program in 2010 and will translate well to our expanded program this coming summer. Everyone, from the board members to the youngest kids helped on seeding, irrigation, weeding, and cleaning. The adults in our community were responsible for donating foods, drinks, and giving transportation for volunteers who face difficulties getting to and from the garden lot. This project addresses the need for good summer programs for refugee youth in our neighborhood. It provides a much-needed opportunity for youth to stay out of trouble, acquire academic and leadership skills while also getting outside, being active, and learning to appreciate the environment through contact with nature. Finally, it also addresses hunger in the community, and getting new food from back home. We address all of these areas by creating a leadership structure that allows the older kids (aged 16- 19) to lead activities for the younger kids. The older kids also learn to research scientific topics (including soil, plant biology, and plant varieties) and teach what they learn to the younger kids. And when they donate fresh food to people in need, they feel good about themselves. Instead of being on the streets in the summertime, kids can work together in this program and parents will not be worried about them. For the very expensive green houses & our limited budget we will run seedling program inside our center, so we will use one side shelf or two sides after we see our budget.
If your group receives a NEGEF Grow grant, how do you plan to pay for remaining expenses?
| $ Amount | Source |
|---|---|
| $10,000.00 | NEGEF BGI Grant |
Please list these materials or services
| $ Amount | Item |
|---|---|
| $20,400.00 | Community cash contributions to the overhead of the NUBIAN center |
| $6,000.00 | Sayed Ali - use of time and personal vehicle (large van) for transportation of people and materials |
| $16,000.00 | 14 volunteers (value based on average of 12 hours per week per volunteer) |
| $700.00 | Food and beverage donated by families |
| $15,000.00 | Full renovation of the hall garden. I do not know how much for our space. |
Please describe what changes will occur in your community and its environment when your group's project is successful.
We expect that, our coming season, will start mid January by designing seedling shelf and its lighting, then start seedling program until May, so we will have a long season to work together, and this will protect the youth and kids from the Street. And give a safe summer environment for the families, youth and kids involved in the NUBIA Seed & Yield project. Our kids will gain more knowledge and skills and enhance their ability to conduct research and therefore improve their academic abilities. The kids will also learn to appreciate nature by being outside, and to appreciate the earth because the earth is where our food comes from. Also, we will create cultural exchange by participating in several community gardens. This gives us an opportunity to share our culture, learn the culture of others, and integrate into the diverse U.S. culture. Beside the usual produce grown in America, last season we grow new vegetables mostly unknown to gardeners here, which grow in our Nubian/African native land. Fortunately these vegetables have succeeded so far and all communities were very happy with that, we donate almost 2000 pounds to a Haitian program, food pantry in Charlestown, elder houses in Harbor Point, and any one in need. In addition we are in the process of building relationships with local organizations in Allston Brighton area like Allston Brighton CDC, food pantries, food banks and churches to help us distribute some of the coming season’s produce to needy people throughout Boston. This will help hungry people in our city obtain access to fresh, nutritious food.
Please list how many people in your community your group expects to actively engage in this project.
240