Dilulu Releases 2024 Annual Report

We are pleased to announce the release of Dilulu's 2024 Annual Report, highlighting our impact, financial transparency, and plans for the coming year. The report provides a comprehensive overview of our programs, partnerships, and achievements during the past year, as well as insights into our strategic direction for 2025 and beyond.

"This report represents a milestone year for Dilulu," says Executive Director Marie Ndongo. "Despite ongoing challenges in the regions we serve, we've seen remarkable growth in our programs and their impact. We're particularly proud of the increasing community ownership of initiatives we've helped establish."

The full report is available for download as a PDF from our website. Below, we highlight some key findings and achievements from the report.

2024 Impact Highlights

The past year saw significant expansion of our programs and their reach across multiple countries:

Beyond these numbers, we've seen qualitative improvements in several key areas:

• Increased food security: 82% of surveyed households with members participating in our programs reported improved access to nutritious food
• Knowledge transfer: 76% of trained teachers are now independently incorporating garden-based education into their curricula
• Community leadership: 31 community garden committees are now fully self-governing
• Environmental awareness: 91% of student participants demonstrated improved understanding of environmental concepts
• Income generation: 23 community gardens now generate surplus produce sold at local markets

Program Highlights

The report details achievements across our core program areas:

School Partnerships

Our School Partnerships program expanded to 65 new schools in 2024, with a focus on regions facing food insecurity and environmental challenges. The program now includes a more robust teacher training component, with 12 regional training hubs established to provide ongoing support and professional development.

Community Garden Initiatives

The Community Garden program saw the establishment of 18 new garden hubs, each serving as a demonstration and training center for surrounding communities. A new focus on market linkages helped several communities begin generating income from surplus produce.

Seed Saving Network

Our Seed Saving Network documented and preserved 15 indigenous vegetable varieties at risk of disappearing from local farming systems. The network expanded to include 28 trained seed guardians across five countries.

E-Learning Platform

November 2024 saw the launch of our E-Learning Platform with six comprehensive courses on sustainable gardening, composting, and natural living practices. By year-end, over 1,200 learners had enrolled in courses.

Financial Overview

The report provides a detailed breakdown of our financial position, demonstrating our commitment to transparency and responsible stewardship of resources.

The report includes a complete financial statement audited by an independent accounting firm, demonstrating our commitment to financial transparency and accountability.

Looking Ahead: Strategic Priorities for 2025

The report outlines our strategic priorities for the coming year:

1. Geographic Expansion: Launch of programs in Rwanda through a new partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and local community organizations
2. Curriculum Development: Creation of a comprehensive climate-resilient gardening curriculum for schools in drought-prone regions
3. Digital Access: Expansion of our E-Learning Platform with six new courses and improved mobile accessibility
4. Research Partnerships: Collaboration with universities to document and evaluate the impact of our programs
5. Community Leadership: Transition of 15 additional community garden hubs to full local management
6. Resource Development: Creation of educational materials in additional languages to reach more communities

"As we look to 2025, we're focused on deepening our impact while ensuring the sustainability of our programs," explains Board Chair Dr. Kwame Osei. "We're particularly excited about our expansion into Rwanda and our growing research partnerships, which will help us continually improve our approaches."

Acknowledgments

The report acknowledges the contributions of our donors, partners, staff, and volunteers who made our work possible in 2024. Special recognition is given to:

• Our 3,500+ individual donors
• 12 foundation partners
• 8 corporate sponsors
• 42 implementing partner organizations
• 187 participating schools
• 650+ volunteers who contributed over 12,000 hours

"None of our achievements would be possible without the dedication and support of our entire Dilulu community," says Marie Ndongo. "From the teachers implementing garden-based education to the donors who sustain our programs, each person plays a vital role in our collective impact."

Access the Full Report

The complete 2024 Annual Report is available for download as a PDF from our website. We invite all stakeholders to review the report and share feedback or questions.

Download the Full Report

For questions about the report or to request a printed copy, please contact info@dilulu.org.