A small harvest, a great beginning In the midst of freshly cultivated fields, where the wind smells of earth and future, a simple yet powerful story is taking shape. It is the story of Darou Mboudj, a village in Senegal where waiting for onions becomes a metaphor for something greater: the hope that sprouts when seeds are sown with care, together.
Tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce The first harvest – essentially a test – has taken place. A general rehearsal, we could say. Yet already rich with meaning and potential. The agricultural project launched in Darou Mboudj, as part of the initiatives promoted by Bambini nel Deserto, funded by Deloitte Fondation and with the support of the Network of Popular Dance Associations of Turin, has reached its first milestone. And every milestone, as we know, is also a new starting point.
Laying the foundation for a dream: water, energy, organization Everything needed to cultivate the land has been thought out, built, and put into action: The irrigation system, powered by a submersible pump connected to a well (forage), has enabled regular water distribution in the fields. The photovoltaic solar system provides the energy needed to run the pump, ensuring both environmental and economic sustainability. Seedbeds, carefully prepared on the ground, have given life to all the necessary seedlings: the first tangible sign that the land has responded well. The GIE (Economic Interest Group), composed of local community members, has begun its path of organization and shared labor. And not only that. The fruit trees planted in recent months – mango, papaya, guava – are flourishing. Another sign that we’re heading in the right direction.
Not just agriculture; community Darou Mboudj is more than just a cultivated field. It’s a place of connection, exchange, and human growth alongside plant growth. Over the past months, around the furrows in the earth, stories, skills, and enthusiasm have come together. The rural community – men, women, elders, youth – actively participated in the project. Our agronomist brought knowledge and structure. Local friends and collaborators – from the taxi drivers who accompany us daily to the curious onlookers – enriched this journey. The result? Not just vegetables on the table of the organic market, but new connections. Trust. And a new awareness: structures alone do not change an environment. Relationships do. The real ones. The ones that withstand the heat and fatigue, that are nurtured by genuine exchange.
Le strutture, da sole, non trasformano un ambiente. Il fulcro concettuale dell’ambiente sono le relazioni tra esseri viventi che condividono lo stesso spazio e lo stesso tempo, pur avendo specificità e bisogni diversi. Ciascuno ap-porta, ciascuno prende e ciascuno ap-prende in costante ricerca di equilibrio. Noi abbiamo modificato questo piccolo angolo di mondo sperando di averlo fatto con delicatezza , equilibrio e saggezza, e sicuramente anche… con qualche errore.
The first lessons from the field Every project, no matter how well planned, reveals its truth only when tested by reality. That’s why, along with the harvest, an important set of reflections has also emerged. Among them:
The need to better select crops based on the local market, to increase economic sustainability.
Improved management of agricultural labor to avoid overlap or inefficiencies.
A focus on agricultural biodiversity and soil regeneration as a foundation for healthy, long-lasting farming.
The start of planning small greenhouses, to protect the seedbeds and ensure continued production even during the rainy season.
It’s just the beginning. But what a beginning! While waiting for the onions, we celebrate this first harvest. Not because it’s perfect, but because it’s real, concrete, and shared. Because it’s the fruit of collective work, of dreams rooted in the earth and eyes looking forward. And because, among the furrows and leaves, something is beginning to take shape – something that goes beyond food; a new possibility for Darou Mboudj. We at Bambini nel Deserto will continue to walk alongside this community. To sow, harvest, adjust, improve. To believe that every garden, every tomato, every onion that will grow is a small step toward a more just world.
