Using a UNDP project as a model, a similar strategy was employed for rural Old Umtali near modern Mutare, Zimbabwe in 1996 to provide food for children at the St. Werburg's Primary School.  

At the beginning of this, our first project, a drought was severally hampering food production in the region and the population survived due to international relief efforts.  Many children suffered the devastating effects of malnutrition, unable to concentrate on their school work. 

Experimentation revealed bamboo pots and growing tubes effective for hydroponic gardens and containers, as well as crushed wood chips used as a growing media. 

Today children are learning to provide for their own needs without degrading their environment or resources, revealing positive results and giving great hope for the future.  There is much more knowledge and learning to be done. 

Growing Food Without Land 
Hydroponics can rehabilitate both man and environment.  When applied in conjunction with solar and other resource conserving and enhancing technologies and methods, energy and resources are spared in comparison to traditional agricultural methods.  

Hydroponic culture needs about 1/20th the water, can produce up to six times the yield in less than 1/3 the space, and does not require soil for cultivation.  Where water is scarce and hand carried, where soil is of poor quality or is not available, where food is needed on site daily, hydroponics is providing a fresh food source for children and families.  

Recycling all nutrient solution in the watering process conserves resources and labor.  Hydroponics can be cultured by inorganic nutrients, chemical fertilizers or organically.  Organic nutrients such as worm castings and composted bat guano are readily available in much of rural Africa and have been successfully applied in Mutare. 

See also: 
Letters from Veronicah 
History of Mutare and Region 
Jerusalen Hydroponic Project, Bogota, Colombia 
UNDP Projects Used for Model Development