Stories
October 15, 2026 • 3 min read
Christine Aran has improved her family’s diet and household income after joining a programme implemented by GOAL with the support of Irish Aid in Northern Uganda. Using the knowledge and subsidised bean seed she received, she harvested approximately 260 kg of beans from 20 kg of seed, earning money to cover school fees and medical expenses while providing her family with nutritious food.
At 59, Christine Aran spent much of her life caring for her family in Kalagum Village, Northern Uganda. As a mother of nine children, she understands the challenge of providing nutritious food, education, and healthcare for a large household with limited resources. Today, Christine’s story is not only one of resilience, but also of learning, improved household food security and community leadership.
Planting the Seeds of Change
In June 2025, Christine joined a nutrition group supported by GOAL Uganda in partnership with local partners, Patongo Counselling Community Outreach (PCCO) and Harvest thrive Limited. Recognised by her community for her commitment to improving child nutrition, she became one of the female lead participants in the Nutrition Impact and Positive Practices (NIPP) approach. To date, 2,840 people have benefited from this approach.
Through the programme, Christine learned practical ways to prevent malnutrition by producing nutritious food at home, preparing balanced meals, and adopting healthier feeding practices.
Before joining the programme, Christine struggled to provide her family with a sufficiently diverse and nutritious diet. Like many households in her community, limited access to agricultural inputs, nutrition knowledge and reliable income affected the family’s ability to consistently access healthy food.
From Learning to Harvest
Through the NIPP training, Christine learned how to grow nutrient-rich vegetables and improve household food production. She also bought nutrient-dense, iron-rich bean seed, sold by GOAL partner Harvest Thrive Limited at a subsidized price, which she planted in June of 2025.
The results came quickly.
“The beans matured very quickly,” Christine recalls. “From just 20 kg of bean seed, I harvested two sacks and three basins of beans, approximately 260 kg.”
The market price for 20 kg of bean seed is approximately UGX 100,000 (€22). Through GOAL’s subsidy, participating households can purchase the same quantity for UGX 45,000 (€10), less than half the market price.
Harvesting Better Health and New Opportunities
Christine did not consume the entire harvest. She sold part of it and earned UGX 400,000 (€87.34), which she used to pay school fees and meet medical expenses for one of her daughters, who lives with epilepsy. The beans she retained contributed to a more nutritious household diet and helped ensure that her children had regular access to protein-rich meals.
The benefits have extended beyond Christine’s household. She now shares what she has learned with other parents, encouraging them to prepare balanced meals and provide appropriate care for children who are at risk of malnutrition. She has also supported neighboring families by offering practical advice on food production and healthy feeding.
Combining Nutrition and Agricultural Support
The programme brings together nutrition knowledge, home food production, improved seed and community leadership, helping families tackle poor nutrition at its source and ease some of the financial pressure behind it.
Her story reflects a wider challenge faced by many rural households in Uganda. Nationally, 26% of children under five are stunted, a sign of chronic undernutrition, while limited access to quality agricultural inputs and nutrition knowledge continues to affect many farming families.
By combining practical nutrition education with access to improved seed, the Irish Aid’s ICSP Programme is helping households grow and eat a wider range of foods, strengthening both food security and resilience.
Growing a Healthier Future
GOAL Uganda, with the ICSP program and working alongside local partners, has reached more than 20,000 people with support to grow more food at home, improve how they feed their children and strengthen local leadership. Two approaches sit at the centre of this work: Nutrition Impact and Positive Practice (NIPP) and Community Conversations. Both address the social and behavioural factors behind poor nutrition among children under five, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and women of reproductive age. Christine’s story shows what this looks like in one household.
