The Chaya Tree Project

EMPOWERING WOMEN. FEEDING FAMILIES.

Chaya tree leaves are one of the most nutritious foods in the world with the potential to change the landscape of health for an entire country. One Chaya tree can supplement the nutrition for one person for a lifetime and empower the women who feed their families and communities to help them thrive. Cuttings from each tree will be given to others to plant a tree, unlocking exponential impact.

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The Chaya Tree Project

When MATTER donor Sandi Young learned that Chaya was one of the most nutritious plants in the world and one of the easiest to grow, she partnered with MATTER to start the Chaya Tree Project. Not only is this project addressing the malnutrition crisis in Zimbabwe, but it’s also empowering the women there. Through farming co-ops, the women receive training on how to grow and cook Chaya. They are also learning ways to use the crop to generate extra income for their families.

Learn more about Chaya HERE

“It’s a privilege to work with MATTER to do all this. There’s some amazing talent on the team. We’re just going to keep trying to make it better and better. Hopefully we can take this to countries beyond Zimbabwe and solve nutritional issues in other areas. The prospect of all that is very inspiring.” – Sandi Young

Why Chaya

The Chaya tree is nature’s solution to malnutrition. Its leaves are one of the most nutritious vegetables in the world. It is also drought-resistant and grows easily from cuttings. It thrives in dry, sandy soil, and is resistant to the pests and diseases that plague other crops. Once established, Chaya doesn’t need much attention, making it one of the easiest foods to grow. Like all trees, Chaya has environmental benefits leading to cleaner air, less soil erosion and carbon sequestration benefits.