Adam Liaw Instagram – As one of the most densely populated countries in the world, and which is largely covered by mountains, and relying largely on subsistence farming, agricultural land in Burundi is scarce. This vertical vegetable garden is part of @UNICEFAustralia’s Createable project. It’s an absolutely incredible project that has exceed all of our expectations. Createable teaches schoolchildren practical skills like vertical multi-season farming, and how to build and operate highly efficient rocket stoves. The students here at Lycée Muruta in Burundi’s Muyinga Province learn about these projects, as well as things like fertiliser production and solar distillation. One thing that is clearly apparent to me on the ground here in Burundi is how systemic poverty is a multidimensional problem, and how the solutions we introduce to tackle multidimensional problems must be multidimensional themselves. Createable is a fabulous example of that. It’s not just about growing vegetables or reducing the need for firewood – it increases access to food, increases yields, decreases malnutrition, reduces the need to rent land, reduces household costs, generates income (through the sale of surplus vegetables), and keeps children in school longer by teaching practical rather than purely theoretical skills.