Frequently Asked Questions

Dilulu is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering communities across Africa through sustainable gardening, composting, and natural living programs. Our name comes from a Myene word (from Gabon) that means "to grow" or "to cultivate." We work with schools, communities, and individuals to establish gardens, implement composting systems, and provide education on sustainable practices.

Dilulu currently operates in five African countries: Gabon, Senegal, Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda. Our headquarters is in Libreville, Gabon, with regional offices in each country where we work. We're gradually expanding to other countries based on partnerships and funding opportunities.

Dilulu is funded through a combination of grants from foundations and international development organizations, individual donations, corporate partnerships, and revenue from our shop and educational programs. We're committed to financial transparency and publish annual reports detailing our income and expenditures on our website.

You can contact us through our Contact page, by email at info@dilulu.org, or by phone at +123 456 7890. Our headquarters is located in Libreville, Gabon. We also have social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, where you can send us direct messages.

Yes, we regularly offer internships and occasionally have job openings across our various locations. Internships typically last 3-6 months and provide hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture, community development, education, or non-profit management. Current opportunities are listed on our Careers page.

Dilulu offers several core programs:

• Community Garden Program: Establishing and supporting community gardens in urban and rural areas
• School Garden Program: Creating educational gardens in schools and providing curriculum support
• Composting Initiative: Implementing composting systems at household, school, and community levels
• Seed Saving Network: Preserving and distributing indigenous and heirloom seed varieties
• Natural Living Workshops: Educational workshops on sustainable practices for everyday life

Visit our Programs page for more detailed information.

Communities interested in our programs can start by completing an interest form on our website. Our team will then contact you to discuss your community's needs, resources, and goals. We typically begin with a community assessment and planning process, followed by training and implementation support. We prioritize communities that demonstrate strong local leadership and commitment to program sustainability.

Most of our community and school programs are offered at no or minimal cost to participants, thanks to our donors and partners. However, we do encourage community investment (which can be in-kind contributions like labor or materials) to ensure program sustainability and ownership. Our workshops and some specialized training programs may have nominal fees, with scholarships available for those who cannot afford to pay.

Our typical program cycle includes 1-2 years of active support, followed by periodic check-ins and technical assistance as needed. We focus on building local capacity and leadership from the beginning, with the goal of programs becoming self-sustaining. Many communities and schools in our network continue to receive benefits through our broader community of practice, including access to resources, training opportunities, and peer learning exchanges.

Yes, our programs typically include starter kits with seeds, basic tools, and educational materials. We prioritize locally adapted seed varieties and appropriate technologies that can be maintained and replaced locally. As programs mature, we help communities develop systems for saving seeds and maintaining tools to reduce dependency on external inputs.

Schools interested in partnering with Dilulu can apply through our School Partnerships page. The application process includes information about your school, available space for a garden, teacher involvement, and educational goals. We select partner schools based on commitment, need, and our capacity in your region. Once selected, we work with you to design a garden program that meets your specific educational objectives and context.

Our school partnerships typically include:

• Garden design and installation support
• Teacher training on garden-based education
• Curriculum resources aligned with educational standards
• Basic garden tools and initial seeds/seedlings
• Ongoing technical support and troubleshooting
• Connection to our network of school gardens for peer learning

The specific package depends on the school's needs, existing resources, and our funding capacity.

School gardens can be adapted to various space constraints. While a dedicated plot of land (minimum 10m x 10m) is ideal, we've successfully implemented gardens in much smaller spaces using container gardening, vertical growing systems, and raised beds. Even schools with no ground space can participate through windowsill gardens, indoor growing systems, or by partnering with nearby community spaces.

This is a common challenge that we address in our planning process. Solutions include:

• Creating a holiday maintenance schedule with volunteer teachers, parents, or community members
• Installing simple irrigation systems that reduce maintenance needs
• Planting crops that align with the school calendar
• Establishing a "garden club" of nearby students who can access the garden during holidays
• Partnering with community organizations that can assist with maintenance

We work with each school to develop a maintenance plan that fits their specific context and resources.

School gardens are versatile educational tools that can support learning across multiple subjects:

• Science: Plant biology, ecosystems, soil science, weather, and climate
• Math: Measurement, data collection and analysis, geometry, and budgeting
• Language Arts: Nature journaling, descriptive writing, research, and presentation skills
• Social Studies: Cultural food traditions, agricultural history, and global food systems
• Health: Nutrition, food preparation, and physical activity
• Art: Observational drawing, garden design, and natural crafts

Our curriculum resources include lesson plans that align with educational standards while using the garden as a learning laboratory.

We offer several volunteering opportunities:

• Local Volunteers: Regular volunteering at our gardens, events, or offices in countries where we operate
• Skilled Volunteers: Contributing professional skills in areas like education, agriculture, marketing, or administration
• Virtual Volunteers: Supporting our work remotely through translation, content creation, research, or digital tasks
• Service Learning: Structured volunteer experiences for student groups or corporate teams

To get started, visit our Volunteer page and complete the volunteer interest form.

No, gardening experience is not required for most volunteer roles. We provide training and guidance for garden-related tasks. We value diverse skills and have volunteer opportunities in education, event planning, administration, communications, and more. If you have specific skills you'd like to contribute, we'll try to match you with appropriate projects.

Time commitments vary by role:

• Event Volunteers: As little as a few hours for a single event
• Regular Local Volunteers: We typically ask for a commitment of at least 4 hours per month for 3 months
• Skilled Volunteers: Depends on the project, usually 5-10 hours per month for 3-6 months
• International Volunteers: Minimum 1 month, preferably 3+ months

We're flexible and can work with your availability to find a suitable volunteer opportunity.

Yes, we accept international volunteers with relevant skills and a commitment of at least one month. International volunteers are responsible for their own travel expenses, visas, accommodation, and daily living costs. We provide a thorough orientation, meaningful work assignments, and local support. International volunteer opportunities are limited and subject to a selective application process to ensure a good fit with our current needs.

Yes, we welcome volunteer groups from schools, universities, companies, and community organizations. We can arrange special volunteer days or service-learning projects for groups of 5-20 people. These experiences can be customized to meet educational objectives or team-building goals while contributing meaningfully to our work. Please contact us at least two months in advance to plan a group volunteer experience.

You can donate to Dilulu in several ways:

• Online: Make a secure donation through our Donate page
• Bank Transfer: Contact us for our bank details
• Mobile Money: Available in countries where we operate
• Check: Mail to our headquarters in Libreville, Gabon

We accept one-time donations as well as monthly recurring donations.

Tax deductibility depends on your country of residence:

• Donations are tax-deductible in Gabon, Senegal, Ghana, Kenya, and Rwanda for residents of those countries
• For donors in the United States, donations are tax-deductible through our fiscal sponsor, Global Giving
• For donors in other countries, please consult your local tax regulations regarding charitable donations to international organizations

We provide donation receipts for all contributions.

Yes, you can designate your donation for specific programs or countries where we work. On our donation form, you'll find options to direct your gift to:

• School Garden Program
• Community Garden Program
• Composting Initiative
• Seed Saving Network
• Educational Resources Development
• Specific country operations

You can also choose to make an unrestricted donation, which allows us to allocate funds where they're most needed.

Approximately 85% of donations go directly to program implementation, with the remaining 15% supporting essential administrative and fundraising functions. This ratio may vary slightly year to year, but we're committed to maximizing the impact of every donation while maintaining effective operations. Our annual reports provide detailed financial information and are available on our website.

Yes, we accept in-kind donations of gardening tools, seeds, educational materials, office equipment, and other items that support our work. However, we can only accept items that meet our quality standards and are appropriate for our contexts. Please contact us before arranging any material donations so we can confirm whether the items meet our current needs and discuss logistics for delivery.

Dilulu promotes agroecological gardening practices that combine traditional knowledge with modern sustainable techniques. Our approach emphasizes:

• Building and maintaining healthy soil through composting and organic matter management
• Water conservation through mulching, appropriate irrigation, and rainwater harvesting
• Biodiversity through polyculture, companion planting, and integration of beneficial plants
• Natural pest management using preventive measures and botanical preparations
• Seed saving and use of locally adapted varieties
• Context-appropriate design that considers local climate, resources, and cultural preferences

We avoid synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, focusing instead on building resilient, self-sustaining garden ecosystems.

Even with limited space, you can create a productive garden using these approaches:

• Container Gardening: Use pots, buckets, or grow bags for vegetables, herbs, and small fruits
• Vertical Gardening: Grow upward using trellises, wall-mounted planters, or hanging baskets
• Square Foot Gardening: Maximize production in small raised beds through intensive planting
• Windowsill Gardens: Grow herbs and microgreens indoors near sunny windows
• Community Garden Plots: Join a shared garden space in your community

Start small with easy-to-grow plants, and expand as you gain experience. Our Small Space Gardening Guide provides detailed instructions.

For beginners in African contexts, we recommend starting with these relatively easy-to-grow vegetables:

• Leafy Greens: Amaranth, kale, collards, and local greens like sukuma wiki or gboma
• Root Vegetables: Carrots, radishes, and sweet potatoes
• Legumes: Beans, cowpeas, and groundnuts
• Fruiting Vegetables: Okra, eggplant, and peppers
• Herbs: Basil, mint, rosemary, and local medicinal herbs

The best choices depend on your specific climate and growing conditions. Our regional planting guides provide more tailored recommendations.

Basic composting involves these steps:

1. Choose a System: Select a method that fits your space and volume of materials (bin, pile, trench, etc.)
2. Collect Materials: Gather "browns" (dry leaves, straw, paper) and "greens" (food scraps, fresh plant material)
3. Layer Materials: Alternate browns and greens in roughly a 3:1 ratio
4. Add Water: Keep the pile as moist as a wrung-out sponge
5. Turn Regularly: Mix materials every 1-2 weeks to add oxygen
6. Monitor: The pile should heat up and gradually transform into dark, crumbly compost
7. Harvest: Compost is ready when it's dark, earthy-smelling, and original materials are no longer recognizable (typically 3-6 months)

Download our Comprehensive Composting Guide for detailed instructions, troubleshooting tips, and variations for different contexts.

Natural pest management involves multiple strategies:

• Prevention: Build healthy soil, practice crop rotation, use row covers, and maintain garden hygiene
• Biodiversity: Plant diverse crops and include flowering plants that attract beneficial insects
• Physical Controls: Handpick pests, use traps, and create barriers
• Botanical Preparations: Make sprays from plants like neem, garlic, hot pepper, or local insecticidal plants
• Biological Controls: Encourage natural predators like birds, lizards, and beneficial insects
• Timing: Plant at optimal times to avoid peak pest seasons

Different pests require different approaches. Our Natural Pest Management Guide provides specific solutions for common garden pests in African contexts.