Planting the Seeds of Hope: How Rooftop Gardens Are Growing More Than Food

Supporting families impacted by conflict must go beyond emergency relief. Across Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan, we work with communities facing the deep, generational effects of displacement, conflict and economic hardship. And yet, in the face of these daily challenges, they teach, care, rebuild and plant seeds for the future — not because it is easy, but because it is essential to sustaining community.

Anera has been proud to stand with these communities for 57 years, delivering food, medicine and essentials, and helping families live in dignity and prosperity, even in the harshest conditions.

One metaphor I return to often is that of a plant growing out of rocky soil. It reflects the spirit of so many of Anera’s long-term projects — where determination and hope take root and manage to grow in difficult circumstances. With the right support and resources, those efforts flourish — not just for individuals, but for entire neighborhoods.

Take, for example, our rooftop gardens. From the rooftops of refugee camps in Lebanon to apartment buildings in Gaza and Jordan, these compact gardens have brought meaningful change to hundreds of households. Using barrels and minimal water, families grow vegetables that feed their children, generate income and restore a sense of agency and peace. We provide everything: custom barrels, organic fertilizer, soil, seeds and the training to ensure success.

But the impact of these gardens goes far beyond what they yield in crops.

In Beddawi camp, in northern Lebanon, a Palestinian father named Mohammad shared his story with us. After 25 years painting houses, health issues forced him to stop. He and his wife opened a small clothing business, but money was tight and uncertain. Then, a neighbor gifted him a basket of tomatoes from their rooftop garden. That moment planted the seed of something new.

Today, Mohammad’s rooftop greenhouse is a source of food, family bonding and hope. “This garden comforts us,” he says. “It’s a mental relief. A source of food. Even a potential second business. I want to grow more, to give my kids the best life I can.”

In Jordan, Basil — a teacher and rooftop gardener — took what he learned from Anera and began sharing it with his students. Now he volunteers his time to help other families do the same. “It’s more than just growing vegetables,” he says. “It’s about growing a supportive community.”

These stories reflect a deeper truth: when we invest in long-term, community-rooted projects — in agriculture, education and healthcare — we are not only meeting immediate needs. We are creating the space for families to recover, rebuild and move forward, one seed, one lesson, one ripe tomato at a time.

For over five decades, we have remained committed to standing alongside communities before, during and after times of crisis. With your support, Anera will continue to nourish the seeds of hope and aspirations for the future, walking alongside families and providing them with the resources they need to improve their livelihoods.