Why do community leaders say YES to Feed Back?

Dear Champion,

Our circles are constantly expanding, and we’re here for it! In case you’re new to ARK or simply need a quick refresher, here’s what we do:

We solve hunger for good.

ARK is an award-winning social impact innovator and a trusted food security solution for governments, and recognized by international development agencies.

Where It All Began

Our story started with our co-founder and CEO, Ayesha Vera-Yu, who left

Wall Street to restructure her family’s rice farm in Capiz. After leading multi-billion dollar deals for 12 years, she set out to learn how to operate and invest for impact.

In 2006, she led the shift to organic farming in her family’s farm in Capiz, and provided fair wages, healthcare, and schooling, which were uncommon in the province.Through this, she witnessed firsthand how difficult farming is, and how those who feed us often don’t have enough food for themselves. 

In 2008, a village teacher brought her to a first grade classroom with a collapsed ceiling. She gave $300, and the parents volunteered to do the labor, allowing the school to stretch the roof repairs and supplies for 160 children.

Ayesha and her partner, Jerry Topitzer saw that missing link in philanthropy: communities investing in themselves.

That insight became ARK.

How We Solve Hunger

Our flagship program, ARK Feed Back, is a community-wide vegetable exchange program that enables communities to solve hunger, create new income, and build their own sustainable food supply system in 16 weeks. 

WEEK 0 

The barangay announces a veggie exchange open to all. Families sign up to participate and are given seeds to plant.

WEEKS 1-5

Families develop their idle backyards and farms. ARK guides leaders to implement the program.

STARTING WEEK 6

At the ARK Feed Back Exchange, they share excess produce. Families bring at least 3 kinds of veggies and take home their fair share of 20+ kinds.

BY THE END OF WEEK 16

Families have a stable food supply and source of healthy harvest. Families bring home an average of 6 kilograms of freshly grown produce to feed the family.

In the last six years, ARK Feed Back has reached 36,261 farmers and fisherfolk families in 123 communities nationwide. 

With every household now a producer, the community has its own food supply, creating abundance.

If you wish to learn more and be part of a lasting impact, visit arksolves.org