Promoting “Good Health” through East African Partner Collaboration

In 2018, Pangea Giving is excited to support a collaborative project grant between two long-term East African partners – SaCoDe and BIOGI. The idea for the Amagara Meza (“good health” in Kirundi) project was born at the East Africa Leadership Forum (EALF) in 2017. After meeting and learning from one another at the first EALF meeting in 2016, Francoise Nibizi of SaCoDe (Burundi) asked Ferdinand Wafula of BIOGI (Kenya) to present an introductory training following the 2017 EALF meeting in Bujumbura, Burundi. The 2-day training was held for 20 farmers in Gatumba (on the outskirts of Bujumbura) directly after the EALF meeting. In 2018, Pangea is supporting the growth of this pilot project with a grant of $10,000.

Issues Addressed by the Project

  • Inadequate family nutrition – 60% of the population in Burundi is malnourished
  • Poor farming methods used in Burundi
  • Drought and environmental degradation
  • Lack of adequate income in rural communities

Project Activities

  • Practical permaculture training. This training focuses on the following core elements:
    • Building soil structure and fertility
    • Catching and conserving water
    • Biomimicry – e.g. integrating poultry in the garden to control pests, provide fertilizer, and provide an additional food source
    • Food forests – provide shade and produce perennial food sources
  • Establishment of 10 Community Resource Models
    • 10 farm sites of lead farmers
    • Model kitchens to be established with installation of renewable energy devices (clay cook stoves, food warming baskets, and the making of briquettes)
    • 10 farm sites will act as models to train other village members
  • Training of trainers
    • Trainers designated by SaCoDe will be assigned to reach out to other members of their communities and share their newly acquired skills
    • Trainers will be provided resource books and demonstration planting materials
    • Coordinated feedback to successfully transfer skills to the larger community
  • Follow-up support

Planned Outcome

  • Improved nutrition – greater variety of crops, organically grown, crops of higher quality and nutritional value
  • Improved income – these rural communities rely on agriculture for their income. Increased productivity and quality will result in higher incomes
  • Improved environment through sustainable use of resources

For more info about SaCoDe, visit www.sacode.org. For more info about BIOGI, visit www.biogardeninginnovations.weebly.com.

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