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Seeds take root in Sasiga, Ethiopia August 31, 2007
Where: Canadian Food for the Hungry, Sasiga, Ethiopia
Details:
Ato Mohammed Abdurrahman is one of the farmers relocated from Eastern Ethiopia and resettled in the Sasiga District. He is 27 years old and heading a family of four. As a selected model farmer, Ato Mohammed was provided with tree seeds (such as Jacaranda, Sasbenia, Eucalyptus, Gravillia and other fruit seeds) and raised 25,000 different kinds of seedlings on his small plot of land. He used some of these seedlings to plant on his own farmland, and distributed others to neighbouring farmers and to an elementary school.
Ato Mohammed explained what motivated him to raise the tree seedlings and to distribute them to other farmers: “I was surprised with the word you quoted from the word of Allah (God) about the beginning regulations Allah passed to Adam - that man ought to cultivate and keep the trees in the jennet (garden). From that day onward, I am continuously thinking about that Word and how Food for the Hungry is keeping the word of Allah and motivating the people."
"I grew-up in a Muslim family and all of my family is Muslim and I have attended the Solat (prayer) program from my childhood, but I have not heard of such a word that motivates people to cultivate and keep trees. But I know that all of the problems of today are resulted from cutting down the trees and the soil that is taken off by erosion. All of the community can now recognize this every year during the rainy seasons.”
“I, the one who heard that word, should be exemplary for the rest of the community – that is the only thing what motivated me to do so. From that word I understand that everything belongs to God and we human beings are to be stewards. Therefore, I will continue to do what I have learned and have started so far. Work is part of being fruitful. As you told us during the training, work is a responsibility and we have a responsibility to work and to enable others to work so that they become productive. This is why I am giving seedlings to other farmers. I let them work too. I gave seedlings to those farmers who came and assist me in raising the seedlings and I call it ‘work for seedlings’ which was designed by me.”
Outcomes:
1) Improved education facilities and access to educational resources: CFHI and its partners will construct 12 new class rooms, provide 240 desks and 12 black boards and hold one inter-school contest in drama, poetry, music and other disciplines.
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2) Improved ability of government staff and local leaders to meet current community leadership needs: CFHI and its partners will train 35 teachers and directors, train 2196 leaders in resource management, provide work ethics training to 400 community leaders, train 100 volunteers in community-based organization leadership.
3) Improved ability of local Christian groups to provide an example of Vision of Community, as well as their knowledge and practice of their spiritual worldview: CFHI expects to provide family development training to 500 families, provide home management training to 50 families, as well as incorporate church leadership and involvement in every activity.
4) Improved capacity of Church leaders to provide for the spiritual needs in the community: Working closely with local Church leaders over the year, CFHI will train 100 leaders in the role of leaders in development and stewardship.
5) Reduction in new HIV/AIDS infections: CFHI will provide training on HIV/AIDS to 832 people and family planning education for 100 people.
6) Increased agricultural production and household income: CFHI will deliver enhanced agronomic training to 800 people, production planning training for another 800 people, supply drugs for improved animal care for 800 animals, distribute coffee and fruit seedlings to 50 groups, provide support for two agricultural nurseries, provide nursery management training to 15 groups and promote four school environment clubs.
7) Improved health and hygiene facilities and practices: CFHI will construct two hand dug wells, construct one spring well, construct 125 latrines, provide training to four water and sanitation committees, train six people as pump attendants, train six people as spring pump care takers, provide hygiene training to 895 people.
Read more about Bridgeway's investment in this project.
