AMI Partner Visits to Kenya and Uganda

 

GOALS

 

Expose AMI partners and Board to the wider global social movements working for social and economic justice, particularly our African partners that have not been previously engaged in these processes and activities.

 

Provide the opportunity to build a network among Kenyan and Ugandan women farmers and community organizations.

 

Build links of solidarity and mutual learning and support among the participants and their representative organizations.

 

Provide the opportunity for U.S. based partners to be exposed to the realities and challenges of their African counterparts.

 

Provide the opportunity to demonstrate examples of the work of Agricultural Missions in support of its rural partners in the communities visited.

 

BUNGOMA DISTRICT, WESTERN KENYA

 

The almost 300 mile journey from Nairobi to Bungoma took 14 hours including a stop for lunch in Navisha Town. The road was bad for half the journey and very bad for the other half and our green bus seemed to have iron rods for shock absorbers. Every one of the bumps in the road was felt and for miles at a time, the road was like a washboard. But the journey was made bearable by the camaraderie and good humor of the delegation, the wonderful scenery of the Kenyan countryside, including dramatic views of the Great Rift Valley, and some herds of wildlife including zebras and antelopes grazing within sight of the highway. One lone primate amused itself, sitting on top of a rock, watching the traffic go by. Upon arrival at the Mbanga Agricultural Center, where we were housed, the local Chief and representatives of the District Commissioner welcomed the delegation.

Our hosts for the Bungoma District visits were the Kamusinde Christian Community Based Organization (KCCBO) and Community Research in Environment and Development Initiatives (CREADIS) - a local NGO. The visits and other arrangements were made by these organizations.

The first day (January 27) the delegation was hosted by KCCBO, an umbrella group consisting of seven women's farmer and self help groups. We visited the community of Kamusinde where other groups gathered to meet with the delegation. Here we witnessed the local school and resource center that were built by the community for the community. In the absence of other facilities within this and surrounding communities, this school is serving a vital need. Agricultural Missions' support of production activities of the various groups over the years helped to provide the communities with the ability to build this facility. We heard brief reports from all the groups that are members of KCCBO and the principal of the school and were entertained with songs, dance and drama by the students and youth drama groups in the community. Despite the lack of adequate buildings and educational supplies, the students of the school are performing very well on standardized tests administered by the Ministry of Education. The community prepared a feast for the delegation and other visitors and the students of the school.

The delegation also visited the Weyeta Women's Group, a member of KCCBO and also represented on the delegation by Jane Wanyonyi. The Group gave a brief description of their history and activities and the importance of the group in the improvements of the lives of its members and their communities.

The reports of all the groups that are members of the KCCBO indicate that they have made significant strides in improvements in the lives of the members and their families as well as in the communities. Activities in crop and livestock production and marketing as well as micro-finance programs were credited for these improvements that included the school described above. AMI's input and assistance consisted primarily of training for group members and small grants for inputs.

 

On January 28, the delegation visited the Makulukulu Self Help Group and the farm of Benedict Wanjala, also a member of the delegation and the offices of CREADIS in Bungoma. On Benedict's farm we observed a very diverse range of farming activities including livestock (goats and cattle), beekeeping and several crops, both for subsistence and marketing. Sugar cane was one crop grown exclusively for cash and is sold to one of the many sugar processing factories in the District. Like every other community the delegation visited, we were very warmly welcomed with traditional songs and dance.

The Executive Director, Gladys Nabiswa, who was also a member of the delegation, led the visit to the offices of CREADIS. There were also four members of CREADIS' Board as well as staff present. The delegation was given an overview of the work of CREADIS that included:
bulletSupport to community based and self-help groups in micro credit and agricultural production and marketing;
bulletSupport for Orphans and Vulnerable Children;
bulletHome base care and psychological counseling for families of AIDS patients;
bulletGender and Governance;
bulletCommunity Based Democratization and Governance.

 

Following the visit to CREADIS, the delegation was the guest at a ceremony in traditional music and dance at the seat of local (District) government.
 


Kampala and Mbarara District, Uganda
 

On January 29, the delegation departed for Uganda, crossing the border at Malaba. The whole process took three hours, as the Kenyan members of the delegation did not have the required documentation as the requirements had recently changed. We then traveled to Jinja where we said goodbye to the green bus and had an afternoon and evening of much deserved and need ED recreation on the banks of Lake Victoria.

The Uganda partner visits and logistical arrangements were made by AMI's partner organization the Uganda Resource and Development Foundation (URDF) in collaboration with Support for Women in Agriculture and Environment (SWAGEN), a local NGO working in Western Uganda.

The January 30 visit was to the Sisters of Charity in Kampala, a local Catholic Order that cares for orphans of war and HIV/AIDS. The delegation visited the school for orphans and the disabled operated by the sisters as well as the orphanage for younger children. The five-hour trip to Mbarara began late in the afternoon, following lunch and a stop in Kampala to allow members of the delegation to transact personal business.

For the two days of January 31 and February 1, the delegation visited the following groups that are being served by URDF and SWAGEN:

Mwizi SWAGEN Group: This group had their livelihoods disrupted when the forest on which they depended on was declared a "protected area" by the government, with no alternatives or compensation provided. The group is now engaged in various farming activities, including the growing of medicinal herbs, beekeeping and agro-forestry in addition to bananas, which is the major food staple in the area.

The Karambi Women's Development Group: This group constructed a building to house a grain mill that was donated by USAID. However, the mill remains unused as the women have not been able to raise the additional (approximately $700) for the electrical switches and fittings needed to get the mill operational. The women are also engaged in farming and micro-credit activities.

The Nshungyezi Women's Group: This group is engaged in crop and livestock production, fruit drying, handicraft production and marketing. This group is trying new initiatives including passion fruit production and fruit drying to be sold to processors.

Nyakakoni Women's Group: This group is primarily engaged in livestock production including cattle and dairy goats, the latter a new initiative supported by Heifer Project International.

Nyakahanga Women’s Group: The primary activities of this group are dairy cattle production and micro-finance program. AMI provided the initial support to purchase two dairy cows and to provide training to the women. After five years, fifteen of the women in the group have been given at least one dairy cow and the sale of milk has provided the capital to initiate and support the micro-finance program. Malnutrition among children in the community – one of the initial reasons to initiate this project – has been markedly reduced, if not eliminated.
 

NOTE:

 

Joining the delegation for partner visits were:

Peter Rosset and Maria Elena Martinez — Chiapas, Mexico (Western Kenya Only)

Felix Sangura and Mark Wanyonyi — Kenya

Ashaba Maurice and Slyvia — Uganda (Uganda Only)

Elizabeth Koalti and Adrian — Massachusetts, U.S.A. (College Students known to Samuel Smith-Kenya Only)
WORLD SOCIAL FORUM DELEGATION PARTICIPANT LIST

 

Asikoye, Luke

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

USA

 

 

Bartlett, Stephen  

Agricultural Missions - USA

 

 

Benavides, Marta 

International Institute for Cooperation Amongst  Peoples

(AMI Board) – El Salvador

 

 

Byarugaba, David

DAVICOM - Uganda

 

 

Carroo, Winston

Agricultural Missions - USA

 

 

Derenoncourt, Lionel

Presbyterian Hunger Program

(AMI Board) - USA

 

 

Flyr, Sherry 

Presbyterian Women - USA

 

 

Hollis, Audrey 

Missouri Rural Crisis Center -USA

 

 

Hollis, Steve

National Family Farm Coalition - USA

 

 

Johnson, Mozzie

Agricultural Missions - USA

 

 

Kaboneire, Rosemary

Support for Women in Agriculture Uganda

 

 

Kenyangi, Gertrude

Support for Women in Agriculture Uganda

 

 

Kibahigire, Mary

 Uganda Resource and Development Foundation - Uganda

 

 

Kim, June

United Methodist Committee on Relief (AMI Board) -USA

 

 

Lusaka, Rhoda

Mapela Women’s Group - Kenya

 

 

Mann, Michael

American Baptist Churches (AMI Board) - Thailand

 

 

Mayeku, Florence

Ngoma Women’s Group - Kenya

 

 

Millien, Jean Luckner

Farm Worker Association of Florida - USA

 

 

Nabiswa, Gladys

Community Research in Environment

and Development Initiatives

(CREADIS) — Kenya

 

 

Nyakato, Barbara

Nyakahanga Women’s Group, Uganda

 

 

Odima, Martin

Kamusinde Christian Based Community Organization - Kenya

 

 

Sherrod, Mikhiela

 Federation of Southern Cooperatives

USA

 

 

Smith, Sam

Caretaker Farm (AMI Board) - USA

 

 

Tumwebaze, Stephen

Uganda Resource and Development Foundation – Uganda

 

 

Wanjala, Benedict 

Makulukulu Self Help Group - Kenya

 

 

Wanyonyi, Jane

Weyeta Women’s Group - Kenya

 

 

White, Cynthia

Presbyterian Fund for the

 Development of Peoples

(AMI Board) - USA