Kakuuto Development Initiative (KADI) is not just an education organization. It’s not just a farmer’s cooperative. It’s not just an advocate for health and wellbeing in the community. KADI in rural Uganda, does all three, plus so much more! Like so many of SIA grassroots grant partners, KADI is a true community development organization. Food security is one of KADI’s top priorities. They are coaching people to start kitchen gardens, which grow food for the family, but also ar

Slow Food Seed and Food Fair Report from Samuel & Peris Nderitu, Directors of The Grow Biointensive Agriculture Centre of Kenya (G-BIACK) G-BIACK, in partnership with Slow Food Kenya and Seed Savers, held a seed fair event earlier this summer in Muranga County. This event’s purpose was to create awareness among the small-holder farmers on the importance of embracing indigenous local seeds. These local seeds are resilient to the changing climatic conditions and are safer and m

What if we didn’t measure success just through statistics and numbers, but instead looked to community accountability? If the community is behind a grassroots organization, then there’s a good chance that the group is effective in their work. If there’s no visible support, if people in the community couldn’t be bothered to get involved and contribute, then it’s probably not a solid organization. When I visited CIFORD Kenya last year, it was easy to see that this is a very eff

Today’s guest post is by David Zarembka, who lives in western Kenya and works on peace making there, particularly in support of the Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities International program. This post is excerpted from his weekly ‘Report from Kenya.’ He is a member of Lumakanda Friends (Quaker) Church in Kenya and Bethesda Friends Meeting in the US. I think this story gives a good perspective on rural life in Kenya. Gladys and I are still members of Bethesda Friends Meetin

Droughts. Climate change. Tough farming conditions. Human rights violations. Self-expression denied. This week, two news stories highlighted how important the work of Spirit in Action is to combat these devastating realities. New York Times: Loss of Fertile Land in Kenya “More than in any other region of the world, people in Africa live off the land. There are relatively few industrial or service jobs here. Seventy percent of Africa’s population makes a living through agricul

Dispatch from Kenya: “The dry season is supposed to be December through March, but this year the rains aren’t coming, even up until now.” This we heard from Joseph Gichioni and so many others in central Kenya. Rahab Mugambi, a member of CIFORD Kenya in Meru County, confirmed that water is their biggest problem. The rains aren’t coming. Climate change is right there in front of them. In a place where the great majority of people rely on farming for food and livelihood, the lac

1. Five new small businesses sponsored in Malawi! Last week, five new entrepreneurs attended a day-long workshop with Small Business Fund local coordinator Canaan Gondwe to plan their new business ventures. Over the course of the day they formed Business Plans and described the roles each family member would play in the business. Help me in welcoming: Uncle Gly Stationery and Computer Cafe (Read more about rural electrification in Manyamula Village) Elias Grocery Investment E

“Of course I remain grateful to you and Spirit in Action for your patience with me and the encouragement you have always given to us in our work. Please remember that anytime you will be in need of expert knowledge to support any community-based Moringa project, in any part of the world, you can count on me to offer free voluntary service. It is not an exaggeration to say I can help in any work on Moringa from cultivation, processing and the entire value chain development.” S

“We must translate our science into practice.” A simple statement which boils down a Moses Mukongo’s approach to farming in the western part of Kenya. Moses learned about the science of sustainable agriculture at Manor House, and now he and his team at Community Mobilization Against Poverty (CMAP) are passionate about sharing that science with small-scale farmers who can put it into practice. These are farmers who are growing food for their own families and to also sell some

“What are those crazy things hanging in the tree?” I asked the SIA Small Business Fund Coordinators when we saw them on the site of our conference in Uganda last summer. Most of us didn’t know what it was since Uganda is much more tropical than where the rest of us live. We did get to try the jackfruit before the end of the week and it was a nice mellow melon flavor. I was at a restaurant in Toronto recently that served jackfruit and it brought back good memories of being tog

Women proud of their sweet potato harvest, at CIFORD Kenya. OFSP? Orange flesh sweet potato. Or, as I call them, those vegetables that are really tasty baked and topped with butter! While I’m used to the orange variety of sweet potatoes in North America, in Africa the white or yellow sweet potatoes are much more common. They taste similar but the white and yellow varieties are not nearly as nutritious as the vitamin A/beta-carotene-rich orange ones. It’s only in the last few

Tanya with Mbwenu, Wangwa, and one their sons. Mbwenu heard about the Manyamula COMSIP Cooperative after moving home and immediately became an active member, including volunteering to be the group’s bookkeeper. The cooperative was initially started with a Spirit in Action grant in 2009 and now has over 150 members who can save and borrow within the locally-run cooperative structure. Sometimes it’s not easy moving home. Once you’ve been out to see the world you look at home th

A Parable by Tanya Cothran Once day a young woman had a great idea. She looked out over the lawn that filled the communal space in her apartment complex and realized that the space was being wasted. “No one even uses the lawn, but if we were to use the space to grow vegetables instead of grass many people would benefit,” she thought to herself. A well-managed farm in Malawi. Her idea excited her so much that she couldn’t help but tell everyone about her vision. She told neigh

Earth Day celebrations may last over a weekend but what about the long-term? Here are three examples of Spirit in Action partners promoting techniques that benefit the earth and their communities: Ester shows the bounty from her family’s farm. 1. Intercropping in Malawi Have you heard about the Three Sisters? Beans, squash, and corn grown together get the blue ribbon in the intercropping category. Corn stalks grow tall, beans use the stalks as bean poles, and squash leaves pr

Our partners are cooking up big change in their communities and there are so many inspiring stories, photos, and quotes to share! I couldn’t fit them all in the Spring & Summer 2013 Newsletter, so today’s blog is a bit of newsletter leftover stew… (The newsletter went off to the presses yesterday but you can download a PDF COLOR copy here today.) 1. Women Starting Businesses in Kenya SIA Small Business Fund local coordinator in Kenya, Dennis Kiprop, is excited about the new c

Seeds are amazing things: from a tiny beginning comes growth, blossoms, and fruit. In a way, Spirit in Action is a seed that Del Anderson planted in the world. He was fascinated with the way that nurturing people and developing encouraging relationships could produce fruit far greater than what we see in a humble seed. Seed Grants We saw the grants we give and the projects we support as seeds. Indeed, we often call them “seed grants” because they are meant to be a beginning f

SIA SBF Coordinators watch a presentation about tree seedlings and reforestation. Spring is in the air all over the USA this week! To celebrate the rain and the warmer temperatures, I am reposting this discussion of agro-forestry from last April on Spirit in Action’s blog. ********************************** Our international partners working in Kenya have long recognized the value of agroecology. This type of farming system, also called bio-intensive agriculture, uses techniq

Last year, Jacky Buhoro of the Democratic Republic of Congo told me, “As Christians, we are called to change by doing.” Where does this responsibility come from? I’m far from being a Bible scholar and so I love it when someone can make the stories come to life and inspire me to action. Recently, this inspiration came through Will Brown, a graduating student at Yale Divinity School, in a sermon about Jeremiah answering God’s call to serve others. In 6th grade, Will got his fir

Photos from the latest round of Spirit in Action Small Business Fund groups are beginning to roll in! This month I have been receiving the Business Plans for small businesses started in May. Here are just a few of the business groups in training and at work:
(Click on the photo to see a larger version.) Woman in Rwanda selling Minnows. Women in Democratic Republic of Congo making mats. Small Business Fund training in Uganda. Community Garden in Kenya #DRCongo #Gardens #Kenya

Hello friends, Here is an update from the Women’s Garden and Pigsty Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo from SIA Coordinator Jacob Lipandasi. This project received a grant from SIA last May: At the end of the Pigsty Project in summary:
1. We know that 13 piglets were shared to continue the women pigsty project and owners are sharing with others 2. Two pigs were sold for $100 which paid scholar fees to 5 orphans for 4 months.
3. Others 35 orphaned children are supporte