This morning we drove a while to Cyivugiza Parish. This is an area where they are interested in becoming part of the Food Security Program. The leader spoke excellent English, a man with higher education. He showed us two large patches of land for goats, and eventually cows to graze as well as growing crops for both human consumption and for the livestock. He also showed us a very progressive barn that they have almost finished building to house the goats. This area is one really affected by the genocide and more recently HIV/AIDS. It is an extremely poor area with over 80% of the people living below the poverty line, earning maybe $1 a day. Vincent is a visionary, and presented us with plans for a veterinary clinic, a plan to drain the valley for more crops, and a plan to purchase and install a water storage tank so they can begin to store and use rainwater. Right now, to get water for their crops, family or animals they need to walk an hour and carry it back.
The last couple of afternoons we have done a lot of walking and visiting APAP farms! They don't call this the land of 1000 hills for the fun of it! And you know, if you go down, and down and down into the valley, you have to climb back up!! The visits were very interesting. We saw some farms that have acted on the teaching Rachael has done in the past and are seeing some improvement. We also saw some that haven't, and are still experiencing frustration. It is hard to get to the bottom of why - is it money or a lack of understanding. Rachael will continue to persevere!!!
RSS Feed