We drove to a new Food Security Site this morning, Bugarama. This parish has been twinned with a Vancouver Church, Immanuel Church, and our friends, Roger and Alayne Adams who have travelled with us multiple times to here in Rwanda, have spent a lot of time here over the last few visits. We saw lots of the results of their efforts!!
When we first visited this area before the pairing, there was no direct access to water- now there is a water tank right at the church, and many taps around the area people can access it easier.
As well, the Vancouver church raised money to purchase pigs for each grassroots church (home group) here in the area. From the original 65 purchased, there are now about 305 pigs and almost every family has a pig!!!
Before Rachael and the team did the training, we walked in the hills for a couple hours and visited some families. The first place we went to had many pigs. The lady told us that her original pig was sold as it was sick, but she was able to buy another and now has a bunch of piglets! These piglets are her's to keep, as she has already passed along offspring to others, so her obligation to 'pay it forward' is complete. When the piglets get older, she will sell them off and use the proceeds to purchase a cow and rebuild the pens to accommodate that cow. She also has sheep and a calf she just purchased.
As we were touring around, we were told that the climate is a little different here from the Kigeme area- cooler as it is higher. This, and the greater lack of water in the higher regions of the area make it harder on the farmers to keep pigs.
The last farm we visited belonged to an older lady named Therese. She was very excited to tell us how all the support has helped her- she has a house!! And she has a pig and 2 piglets. Her original pig was sold and she was able to purchase needed supplies for her home. She will sell the piglets when they are older.
When we first visited this area before the pairing, there was no direct access to water- now there is a water tank right at the church, and many taps around the area people can access it easier.
As well, the Vancouver church raised money to purchase pigs for each grassroots church (home group) here in the area. From the original 65 purchased, there are now about 305 pigs and almost every family has a pig!!!
Before Rachael and the team did the training, we walked in the hills for a couple hours and visited some families. The first place we went to had many pigs. The lady told us that her original pig was sold as it was sick, but she was able to buy another and now has a bunch of piglets! These piglets are her's to keep, as she has already passed along offspring to others, so her obligation to 'pay it forward' is complete. When the piglets get older, she will sell them off and use the proceeds to purchase a cow and rebuild the pens to accommodate that cow. She also has sheep and a calf she just purchased.
As we were touring around, we were told that the climate is a little different here from the Kigeme area- cooler as it is higher. This, and the greater lack of water in the higher regions of the area make it harder on the farmers to keep pigs.
The last farm we visited belonged to an older lady named Therese. She was very excited to tell us how all the support has helped her- she has a house!! And she has a pig and 2 piglets. Her original pig was sold and she was able to purchase needed supplies for her home. She will sell the piglets when they are older.
 Can you imagine sawing wood like this? And this is on the edge of a fairly steep hill! |  Our agronomist, Emmanuel, demonstrating that you are never too mature to hop on a kid's bike! |
By bringing the area into the Food Security Program, the people are now benefitting from training, a Paravet as well as access to Food Security Staff (the Vets, the Agronomist, as well as the Social Worker). Immanuel Church is now funnelling their support of the area through the Udder Project directly to the Food Security Program.
We also had the opportunity to chat with the three other para vets from the newest Food Security sites (Kibibi, Gatovu and Nyaruzi). We were unable to visit the sites due to lack of time but received good information from the para vets. Their struggles are fairly similar. They lack land to grow much in the way of crops and the crops they grow are suboptimal. There is limited veterinary care at the sites and many use the services of people practicing traditional medicine to the detriment of their livestock. The para vets were excited at receiving the training to help the local people and once the Food Security team gets into these sites and does some training, we are sure to see improvement.
We also had the opportunity to chat with the three other para vets from the newest Food Security sites (Kibibi, Gatovu and Nyaruzi). We were unable to visit the sites due to lack of time but received good information from the para vets. Their struggles are fairly similar. They lack land to grow much in the way of crops and the crops they grow are suboptimal. There is limited veterinary care at the sites and many use the services of people practicing traditional medicine to the detriment of their livestock. The para vets were excited at receiving the training to help the local people and once the Food Security team gets into these sites and does some training, we are sure to see improvement.
On the drive back from the Bugarama site we stopped at the Gahira site to visit the newest bull purchased by our Paravet Association. It is being kept in this area with the Paravet we have there. Rachael named the bull 'Ferdinand' and he joins 'Roger' as the newest member of the Paravet Association.
"Ferdinand" the bull! Anyone remember that story?
The current Food Security Team. From left to right- Viateur- veterinarian and AI expert, Pastor Augustin- coordinator of Food Security, Felicien- our pastoring vet, Concesse- social worker, and Emmanuel- agronomist and the backbone of the team!
When we got back to Kigeme, the group of students being supported in their post-secondary education were waiting to meet with us! We were able to sit and chat and find out how they are all doing in their university studies.
Our post secondary students- we promise that they were babies just last year!
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