Fr. Paul with orphans & destitute families in Emalindi who will benefit
from S.F.A.'s new small farming project. Fr. Paul co ordinates and organises the
families who work as a co op to farm 7 acres . They all share in the work and
the harvest.
The fertilizer & seed arrives. Famine is currently a national emergency in
Kenya. By combining their land and working together they will have more success.
The labour is intense, many are sick and undernourished, and water must be
hauled in, so by sharing the work they can help each other.
Suitcases for Africa funds the cost of farming tools such as hoes, machetes,
wheel barrows etc. We also fund fertilizer for depleted and overworked soil and
good quality seeds. This will make the difference between crop failure and
success. The crops will be local traditional foods such as corn, beans and
peanuts.
The hoeing begins.
Sowing the seeds.
Weeding the fields.
Susan visits the fields to see how they are doing. Susan
oversees projects reports and funds for SFA.
The crop is doing well despite drought.
Nearing the harvest. All hope the weather holds .
Happy Growers !
Sr. Agnes and Fr. Paul see the bean crop. The bean crop did not do as well as
hoped due to unfavourable weather but still fared much better than other
unsupported farm plots we saw in the region which had completely failed.
The beans are treated and bagged for storage to be shared by all as
needed and as supplies last.
We felt very emotional standing in the fields and seeing what
the support from your donations made possible. Food is a basic necessity of life.
It is profoundly appreciated by the people of Emalindi
that you responded to that need.
Fr. Paul spoke to us about when he first arrived in this parish. He was told his
job would be mainly to accompany the dying as there was so much starvation and
illness here, and so it was. He approached us with this plan and we are so moved
by it's simple success. It is a project we hope to expand to help the many
more waiting.
From all of us at Suitcases for Africa & all the beneficiaries working the land
...
