September was spent visiting with group leaders from various cooperatives in both Musanze and Nyungwe in Rwanda, and Barlonyo, Ober Bar, Gullu and Kamdini in Uganda, giving us a chance to learn about the challenges, as well as the successes, of this incredible initiative.
Animal health is a primary concern and illness, disease and feral dog attacks are a problem.
The most successful rearing comes from locally sourced animals that are already accustomed to the environment and don't have to be purchased at market or trucked in from longer distances.
But the positive aspects of the initiative far out-weigh the negatives as crop yields are up for everyone, and extra income improves living circumstances.
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| increased income allows for entrepreneurial efforts like this tomato tree farm - the product of a coming together of various members of the WOMEN's Cooperative in Rwanda |
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| ...as always, the shit starts here as babies continue to be born, a source of great happiness for all families involved. |
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group leaders from both the WOMEN's and AMIZERO cooperatives in Rwanda provide updates and testimonials including the fact that there is, in many homes, a new-found equality and harmony between husband and wife as the husband recognizes the benefits of his wife's contributions to the family through TSSH.
So TSSH is a peace initiative as well. |
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| Encouraging Paul to understand just how big this little project really is! Paul rocks! |
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| Causing a bit of a sensation in communities rarely visited by foreigners as we visit some farms to see independent entrepreneurial initiatives. |
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| tethering allows easy manure and urine collection...supplemented with greens and a bit of soil and... |
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| making fertilizer is this easy, IF you have the necessary ingredients! |
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| VOILA, we've got gorgeous, enriched, organic and most important, constantly renewable fertilizer! |
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| always wonderful to run into members of our initiative (note the tag on mum) |
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| updates on births, pregnancies, sterility, attacks from feral dogs, disease, and how the co-ops are addressing these challenges after one year in the initiative. |
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| and, as always, dramatic scenery surrounds! |
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| catching up with Andrew, head of our inaugural graduating co-op, to hear what's been going on since they completed the terms of the contract. |
