Heifer Nigeria’s Post

This year’s #WWWeek was again a great opportunity to interact with several stakeholders to dicuss about #WATER. Among those, had a great pleasure to converse with His Excellency Mr. Sam Mangusho Cheptori, the Minister of Water & Environment & member of parliament, Rep. of #Uganda over the current status, #challenges and #opportunities for water treatment and enabling access to clean water. #UnivarSolutions has an export business for water treatment chemicals to Africa and actively looking into the opportunities to join forces with other organizations to support not only Uganda, but also other countries in that region to deliver #innovative #products and solutions to improve #water #quality. ————————- PS: Just to highlight the potential impact, would like to share some striking information: Much of Uganda is open water and swampland, but this water is undrinkable while suffering from the shortages of clean groundwater. Moreover, facilities are under strain in towns and cities, and the springs and wells that rural communities rely on are mostly used up. Out of its population of 47 million people, 38 million people (81% of the population) lack access to safe water. Uganda has experienced two decades of economic growth, leading to large population movements from rural areas to informal settlements around urban centers. High population growth stresses the water and sanitation services that exist. Further, urban people living in poverty pay as much as 22% of their income to access water from water vendors. Spending such a high percentage of earnings on water reduces overall household income, limiting opportunities to build savings and break the cycle of poverty. And many families living in rural areas spend more than 30 minutes walking to collect the water their families need, taking time away from work and school. Despite all these, there is positive momentum as the government of Uganda aims to have safe water and improved sanitation for everyone by 2030.

Throughout February, the team in Uganda carried out a survey for participants in some of the Village Savings and Loans groups (VSLAs). They reported back to us that the lives of Cents for Seeds participants have changed for the better. One of the groups saved and earned enough interest to purchase a bull, which they will use for ploughing their crops. Members say that unity and cooperation amongst the group has improved and that all members have respect for one another without discrimination. The women's self-esteem has also improved because now they have been empowered economically. "They can now stand firm and make decisions on their own and also support their families by buying the necessities for their households." VSLA is a vital component of the Cents for Seeds program, building financial knowledge and skills for the future. #VSLA #Uganda #CentsForSeeds #FinancialEmpowerment #WomenEmpowerment #EconomicEmpowerment #CommunityDevelopment #SavingsAndLoans #EmpowerWomen #FinancialInclusion #LoveMercy

Access to nutritious food isn’t just a basic need—it’s essential. For single-mother families, this need is even more urgent as its evident with Situka Single Mothers Foundation (SMF) members. SunCulture Uganda's solar-powered water pumps could help us grow food year-round, but affordability remains a challenge. Kindly think of what happens to our kids who go to bed with empty Berries?? A small act of support can transform lives. Join us in uplifting vulnerable communities by supporting us acquire these pumps to boost our food productivity in Buyende District, Busoga region that has the highest poverty levels. Our Area MP Hon Moses Hassim Magogo & Hon. Nakato Mary, we urgently request at least one solar pump to boost our food production as a group. Please don’t wait until it's too late—support us now, so we won’t need condolences later. A small contribution can save lives. #EndHunger #SupportSingleMothers

Our journey started in Uganda as a mission work to mentor and disciple college student in collaboration with United Disciple Ministry. For the past 9 years we have been actively involved in holding camps and ministering to college students. Our foray into agriculture and agricultural processing was borne out of a shocking experience that we encountered ministering to the college students who were to become the leaders of the country. The median age of the country Uganda is 15.9, this is due to the impact of wars and the AIDS crisis that ravaged the country. The effect of this is that there are a lot of orphans and children that grew up without both parents. A whole generation was wiped out and the next generation have no mentoring or mentors to look up to for guidance. In our cause of disciplining we discovered that there was a problem of dependency on foreign aids and handouts that has destroyed the creativity and creative ability of the youth. As much as we try to change the narrative and encourage them to be self sustaining it was met with skepticism. The desire to prove to them that Uganda is blessed and has the most fertile land in Africa, hence the name The Pearl of Africa led us to the establishment of Mjenzi Mills and Zimbi Farms. Mjenzi Mills produce Maize Flour and the mill is used to help the local farmers. We shutdown the mill twice a week to mill for the local farmers and the local community. This helps to increase the disposable income for the community. Zimbi Farm currently has under cultivation 700 acres. Our first season was devoted to Maize farming because it’s one of the stable food of Uganda. This current season we are focused on Soybeans. We are devoting 100 acres of the farm to the local community. Our plan is to divide the 100 acres into 5 acres for the farmers and help them to plow and provide seeds for the farmers. We are also on the process of building a 1000 ton Silos for storage.

Did you know? Over 60% of Africa's population is under 30, yet unemployment remains a critical challenge. In Nigeria, nearly 54 million youths face limited opportunities. However, agriculture, which employs 70% of rural Nigerians, offers a path to prosperity and food security. At Heabron, we're harnessing this potential by providing resources, training, and access to markets, enabling young Nigerians to transform agriculture and fight poverty. With every seed sown, we’re moving closer to a future of #ZeroHunger and #NoPoverty. One farm, One youth, One community at a time. #Heabron #YouthEmpowerment #SustainableAgriculture #FutureOfFarming

The Larson Financial Foundation is proud to support the African Christian University Farm in Zambia. 🇿🇲 Our dedication to global philanthropy is blossoming into real, tangible change. Nestled in the heart of Zambia's capital, this farm isn't just about crops: it's about community empowerment and sustainable agriculture. With our help, three greenhouses have sprung up, and the first harvests of cucumbers, peppers, and cherry tomatoes are ripening beautifully. 🍅🥒 Our investment is projected to turn a profit by the end of 2024, laying a foundation for long-term success. Plus, we're already for the future by looking into shade netting and expanding agricultural capabilities with water tanks to double the arable land. LFF is committed to making a real impact: fostering sustainable agriculture and driving economic development. Together, we're cultivating a brighter, more abundant future for communities worldwide. 🌍 Join us in making a difference! Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gFc7RErT #Larson #SustainableAgriculture #CommunityEmpowerment #GlobalImpact #Flourish

🔆 Cordaid Rwanda: Reducing poverty and improving food security through KWIIP 2 Porject 🌾 🌤 In the drought-prone areas of Kayonza District, Eastern Province, Rwanda, poverty and food insecurity have long been a challenge. 💹 The Kayonza Irrigation and Integrated Watershed Management Project (KIIWP 2) aims to transform the lives of rural households by improving food security and income. As a partner in this initiative, Cordaid is dedicated to supporting farm business development, connecting farmers to markets, and providing access to financial services. 💰 🔝 Our goal is ambitious: 💡 To reach 40,000 rural households, 💡 empowering 180,000 individuals, with a special focus on women and youth. 📍 We envision a future where agriculture is a thriving business, and rural communities are resilient and strong. Watch our video to learn more about KIIWP 2 and the impact we're making together! #KIIWP2 #Rwanda #Agriculture #FoodSecurity #SustainableDevelopment #CordaidESA #CordaidRwanda

Fun out of the #Farm. Once upon the late 80s, Cyndi Lauper became famous for her chart topping pop hit, “Girls just Wanna Have Fun”. If you’ve never sang along to this song during a road trip with the car radio on full blast, then you my friend, need to reflect on whether you’ve really had fun in life. Oftentimes, the onus is on youth #agripreneurs to change the narrative of Africa’s #agriculture. Make agriculture sexy. Make agriculture cool. Make agriculture attractive…. and the list continues. Here’s my series of questions: - What are we changing the narrative from and what are we changing it to? How do we do that? - Several programs and initiatives on dignified and #decentjobs for #youth have been, and continue being rolled out. What does dignity mean for a young person in #foodsystems? - After we unpack what a #dignifiedjob means to a young person; can it afford them the kind of lifestyle that is epitomized as “successful”? Finally, have you ever imagined a #farmer having a good time? What do you think they do for recreation? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Class dismissed. Please hand in your assignments via the comments section below. 📸 Pictured with Pierra Nyaruai - Farmer and Founder, MamaMboga Africa Top: WEAR Ghana 🇬🇭 #YouthEmpowerment Mastercard Foundation Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) International Labour Organization

Diversifying income with numerous agricultural projects using beekeeping as the parent source of income is not bad for a young farmer like Stephen Ayebare 21' who enrolled and benefited highly from our recently concluded #CFYE ( Challeng Fund for Youth Employment) project funded by Woord en Daad in 2021. What we advise is that beekeepers should not be overtaken by other enterprises and forget to take care of their bees. Beekeeping holds several advantages over the rest of being a less costly enterprise with very minimal inputs. Bees are free and can thrive anywhere! Trias East Africa Bees for Development Oxfam in Uganda Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation

Preparations are well underway for our food parcel distribution in Garissa, Kenya. Garissa, located in northeastern Kenya, faces serious humanitarian challenges that have worsened over the years, primarily due to prolonged droughts and climate change. These have disrupted traditional livelihoods like pastoralism, resulting in substantial livestock losses and driving up food insecurity. The impact? Rising malnutrition, especially among children, and increasing dependency on aid due to limited alternative livelihoods and soaring food prices. Beyond food, Garissa faces critical gaps in health and education: ➡️ Health: Few health facilities, often under-resourced, struggle to provide basic services. Water scarcity heightens health risks, leading to waterborne diseases. ➡️ Education: Access to education is strained, particularly for girls, with limited schools and resources in the area. ‼️Why our support matters: These challenges have created a cycle of dependency that’s hard to break without sustainable solutions. Our food parcel distribution is a small but essential step toward supporting these communities through difficult times. We’re working to ensure families receive vital aid, but long-term solutions are key to empowering Garissa. Let’s help make a difference together. Support us in bringing hope and resilience to Garissa’s communities. #HumanitarianAid #FoodSecurity #Garissa #Kenya #CommunitySupport #MakeADifference Hamza Ahmed Fasel Ahmed Ikhlas Alvi Sophia Naheed Salman Anwar