ECHO - Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization

Zero Grazing - this goat barn will hold 8 goats, keeping crops safe from wandering goats, and allowing the farmer to feed his goats nutritious food in a cut and carry system. The slatted floor means that the goat manure falls through and is collected in a bin below allowing easy access for collection by the farmer. The manure is then used to enrich the soil for crops.

Three styles of Rocket Stove currently being used in developing countries which are more fuel efficient saving both fuelwood and shortening the time women spend looking for firewood. The addition of a pot skirt also helps to channel the heat to the pot for added efficiency and shortening cooking time.

This past week I had the opportunity of taking a course called Introduction to Tropical Agriculture at ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization) in Ft. Meyers, Florida. A neighbour had visited the ECHO facilities during a recent trip to Florida and had brought me back the brochure thinking I might be interested in what ECHO had to offer. He had wanted to get a book for Ronnie that would be of help to our work in Wongonyi Village, Kenya but was overwhelmed by the selection in the bookstore. I visited ECHO's website and found this course for those working overseas in developing countries which just happened to fit into my schedule. So last week, I along with 18 other people learned a lot about tropical agriculture, community development, the challenges of working with those in poverty and also had a chance to share ideas and concepts about our work in developing countries. Half our group was made up of students, some who had just graduated and were looking for opportunities for the next leg of their personal journey. Representatives from India, Burkino Faso, Niger, Tanzania and Germany rounded out our group of Canadian and Americans working in Kenya, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Libyria.

It was an amazing time for me as I realized that although some concepts for temperate gardening can apply in developing countries, growing in the tropics and sub-tropics is really a different kettle of fish. There you can take a branch off a tree, stick it in the ground and viola, a new tree will grow. But concepts like composting and mulching are universal agricultural principles.I also learned of differing perspectives to use when working with those in the poverty cycle. Trees and plants that can change the face of poverty and malnutrition were shown to us along with their growing conditions and I know that Ronnie will soon be planting Moringa, the Miracle Tree, and Amaranth, a nutritious grain in Wongonyi Village, Kenya.

ECHO has a Global Demonstration Farm and Research Facility which assists those working in the field or those who having positions as trainers and technical resource staff. It is a living classroom focused on helping those who are subsistence farmers overseas to become more productive. ECHO also has a specialized library with staff that can help answer any of your questions regarding tropical agriculture and by joining the ECHO network you can have access to ECHO Development Notes, a highly regarded technical bulletin sent out quarterly to agricultural development workers, teachers and trainers working overseas. Additionally ECHO holds an agricultural conference each fall with participants coming from around the globe to learn new techniques and share agricultural and development solutions.

The ECHO Seed bank contains over 350 varieties of seeds for difficult growing conditions and locations. Overseas development workers who will report back on performance and community acceptance of plants can obtain up to 10 trial packs of free seed per year.

ECHO also has a bookstore and nursery that are open to the public as well as giving tours to school groups and the public. For more information on ECHO and the resources it offers check out their website at http://www.echonet.org/.

World Orphans Day - May 16, 2011

Isaiah Mwandami, Project Manager for The Ronnie Fund Biosand Water Filter Project, (himself an orphan looking after three siblings), shows an orphaned family their new Biosand Water Filter that has just been manufactured which will provide them with clean, safe drinking water.

Around the globe thousands of children live everyday without the benefits of guidance, nurturing and love from parents. Many of these vulnerable children have lots one or both parents to the ravishes of HIV/Aids, genocide and tribal wars and other diseases.

Sometimes these children are being taken care of by grandparents and other relatives. However if the job becomes too onerous, the grandparents too old, or the relatives unable to feed a few other mouths these children find themselves cast out to live on their own, fending for themselves, barely able to survive having to find work to sustain themselves rather than going to school and enjoying the fun activities children are supposed to partake in. In a very many cases, one finds older siblings taking on the caretaking roles, looking after many younger siblings.

World Orphans Day is to raise awareness of the number of children living in parentless households and the great needs and challenges these children have. In our village of Wongonyi, Kenya we have recorded 60 children out of the 300 attending Wongonyi Primary School to be orphans and that does not include orphan siblings attending (if possible) Allan Mjomba Secondary School. Ronnie has been approached by orphaned children starving for lack of food and crying because of treatment by adults who have note realized starvation to be the issue. The care of orphans and vulnerale children in Wongonyi Village is another of the challenges we are researching and trying to address in terms of care facilities.

Currently we have been able to provide some orphans with clothing and food along with school fees and supplies. Recently a donation from the Eastern Star branch in Bracebridge, Ontario allowed us to begin providing Biosand Water Filters to orphan families. These home water filters provide the children with clean, safe drinking water improving their health and lessen their trips to seek medical help for stomach ailments from water borne bacteria. Now The Ronnie Fund is exploring different models of care homes that would provide a family type setting for those orphans in Wongonyi Village.

Sometimes when we travel we from the West are repulsed by children in large centres like Nairobi, Calcutta and Brazil who are begging in the street but for many of the orphaned children it is their only alternative to try and get a little money or food to sustain their siblings. A sad state of afairs for those of us who have seen the reality of children living alone. Imagine your own children have to live on their own finding food, raising money, not being able to go to school and you can see how millions of children worldwide live. As well those grandparents and relatives looking after orhpans have a great weight put on their shoulders.

Today, I ask you to think about those orphan children and support a cause that is making a difference in these vulnerable children's lives. Asante-sana (thank you!)

World Fair Trade Day - May 14, 2011

A sewer at Bega Kwa Bega (Korogocho Slums, Nairobi, Kenya) makes over the shoulder bags from Kikoy scarves. This fair trade co-operative produces a variety of craft products including sewn items, bead work and necklaces, tie-dyed art and leather products.

Did you know that more than one third of the world's population live in poverty - that's 2.7 billion people worldwide living on $2.00 per day or less. For those of us in the Western world, it is a hard concept to grasp. For us, it is the price of one cup of coffee and with just that $2.00 those living in poverty have to pay for their acommodation, food, clothing and children's school fees. It's a pretty daunting way to live.

But on May 14th, 2011 you can help many of those living in developing countries by supporting World Fair Trade Day. Most people living in the developing world are small business owners from the woman selling her excess vegetables or crafts at the side of a dusty African road to groups of people working in fair trade co-operatives like Bega Kwa Bega in the Korogocho Slums of Nairobi. Here former drug users, alcohols and prostitues have been given an opportunity for a new life with training in life skills, business and craft skills. It is amazing to see the impact that fair trade has made on improving their quality of life.

This year's theme for World Fair Trade Day is "TRADE FOR PEOPLE - Fair Trade your world." The World Fair Trade Organization asks you to join with small producers world wide in celebrating small business by supporting fair and sustainable economies both locally and globally. Look for fair trade items when making your purchases in the grocery store or other shops. Support fair trade sales like Ten Thousand Villages that purchases globally from fair trade businesses. If we all started supporting fair trade businesses imagine what a better world we could create - one of equality and prosperity for all.

For more information on World Fair Trade Day check out the World Fair Trade Organization's website at www.worldfairtradeday10.org.