During this first quarter, we started the year on a very good note, stepping from one success story to another, and like a field that is blessed, Batemone has experienced a great harvest. Early this year, we held a meeting with those who made the tomato garden in the village of Tchintchagle. They presented us with the first harvests they collected, and thanks to Transformational Community Development (TCD) awareness, the farmers were much more enlightened regarding planting techniques. The harvest was incredibly plentiful. We also visited the farm of a woman who started both an onion garden and a tomato farm. We spent time at her farm to encourage her.

As part of our success story, we must mention the story of three sisters, Lare, Tani, and Nadja. Previously, they suffered a lot in the village due to a lack of money, but thanks to TCD teachers, these sisters started a tomato garden. Today, they are doing fine, and their garden is very fruitful. They now have money to take good care of their families.

Our goal this quarter was to teach on the need for personal hygiene and clean water. We had training sessions on techniques for hygiene, why it’s important to eat vitamin-rich foods, how and why to wash things before eating, and why we should live in a clean environment.

One challenge we encountered was in the area of water availability for farms. For instance, the woman who started the onion garden would do better if she had enough water to irrigate her farmland. We trust that soon we will be able to help build her irrigation system.

We hope that by the next quarter we will hold more sessions to teach on education and the need for literacy classes. We also need a quiet environment to teach in, a teacher, and, of course, resources to pay the teacher. These are some of our next quarter goals. We’re also planning on starting a cooperative for the community. The essence of the cooperative is to empower each household with solar equipment. These are just a few of our future plans. Many thanks to GHNI for the opportunities.

Thank you! 

Written by Samson, GHNI Volunteer