This month, in the quiet, often overlooked Old Mosongo community, Mr. Makaya stood with a new sense of pride. For years, he was known simply as a struggling villager, barely keeping his household together. Today, he is a shining example of the “hand up, not a hand out,” philosophy of Transformational Community Development (TCD). Thanks to the training and resources provided, Mr. Makaya is no longer just surviving—he is cultivating a future with a thriving small-scale farm that has brought food security and financial hope to his family.

The TCD team’s participatory, community-driven approach transformed life in Old Mosongo from “What is wrong?” to “What can be done?” Mr. Makaya and his neighbors depended solely on unpredictable subsistence farming. One bad harvest meant months of hunger. There was no access to clean water, proper farming techniques, or agricultural tools, leading to low crop yields and backbreaking labor.

TCD works by empowering local leaders to identify their needs and build their own solutions. Instead of just being given seed, through regular TCD meetings, Mr. Makaya was taught innovative farming practices; he learned how to improve soil quality, find locally sourced fertilizers, manage water effectively, and diversify crops depending on soil type. This caused his harvests to greatly improve. With a higher yield, Mr. Makaya is now able to sell his surplus crops, providing him with enough income for his children’s school fees and other household expenses.

Thank you!

Written by Mirabel, GHNI Volunteer