The people's experience

Eye Health Project going strong

We were gratified to meet the organizers of the Rwanda Eye Health Project in Laguna Niguel. What a nice surprise! Years ago, my son, Russell Lange, introduced our stove project to folks from his California town. With the stove's smoke-removing capacity, they decided it could add an important dimension to their efforts to improve eye health in rural Rwanda.

The organizers brought a sample of their latest stove design to the event. It was a beautifully made version of the ICSEE Model Four stove. We are impressed that the group works with such care in their manufacturing, with continuing project success.

Students and teachers at the Baraka School planting a future forest

Nursery and tree planting program

We are so happy to be working with tree planting with the support of the Planeterra Foundation.

Of course, Africa is already full of trees. But in the Rift Valley, land use is in a rapid state of change with the movement of people and in the face of unpredictable rain and weather. Trees at schools, settlements, and in barren areas are a good thing, regardless of specific goals for their introduction.

We were especially glad to find a donor through Planeterra who wants to add another 4,000 trees to our 50,000 already in process. The ICSEE Tree Nursery is on a specialized plot at our Manyara cattle feedlot. Like the feedlot, the nursery is also thriving and has already provided young saplings to the Baraka School. The students are planting the trees with the goal of creating a future forest alongside their campus.

Drilling for groundwater

Sharing groundwater for climate change adaptation

Testing the practicality of investment in groundwater pumping is in full swing.

We are pretty sure that a trained group of farmers will find that drilling a good bore hole, powering the pumping with solar panels, and sharing water for efficient drip irrigation is a good investment.

This week, we are in the process of precisely measuring out the current groundwater production level.

Farmers with fields near our demonstration farm (Smart Farm) in Selela have already observed the shorter growing cycle needed for corn to reach a productive harvest, even though it has not been raining.

This is a key part of our lead towards climate change adaptation. The farmers are ready and it is time.

Kisioki Moitiko, Heather Ibrahim, African Union Ambassador Mafudze, and colleague

Kisioki honored at the Global Fund for Widows gala

I am proud to share with you that International Collaborative Project Manager Kisioki Moitiko was honored at the Global Fund for Widows gala. This was in recognition of his leadership in creating Widow's Groups in Tanzania along with the Country Director, Mesha Singolyo, and the ICSEE staff.

We met with Executive Director Heather Ibrahim’s colleagues and members of the Board.

It was wonderful to join in the celebration, and for Kisioki and the whole ICSEE to be recognized for creative input for the widespread development, expansion, and success of the program. Read about the impact of International Collaborative programs here.

Continuing success for self-organizing Women's Groups

Largely linked with the Global Fund for Widows, growth of the Women’s Group Program goes on and on. The women in the groups do earn more, and need this money. It is exciting to see

that their new social connections are becoming very important to them. They had not experienced this before.

The joy radiating from these new organizations has an impact on the men who give them livestock advice. These men are also learning from them. They realize they also want the benefits of cooperating and sharing that had not been part of their lives up until now.

We are now also helping men start groups, They are sharing resources and are there for each other when they face unusual problems.

The ICSEE will continue to help with the start of as many new groups as we can, including men’s groups, in collaboration with the Global Fund and also on our own.

It is with your support that successes like these are possible. Thank you!

Taking action today!