Stories from EKHCDC in Zala
As we approach the end of the second year of this project, here are some stories from EKHCDC in the last reporting period, which include introducing Church and Community Transformation Training (CCT) as well as establishing self-help groups (SHG) in the Zala Woreda.
Batale Beyene is the 48-year-old widowed mother of two sons and one daughter.
She owns 1.25ha of land for housing and farming. Her livelihood depends on agriculture & she mainly produces maize, sweet potato, haricot and cassava. She has one plough ox, one cow, and one calf.
She shares ‘’my family is food insecure. My small land is not productive; year after year I could not feed my family. When the project came, I was selected as a project beneficiary by the Kebele administrators and steering committees. This is amazing and I am very glad to be part of the project, as a widowed woman getting this kind of opportunity is a great privilege.”
Batale received regular training and support on the key principles of CA in her local language. She allocated a small plot of land for CA maize.
CA teaches farmers to use the materials they already have at their disposal to care for the soil that produces the harvest. It is a practical lesson around God’s provision and an exercise in faith/courage to try something different. Initially, Batale was unsure about mulch as it easily decomposes & needs to be constantly applied to cover the soil. But, the program staff continued to encourage her, and she used any leaves, twigs, and shrubs that she could find.
The CA maize looked much better in height and colour compared to the crops she was producing before. At the end of the season, Batale harvested 75 kg of CA maize. The CA maize was not only greater in yield but also in taste, kernel size, flour quantity and was less labour for plowing & weeding. This step of faith, and support along the way, led to abundance.
“My kids were also happy and like the taste of the maize!”
In the same year, she decided to increase the CA maize plot to 1250 m2 and harvested 450 kg of maize.
Batale says, “I am also a member of Madiyaro SHG established in the kebele. We members save 10 birr each a week. In the last few weeks I managed to save 160 birr. We have a strong social tie and we support each other to dream for the future. CA is our future.”
Batale chose to have faith and try something new. We praise God for a fresh confidence she now has in providing for her family, through those at EKHCD coaching her in an approach informed by the gospel.
Key Prayer Points
- For the Zala project, may EKHCDC and those involved have:
- continued wisdom in serving these beneficiaries among increased Covid-19 spread.
- access to food supplies and materials, as prices have doubled due to Covid’s impact and the situation in Tigray.
- Fruitful conversations with those church leaders as they mobilize their church to take increased ownership of the continued food security of their communities .
- For the crisis response in Tigray, may EKHCDC and those involved have:
- continued access to the region to serve those most vulnerable, through the local church in Mekelle.
- wisdom in showing care to those that have suffered violence and displacement.
- confidence in God’s alongsideness during this time as we all pray collectively for a peaceful outcome.
