Integrated Food Security and Reliance – Burundi
After he lost his mother, Jackson was left with his alcoholic father who took another wife, and she did not want anything to do with Jackson. He left his father’s house and went to live on the streets where he did odd jobs but never received regular payment. Eventually, Jackson got a farming job, and he received food and money as payment.
While working on the farm, Jackson met someone who told him about an agricultural training being hosted by Nazarene Compassionate Ministries (NCM), Burundi. This training would equip him to be independent by doing his own farming activities, so he registered to be a part of the group and began learning agricultural techniques. This project came at just the right time as Jackson was able to learn many lessons he did not know. Soon, he would be harvesting his own maize!
Jackson joined the Integrated Food Security and Resilience (IFSR) Project trainings in September 2022. With his small plot of land, he could increase production by using innovative farming techniques that conserved land, water and restored nutrients to the soil. As he began implementing these new methods, Jackson became more interested in growing his knowledge and skills as a farmer.
After a successful season of planting and harvesting, one of his neighbours commented on the change he observed in Jackson’s life and asked him to show them how to participate in this NCM training.
When Jackson harvests his crops, he sells them and uses part of the profit to provide for his family. Jackson no longer struggles to pay his children’s school fees, medical expenses or other household needs.
Jackson is now growing quality vegetable seedlings and has purchased a goat from the money he made from the harvest last season. With this new knowledge, he plans to start selling seedlings to cooperatives and other farmers.
Jackson says, “I grew up a disheartened child, but now I feel joy, and I see myself differently now. My future looks much brighter. I am very thankful to God for saving my life by bringing his gospel to Burundi so that I can be saved.”
The work of the Church of the Nazarene in this rural community is making a difference.
By Jackson from Burundi.
