A year-long training program for aged out Hands of Hope beneficiaries emphasizing:
Good agricultural practices for small-scale farming, and devoted Christian living.
General Overview
December 2021 Update
The HOH Agricultural Skills training initiative formally commenced on December 1st 2021. After the interns had settled in, they underwent orientation which outlined rules, guardrails as well as the goals and objectives of the program, giving them a roadmap for the year. Although we had initially planned to have 15 interns, our ministry partners only recommended 6 candidates for the program. Five of the applicants successfully completed the probationary period and that is the group currently enrolled in the training project.
The farm comprises open fields, irrigated fields, greenhouses and chicken coops. Over the course of the year the interns will learn contextualized and applicable farming principles and practices which will equip them with the know-how to setup and manage their own agricultural projects. Their agricultural skills training will cover: field crops, animal husbandry (specifically poultry farming for meat and eggs) and horticulture.
Daily devotions in the mornings and Bible study in the evenings have already been very impactful and edifying. The interns are currently working through the gospel of John. In the month of January, they will also begin training in Biblical Ministry through Harare Theological College’s distance learning initiative. They will be learning alongside a handful of other people from the Habitation of Hope community. All the trainees are all attending Green Valley Church of the Nazarene and they are demonstrating eagerness to be actively involved in church activities.
Agronomy and Horticulture
Field Crops
The fields have been ploughed and, so far 3 hectares of maize have been planted. Germination was above 85% percent and the approximate plant population is 50,000 plants per hectare. We also planted 0.24 hectares of groundnuts which are doing well. The plan is to plant 2 hectares of field beans by the end of January. We also aim to spend some time on weed management and top dressing of maize and groundnuts.
The interns have learnt to plant maize, calculate plant population, and how to fertilize the fields (basal dressing). Furthermore, the trainees are making commendable progress with their first coursework project. They are studying how to identify and deal with the commonly occurring weeds of arable lands, especially those which are prevalent in their home environment.
Agronomy and Horticulture
Greenhouses & Horticulture
Two of the greenhouses were repaired to make them functional. Star 9037 variety of tomatoes was planted which was the most suitable variety available on the market at the time. The seedlings had all been transplanted by the end of December. Each intern is personally responsible for growing a 30.9m bed of tomatoes. In January we hope to plant English cucumber in the greenhouses and use the irrigated fields to grow covo, rugare, rape, cucumber, tomatoes and green mealies.
The interns have learnt how to do trenching, liming, manuring, fertilizing, transplanting, problem solving, water management, pest control and maintain proper greenhouse hygiene.
Poultry
The poultry section is made up of broilers (which are grown for meat) and layers (which are grown for eggs). The interns have learnt about: biosecurity within the chicken coop, replacing bedding (hygiene), managing lighting and heating, weighing, vaccination and record-keeping.
Broilers
We received 203 broilers on December 6th.
Most of the chickens have grown very well but a handful passed away due to the frequent power outages.
Layers
We received 100 point-of-lay pullets on December 6th.
The lay rate started at 14% and by the end of the month they were consistently laying at about 98%.
Meet the Team
Tulele Mungombe (Age: 20 years old)
HOH Project: Siyachilaba TC
Course feedback so far: “When I go back to Binga I want to try my best in farming... Even in the community I am going to preach how farming is good and teaching them the Word of God the Creator who created Earth and sky... This course is very very good, it will improve my future life”.
Snydornce Tapaza (Age: 19 years old)
HOH Project: Grace & Hope TC
Course feedback so far: (translated from Shona) “There is so much that I would not have learned had not been for this course, but by God’s grace I have gotten this opportunity to learn and I want to make the most of it... I will continually pray for God’s help and I am very grateful to those that have made it possible for us to be here”.
Assistant Trainer: Munyaradzi Ngirazi
Course feedback so far: “I’m very happy to be among the group... We are very united. We do things together. We study the Bible daily, discussing as a team... My vision is on growth of the students both in agriculture and the Bible, knowing how to manage agricultural projects and knowing Jesus Christ”.
Effort Lunga (Age: 24 years old)
HOH Project: Manjolo Transformation Centre
Course feedback so far: “We are covering crop production, horticulture and livestock.... doing them practically and theoretically... Since the time I heard about this course I was positive and now I am becoming more positive because my mind is now opening (to new pssobilities)”.
Freddie Munsaka
Age: 19
HOH Project: Jambezi/ Mununa T.C.
Course feedback so far: “(translated from Shona) “I did not know that I would get to learn so much as part of this program but God is helping me to acquire the knowledge and skills to pursue big plans for the future”.
Simbarashe Antonio
HOH Project: Grace & Hope T.C.
Course feedback so far: “Thank you for this opportunity... (translated from Shona) This course has given me a hunger to study the Word of God... I am considering the possibilities of how to apply this knowledge after I graduate from this course... THANK YOU”.
Ziwayi Chipfiko
Lead Agricultural Trainer
Thank you very much
We are deeply grateful for the prayers, finances and oversight provided by Hands of Hope and its supporters which have made this project a reality. The transformational impact in the interns’ lives and within the Habitation of Hope community are evident. These boys come from difficult backgrounds and through this program they are truly being given a hope, a family and a future. They are learning to be productive, so that they can be generous and to approach all of life from a Biblical worldview. Glory to God!
Your partnership in this work has blessed us immensely. We covet your continued prayers as the program progresses.