Introduction

During December, the farmers began harvesting their crops.  Overall, their 2020 yields improved through use of new techniques such as no-till farming introduced by Tools for Hope (TFH).  Research shows that during harvest, Rwandan smallholder farmers lose 40-60% of their yields to improper harvesting and poor post-harvest handling techniques.

Post-harvest handling (PHH) is one of the most important farming activities.  The activities making up PHH are, cooling/drying, cleaning, sorting, packaging, and storing.  Many smallholder farmers however do not perform PHH activities as they should.  Frank Mutesa, Tools for Hope (TFH) mentor in Rwanda, is training the Twisungane cooperative on how to do their PHH properly.  Proper PHH supports our TFH 2020 goal of improving food security for the Twisungane group.

Also, during December, Frank began discussions with the farmers about evaluating the use of ceramic water filters to purify their domestic water supplies.  We plan to ask for three families to volunteer to use the technique.  If successfully adopted by the cooperative, the farmers’ families would have a more readily available, healthier, and more economical potable water supply.

The farmers’ motorcycle taxi business and their goat raising project continue to prosper.

 

Harvest and Post-Harvest Handling

During this past December farmers began harvesting their crops.  Harvest  continued into January 2021 because of different planting times and different crops.  Those who planted beans  harvested in December and those who planted corn/maize during this season will  harvest in January 2021.

Research revealed that during harvest, 40-60% of the yields are lost due to improper harvesting techniques and poor post-harvest handling.  TFH is aware of this and Frank is there to stop that loss from happening to our farmers.  Farmers are adopting the new techniques and are eager to learn more every day.  They have understood and appreciate the value of learning better techniques in their journey to sustainable development.

As one the most important parts of agriculture, PHH can be a life saver considering the demanding work done during agriculture season.  If not well done, it can ruin all the excellent work put in during the agricultural season.

Frank has been working door to door and, field to field looking at and checking on the kind of crops planted.  Based on his observations, he advised the farmers on harvesting issues which included, looking for better tools that can help farmers during harvest and, also how to go about post-harvest handling (PHH) which needs some proper tools, such as good sacks, good tools for sorting, good techniques of transportation because sometimes poor transporting the yield from the field can cause loss of harvest.

Frank reminded the farmers to take diligent care and plan accordingly, to search for tools to help them in the activities, like sacks, bags, baskets, etc.  Frank also showed them how to sort, the sorting is also especially important because there are those harvested crops that can be consumed at once and those that can be stored / preserved to be consumed later or to be sold later.

Frank examined crops in the fields and provided individual farmers with advice on the time of harvest depending on crop and how their crops are doing in the field.  This is important because there were some farmers who harvested too early before the crop matured.  We are happy to say that the farmers accepted all our advice.  Frank discussed his advice together with them because this is our style, we do not impose solutions on the farmers instead we discuss and show them how best they can manage their tasks.

 

Harvesting Various Crops

Harvesting was successful for those who planted beans (climbing beans and bush beans).  Farmers used all the protocols as discussed and Frank supervised some of our farmers.  They were on time with their harvesting as discussed, they had all the tools, and they used all the modern methods of harvesting without damaging the crops.  In the days before TFH help, they used to make many mistakes including damaging the crops during harvest time and thus caused losses of 45% of their entire harvest.  TFH is doing all it can to stop these losses and introduce new and more effective ways of improving farmers’ activities in sustainable ways.  Their farms are small, and they are still using sickles, hand-held hoes, machetes, and their own hands to farm.  However, Frank helps them to use everything they have in a systematic way to save 100% of their harvest.

 

Our farmers were trained on how to achieve good threshing, reaping, cleaning, and sorting of the crops during harvest time.  Some of the farmers are now harvesting beans and we believe by early January they will be done with the harvest.

 

Twisungane Decides Water Treatment Trial Volunteers

TFH and the farmers are always discussing issues that are outside of basic agriculture when there is time.  We want them not to depend on agriculture alone, that’s why TFH has loaned funds for their motorcycle and their goat project.

Frank discussed on how to continue working on the motorcycle taxi activities.  They are depositing the agreed amount to TFH account to pay their loan.  This is a good sign of the committed people and Frank always encourages them to do it in a seamless way so that they can have that ability and experience in requesting other loans.

We have other pending activities that we discussed like working on the water treatment trials, having more loans, and learning the preservation techniques.  Working with the Twisungane group’s leadership we selected three members that will undergo the water treatment trials using the ceramic water filters TFH purchased from a supplier in Tanzania.

Farmers are also grateful for the TFH support and they told Frank to pass along their greetings and their well wishes to the TFH and TFH Board members in America that you will have a wonderful new year 2021 as you continue collaborating with them in this journey of combating hunger and poverty and enter their better future where they will be able to have decent life and forget hunger forever.

 

Our Way Forward

The farmers continue to grow in their knowledge of not only farming techniques but also of economic value creation.  One of the most significant changes that they have made is to value the ‘spirit’ of saving.  Throughout the third world, most impoverished people have no hope for a future and therefore do not save (anything) for tomorrow.

Farming, even with the best techniques, will not be enough to bring the Twisungane group to middle-class income status.  With formal, full-time employment being scarce for them, they will need to create their own off-farm income producing activities.  To help with this, TFH lends funds (at zero interest) and supplies advice to help them develop small businesses (e.g., their motorcycle taxi business).

From Frank: Thank you once again and we wish you a happy new year 2021 as we continue to prosper and aim for the highest in terms of helping those in need to help themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Introduction

Frank Mutesa (Tools for Hope mentor to the farmers) has been collaborating with the Twisungane cooperative farmers helping them to fight pests and diseases.   These problems arise during November as the temperatures favor the occurrence of many pests and diseases.

During November Frank had an opportunity to discuss with the Twisungane farmers issues involved with obtaining new loans from Tools for Hope in addition to those they have now.  (TFH loans are interest free)

The Twisungane community suffers from a lack of affordable, nearby, clean water.  Tools for Hope (TFH) is exploring solutions for this issue.  We have already bought ceramic water filters to evaluate the viability of ceramic filtration.  We need to find out if this technique will work in our farmer’s area.

Food preservation is one of the most critical problems that the farmers need to solve to combat hunger.  Most of their crop yields are lost or sold at minimum market prices because farmers have no suitable techniques for food preservation.

Crops Get Appropriate Care in the Fight Against Pests and Diseases

Rwanda has four seasons.  Their short dry season is from December to February, March through May is a long rainy season, June to August is known as the long dry season, and September to November is the short rainy season.  In November, at the end of the short rainy season farmers need to be careful and always ready to work on their farms.

During a rainy season, crops tend to be more affected with pests and diseases because of the favorable conditions for insects and other diseases on wet soil and cool temperatures.  Pests and diseases are difficult to fight when you do not have adequate skills and knowledge.

The farmers had to be trained and shown the techniques to help them know which pesticides and insecticides that can be used and, to know which kinds of pests and diseases that are affecting their crops.  Frank showed them the various symptoms and, how to know the fungal signs.  He is helping them to get rid of these pests and diseases.

Frank encouraged the farmers continually to visit their farms, especially during the rainy season to see what is happening to their farms.  If they detect any signs on the leaves and they do not know what it is, they call Frank at once and he gives them the prompt technical support they need.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frank helped the farmers on their individual farms and on their cooperative farm.  Farmers managed to apply the required pesticides often enough.  We always recommended that they follow all the protocols that agro-dealers offer.

 

Loan Request Discussions with Twisungane Committee Members 

TFH is not just helping the Twisungane cooperative with sustainable agriculture development, but we also help with other economic development paths.  TFH has supplied loans to Twisungane farmers for off-farm income producing activities.  Developing these activities is essential because off-farm employment is difficult to find and pays little.  TFH is considering giving them more loans because, farmers are repaying their TFH loans very well.  They have now repaid more than a half Million Rwandan francs (> 500,000 Frw) towards the TFH loan they received for the purchase of their motorcycle transportation service.  They are also on schedule to repay the TFH loans they received in March to buy twenty-two goats.

Frank has been discussing with the committee members the possibility of requesting more loans from TFH to expand their businesses, to continue their journey of sustainable development.  They discussed the possibilities of paying them in the same way as they do to the earlier loans.  TFH is their foundation on the issue of getting loans and the loans are the roadmap for their success.

Usually, poor families in Africa are not considered for loans from banks because most of them are not well trained on loan issues, do not have steady employment, and have no assets to provide as loan security.  TFH has tackled these problems and trained the farmers on various techniques and ways to manage loans.

Based on their discussions with Frank, the Twisungane group now would like to request loans for another motorcycle and for more livestock, especially goats.  This is a group request, however there are also individuals who may want TFH loans.  Frank is discussing with them the possibility of requesting helpful loans that they will be able to manage and to repay properly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working on Clean Water Issues

Frank had also time to review the issues of water purification and how best to deal with their water problem. The Twisungane community suffers from a lack of affordable, nearby, clean water (closest is ~ 3 miles away). Tools for Hope (TFH) is exploring solutions for this issue. We bought ceramic filters to evaluate the viability of ceramic filtration. We need to find out if this technique will work in our farmer’s area. To be acceptable the filters must supply clean water at a reasonable cost and be viewed by the farmers as safe, practical, and dependable.

Frank has received three ceramic water filters from a supplier in Tanzania. These will be used in combination with Madidrop+ tablets to start treating water for domestic (potable) use. These three first units will be used in evaluating the water cleaning efficacy of the filters.

Above are the ceramic filters that will be used for water treatment activity.

 

Training Farmers on Food Preservation Techniques

Food preservation is one of the most critical problems that the farmers need to solve because it is one of the best ways for them to combat hunger.  Most of their crop yields are lost, damaged, consumed at once, or sold at minimum market prices because farmers lack proper techniques of food / crop preservation.

Food preservation presents difficult and daunting activities for our farmers, especially for some vegetables which may need canning techniques.  However, some of the crops which they can easily preserve such as maize, beans, cassava, sorghum, sweet potato, and Irish potatoes, are not very well known to the poor families.  We have managed to show them and are helping them with technical support on how to preserve these for future use, especially during dry seasons.

Farmers are starting to apply preservation techniques to their harvested beans and maize/corn.  They are using some old / traditional technologies as well as modern chemicals to fight pests and some insects that damage the harvested yields of beans, cassava, and maize.  We are now trying to develop canning methods.  We will start with some few members of the Twisungane.  Frank will seek advice from TFH staff in the USA.  These efforts will help us defeat hunger among the cooperative members.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the old method of preserving maize/corn which is still used in Rwanda by many farmers. This method is used when corn/maize is stored for later use by turning this to maize flour for the preparation of a local meal known as “Ugali” the maize local cake. On the far right, is the canning technology which we are eager to learn and to be able to preserve vegetables and legumes for future use.

The way forward

Based on their progress the farmers should be able to manage added loans from Tools for Hope, in the next few months.  We do not want to get them into too much debt nor, do we want to slow their economic progress.  Presently, a typical Twisungane family may spend up to 50% of their annual income on food.  With good off-farm income producing activities they should be able to drive that percentage much lower.

As mentioned, bank loans are unavailable to the farmers.  Because of their (previous) lack of money, savings, financial and organizational skills, they had no way to develop their own investment capital.  Your financial support for Tools for Hope helps us help the farmers help themselves.  Thank you for your faithful, continued support of their efforts.

 

Introduction

Land preparation and planting / sowing dominated the Twisungane farmer cooperative’s October agricultural activities.  As usual Tools for Hope, Inc. (TFH) employee Frank Mutesa helped them during these times and gave them the necessary technical support for them to apply effective methodologies to bring about sufficient yields.

The farmers were met with heavy rains which came right after sowing.  This tends to destroy some of the fields due to their topographical condition. Frank was busy showing them how to combat this issue of erosion and be able to save some crops from the heavy rainfalls.

We continued to work on the Twisungane projects and worked on the future projects as well.  All the projects we have are doing great.  We want to give them more business management training so that they can be able to manage these projects themselves in the future.

We still working on the clean water issues.  We which have met some difficulties, but we hope that soon we will begin trials on the best ways to purify our farmer’s dirty water.

We are still working on the issues of food preservation.  We are looking at which types of food preservation we can promote and that can be adapted by farmers easily.

Preparation and Planting Activities for 2020-2021 Season A

Seasonal preparation was done by preparing the inputs (e.g., fertilizers) and working the land to make sure that at planting time farmers will have good land with which to start their season.  The PICSA (Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture) approach was used up until planting time.  This important strategy helps the farmers individually and on their collective field, to plan and to decide which crops to plant and which agriculture system to use.  We helped them with selecting good seed and showed them how to use the fertilizers in the best combinations i.e., combining organic and inorganic fertilizers.

 

Helping Farmers with Soil Erosion Strategies and Water Catchment

This October was dominated by heavy rainfalls and this tends to be a disaster for farmers if they are not well prepared.  We have been training them to use PICSA.  PICSA is all about combining weather and climate information from METEO-Rwanda.  That service gives us updated weather forecast information.  We and the farmers use this information to plan accordingly.

The METEO-Rwanda information showed that during mid and late October there would be heavy rainfalls.  After hearing this we reasoned with the farmers to use all necessary means to use best practices to help to catch water in the soil and to fight against erosion and runoff.  Frank showed them how to use furrows and ridges as the better system to catch and store water in the field and to reduce the velocity of runoff from washing away their crops.

Frank also showed them how they can divert the runoff using drainage channels dug in the field and by doing this, they can direct runoff water to an excavated pit and store it for irrigation purposes during drought time.

This is an example of furrows and ridges in the maize field.  The crop is planted in the upper ridge while the furrow acts as the water collection and drain water and use them to infiltrate slowly to be used by the crop roots.

Twisungane Group’s Non-Farm, Income Producing Projects

Twisungane cooperative is not only involved in agriculture, but they are also undertaking other businesses.  Because of the small sizes of their farms they must find income producing activities to support themselves.  The usual way has been for them to try to find ‘day-labor’ jobs when they are not occupied on their farms.  TFH is helping them develop their own businesses.

Their motorcycle is working as a transport facility (taxi).  They are repaying their TFH supplied loan on a weekly basis (Frank reviews and sends TFH a monthly bank statement showing that the cooperative is repaying the loan as agreed).  Soon their loan will be repaid, and they will have full and clear ownership of their motorcycle.

They are also engaged in goat rearing and this is also going very well.  The farmers are asking for another TFH supplied loan so that they can expand their goat business.  As their supervisor / mentor, Frank believes they are ready to have another loan because they have understood the TFH concept i.e., helping them to help themselves.

The photographs above show the current condition of their motorcycle.  It is in good condition.   The farmers are taking good care of it. It has been a year now and the motorcycle is well kept.  Twisungane farmers are now mature in-terms of monitoring their assets and they are well prepared to receive other loans.

Clean Water

During October we ordered materials to conduct three trials of a technique aimed at supplying clean drinking water, economically, to the Twisungane group.  We plan to use ceramic water filters produced at a Tanzanian ‘Water to Wine’ facility (https://www.winetowater.org/our-work-eastafrica) to filter and clean the water, initially.  We also plan to place a Madidrop+ water purification tablet (https://www.madidrop.com/) in the container of filtered water as an added safety measure.   The MadiDrop+ is a micro porous, water permeable ceramic tablet infused with microscopic silver clusters.

We plan to begin our tests in November.  Issues with shipping and communications delayed the project by several weeks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Way Forward

The COVID-19 virus is still in the farmer’s vicinity.  While they have resumed schooling and all other activities, there are challenges in every aspect of life. Apart from helping our farmers to regain their full strength, kids in school also need our attention for whatever we can do to help them, starting from uniform, books, clean water, chalks and all necessary tools like clothes, shoes and etc.

Recently Frank was touring the village to see how the children were doing.  He found that they are healthy, but they lack proper clothing, shoes and other school materials.

 

 

Introduction

The Twisungane farmer cooperative has been doing great, all their projects have been successful.

Their goat project has been going very well, all their goats have given birth.  This has been a wonderful experience.  It shows how well the farmers can manage their own projects with the help of Tools for Hope (TFH) guidance.  Their goats are kept in good conditions.

The off-farm project of their motorcycle transportation business is doing very well.  Their revenue is good, and they continue to pay the loan as agreed upon.

During September, Frank Mutesa (TFH employee / mentor / consultant) worked on clean water issues.  Sufficient, clean water has been one of the critical issues because during this season of heavy rains, they tend to get too much dirty water.  Frank has been discussing this with their local leaders.

Frank and the farmers are still doing preparations for this planting season, 2020-2021 Season A. Frank teaches them how to calculate rainfall distribution data from METEO-RWANDA, and to plan what crops to cultivate and which agricultural system to use as regards the amount of rainfall predicted for this season.

Frank also tackled the food preservation techniques issues.  Frank reviewed the farmers current preservation techniques, what they lack, and what TFH can do to help them.

Motorcycle Taxi Business

When they get money from their motorcycle transport business, they deposit it at once to secure their loan and have some to their own account.  When they get the money from their motorcycle transport business, they deposit it at once to their loan repayment account and some to their own account.  TFH monitors their progress monthly via their bank account statements.

Continuing Goat Project Monitoring, Evaluations, and Training

September has been dominated by monitoring and by evaluations of the farmers’ goat project.  Frank did this by going door to door and looking at each goat.  Frank assessed their status and, recommended actions needed accordingly.  Frank is happy to say that all goats have given birth, and this is a good sign.  The goat project has been doing well.  This has been a wonderful experience and shows how well the farmers can manage their own projects with the help of TFH guidance.

TFH gave the lady in the picture above 2 goats and now she has 6 goats.  She is taking diligent care of them and she is getting all the benefits e.g., milk, and manure for her farming especially for her vegetable garden (known as a kitchen garden).  This is typical of the eleven families that each received two goats via one-year loans from TFH in March of this year.  Each family will repay their loans with the proceeds from the sale of two of their goats in March 2021.

 

The picture above is of an older gentleman who was given 2 goats.  He has 5 goats now.  He very much appreciates the program.  He told us he wants to start a business of selling meat.  Now he is looking for other 2 goats and after 6 months he will have lots of goats and can start his business.  Frank and TFH are helping him in shaping this idea to see if he may be able to succeed in his planned business.

All the goats from the Tools for Hope (TFH) loans have now multiplied.  Those families who got the fewest (baby goats or kids) now have 4 goats, while those having the most kids have 8 goats, from the 2 goats given to each farmer.  Their goats are kept in good conditions.  What they must improve is the goat houses, some of them are poor and uncomfortable barns.

Frank had an opportunity to show them how to successfully prepare compost using the goat manure.  Frank taught them to prepare a good pit for the manure and to make sure they used something to cover the pile to keep the nitrogen from volatilization (see for example http://cceonondaga.org/resources/nitrogen-basics-the-nitrogen-cycle), and to do a regular mix-up to ensure a proper decomposition. Doing so will result in an excellent quality and a well decomposed manure ready to be used.  Frank encourages them to keep doing better on both agriculture and other development activities outside farming.

Clean Water issues Involving the Farmers and their Local Leaders

TFH is now working on getting better access to clean(er) water for our farmers.  We see a possibility of getting ceramic water filters from a manufacturing company in Tanzania.  A trial set (3) of Madidrop+ tablets is on order to be shipped from the USA to Frank.  We are now in talks with the ceramic filter company to buy three filters.  In days ahead we will evaluate these systems i.e., filtered water will get added treatment from the Madidrop tablets.

Meanwhile we are talking with the farmers to understand what they are willing to try to have clean water.  All proposed TFH solutions must meet the approval of the farmers.  Problem solution must be a team effort for the solutions to be practical and sustainable for the long-term.

During this rainy season, farmers tend to get too much dirty water.  We have been discussing this with their local leaders.  The leaders see the possibility of boiling drinking water to minimize the diseases that coming from the dirty water.  They are looking for ways of filtering water prior to getting the ceramic water filters.  We are in discussions with the local leaders in charge of social welfare about any source(s) of clean water nearer their area.

We have checked available water sources.  Most of the farmers get their water from the river.  That river water is dirty water, but it is the only water that is near their village.  Tap (well) water is far from where the Twisungane farmers live.  They walk for ~3.7 miles to get that tap water.  They pay ~$0.35, for 5.3 gal. of water, which weighs 45 Lb. with container.

Preparation for Agriculture 2020-2021 Season A

The PICSA (Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture) approach is being used until in the middle of the season.  Farmers are encouraged to listen to the information broadcast on the radio about the predicted rainfall for this season.  When they have this predicted rain fall information, they can decide what to do if they use the PICSA approach.  PICSA helps the farmer to know the right crop to cultivate, the agriculture system to use, the right variety to be used, and the right input(s) to prepare.  Applying the knowledge from the PICSA approach will help them to make good investments in their time, labor, and finances.  Moreover, soon they will be able to calculate their cost-benefit ratio(s) (Frank is going to teach them this soon).

Food Preservation

We have been encouraging the farmers to be careful to secure their food needs.  Improved food preservation is one of our 2020 goals.  The food preservation methods that we have been discussing with our farmers involve ways of keeping their crop yields safe for longer-term storage and to be able to use them efficiently.

Some of the local techniques used for crops include

• maize – preserve in form of flour,
• cassava – preserved in form of flour, or kept in the pits as cassava roots,
• beans – are kept in a sack with pesticide to prevents insect attack which helps beans keep from being spoiled.

The Way forward

Farmers and their local leaders are really working hard to secure a better tomorrow and they are glad TFH is doing all it can to push our rural people and to equip them with the right knowledge and mentality to achieve their sustainable development. They have now understood that they can also make it to a good life.  And this was done by doing.  (from Frank “TFH is a “do program” if I may say”).  We focus on activities/works rather than words, and that’s why farmers can see it with their own eyes.

Frank encourages them to keep doing better on both agriculture and other development activities outside farming.

Thanks to the TFH USA for the support, the Twisungane farmers are very much humbled and they are sending their warm greetings to all TFH staff and supporters in the USA.  God bless you all.

 

September 2020 Tools for Hope, Inc. Newsletter   Introduction August was a great time for farmers all over Rwanda to prepare for their next agricultural season, known as season A (starting in late September).  August was the proper time for Tools for Hope (TFH) employee Frank Mutesa to go from farm to farm to give encouragement to the farmers and to show them the best way to prepare for good agriculture production.  Frank collaborated with the farmers to show and to explain soil testing. Frank also had time to discuss management plans for the Twisungane group’s businesses and projects.  During this time of coronavirus pandemic, all Twisungane projects must be managed well, and all the members must be aware of each and everyone’s responsibilities. Frank also focused on livestock keeping.  This is another issue that our farmers were not doing well, and Frank is focusing on effective training to aid the farmers in resolving their identified problems. TFH is working on all aspects of life for these farmers.  TFH, and Frank, really want the farmers to have better lives and this, we believe, starts with changing their mindsets about certain issues.  They just need the right coaching and encouragement and, the right people in their lives.  TFH is giving farmers the inputs and right principles needed in agriculture, helping the farmers to start their own businesses, and giving the proper knowledge for everyday life (e.g. hygiene, financial planning, food security).   Soil Fertility Management and Testing Improves Food Production As the Rwandan agricultural planting season approaches (Season A), farmers need to be ready with all the necessary first activities prepared and done.  Last month Frank began helping the farmers use the PICSA (Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture) approach. PICSA evaluates historical climate information and uses straight-forward tools to help farmers choose crop, livestock, and livelihood options best suited to individual farmers’ circumstances.  Making the right choice can be critical to the survival of subsistence farm families. Frank did a tour to determine how well our farmers are prepared with soil fertility issues. With help from some technicians from the Rwandan Agricultural Board, Frank and the technicians walked around the village where our farmers reside making the farmers aware of how to manage soils, improve soil fertility, encouraging them to test their soil, and to know the nutrients/ essential elements needed. Soil testing is not expensive, and the results can help improve the crop yield by using the necessary inputs at the right rates. Many farmers were not aware of the importance of soil fertility and the importance of knowing the status of it.  Some think this is entirely some job of the big and rich farmers.  However, this is a mind-set Frank looks to change.  He is explaining to them that this is a ‘must do’ job and it does not require a lot of money.  For example, the cost for testing and analysis for the essential elements (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) for one sample is 5000 Rwandan francs, equivalent to ~$5.00. On-going Projects and Plans for Others During this COVID-19 pandemic, many folks’ businesses have been shrinking and are in bleak condition.  For the small businesses to thrive during this time, they need proper monitoring and planning. It is in this regard that Frank has been watching and helping our farmers to perform the essential and important monitoring and evaluation of their business activities.  There are two types of businesses /projects our farmers are engaged in; one is the motorcycle transportation / taxi business, and second is the rearing of goats for multiple purposes. Now in Rwanda due to the social distancing issues, all means of transporting people and goods have been increased and their motorcycle business is booming with lots of customers. So Frank is now closely monitoring them and helping them to follow best business practices.  For example, making sure they have sanitizers, and effective metering for taxi charges to avoid fees for not following such required measures. Frank has also been observing the goat project, house by house, seeing how they are managing the goats.  Frank has been checking on the feeding, health, and shelter for the goats.  Many of the farmers were not maintaining proper shelter for their goats, therefore Frank has been teaching them how to make and manage proper barns. Frank has been emphasizing regular cleaning to help fight diseases and protect the goats’ health.  Frank has been checking the feeding materials and where they get the grass and which types.  Frank found their feeding sites and types of grass are all right, but they need more, and Frank will check whether he can get good grass types that help in goats’ welfare.  Frank knows of some good types of fodder grass that can be grown in their field strips.       Frank found two goats that were not in good health.  After monitoring, proper discussions, and advice from Frank, they found proper medication and began looking for proper feeding materials.  Frank believes these goats will recover soon.  The other goats are all looking good and Frank is always there to help our farmers in whatever technical advice they need. Livestock Care and Feeding Plans After seeing that some of our farmers were not keeping their goats in a proper surroundings, Frank started a campaign of looking in all the livestock our Twisungane have and encouraging them to change and have good barns for their livestock and do regular cleaning for their livestock’s health. Some of them have cattle which are not kept in a good condition at all.  This campaign is raising their awareness and encouraging them to think positively.  There is a mindset that poor people cannot have clean things.  Frank is working at changing that mindset and replacing it with “cleanness is the choice.”  Frank emphasizes that they have a choice of making things right. The tropics, where Rwanda is, have climates which support a lot of bacteria and other microorganisms some of which can be harmful to human and animal health.   Therefore, regular cleanings and proper barns for livestock shelter help reduced health risks that might lead to the death of livestock and increase the risks to human health. Take as an example the conditions of the above cow.  This is what Frank is concerned about.  Farmers need to take health and hygiene issues seriously and to make sure they take good care of their livestock.  Frank can help them find some trees to make a simple barn, and to make sure they do proper cleaning and collection of the manure and to keep it in a compost bin for agricultural use. This is what Frank is encouraging our farmers to do.  These maintenance activities need proper planning.  Being poor is not an excuse for dirtiness. TFH is working on all aspects of life for these farmers, Frank really wants these farmers to have better lives, and this, Frank believe starts with changing their mindset.  Frank and we believe they can.  They just need the right instruction and encouragement and the right people in their lives.  TFH is a right organization for this purpose, giving farmers the ideas and right principles needed in agriculture, helping farmers to start their own businesses, and giving the right knowledge for everyday life.  Frank and we are seeing good changes, some of them are also helping us to help the larger community. The Way Forward Frank and the farmers are preparing the next agriculture season, which is the cornerstone of many of our group members.   Frank and the farmers are managing very well all the Twisungane businesses.  Frank ensures their TFH loan payments are made regularly.  Usually they deposit the agreed amount in two weeks’ time. And for the goat project, Frank is encouraging the farmers to take meticulous care of the goats so that they will be able to start paying their loan next year. Frank would like to pass the greetings from Twisungane members, they are more than grateful for all you have done to them.  And they are in this with courage, the goal is to have better future and healthier life. Tools For Hope, Inc. 1540 Robinson Road Knoxville, TN 37923 http://www.toolsforhope.org/ Thank you for your continued support for Rwandan subsistence farmers. Please send this newsletter along to anyone you feel may benefit from it.