Introduction

This month Tools for Hope, Inc. (TFH) is pleased to report on two, very positive, significant transformations. The Rwandan farmers are starting small businesses. Their first business, financed with a loan from TFH, will be the operation of a motorbike-based transportation service for their area. TFH (USA) management is transforming to a formal and fully functional Board of Directors per our corporate charter and by-laws.

Frank Mutesa, our Tools for Hope (TFH) employee in Rwanda also took time to visit with the children of the cooperative because they are on vacation from school. His purpose was to evaluate their overall condition and to assess how their lives have improved through TFH inspiration and teachings.

The 2019-2020 agriculture season begins in September, and the farmers are getting ready for the season.

Management of the Cooperative Businesses

During July, the Twisungane cooperative developed plans to manage the motorbike-based transportation business. Small business development in Rwanda is significant because it has unemployment rates above 80%. Additionally, the cooperative will generate a continuous, reliable, weekly income stream from operation of the motorbike serving their locality.

Frank and the farmers have had several discussion and training sessions about the motorbike-based transportation business. As the discussion of the motorbike project was going on with the TFH staff in the USA, the Rwandan farmers and Frank found it very important to discuss how they would be able to manage the loan and to be able to learn from other groups who have the same type of business.

Over the past few months Frank has been training the farmers and their leadership on business operation basics such as: basic business plan development, SOTW analyses, lessons learned by other cooperatives in similar businesses, and other due diligence activities.

Frank discussed with them the importance of setting goals and developing the proper strategies to help them achieve these goals. Frank also discussed with them loan repayment strategies and options. He explained to them the conditions for getting the motorbike loan from TFH and explained to them that if they don’t follow the conditions, then TFH has the option to take the motorbike to other groups of farmers who are willing to use the opportunity.

Tools For Hope, Inc. Senior Management Improvements

In the USA, we had our first meeting of the new management team for Tools for Hope, Inc. Our corporation has formed a more formal senior management team consisting of a Board of Directors and appointed a Treasurer and a Secretary for the corporation. Our second Board meeting scheduled for late August will further refine team-member roles, responsibilities, accountabilities, and authorities.

Tools for Hope, Inc. (TFH) continues to grow and achieve its primary goals thanks to your kind and continued support. Growth involves change. Management of TFH is changing to properly manage this growth. The new management team will function per our charter and by-laws, as well as applicable state and federal laws, etc. More importantly the new team and new structure will fundamentally improve our decision-making and administrative capabilities. With your support and their hard work, the current group of small-holder farmers have drastically transformed their lives and the futures of their children in sustainable ways.

Social Visitation (monitoring children / parental discussions)

July is a holiday time for school aged children. During this time, they always help their respective families on small activities. Frank went around the community just looking to talk with them and to have fun with them. The purpose was to observe them, connect with them, to assess their wellbeing, and to talk to their parents. Frank found the children to be very healthy and doing great. Frank encouraged the parents to keep working hard to see that their children have better lives.

Frank and some of the children

 

Preparation of 2019-2020 Agriculture Season ‘A’

The 2019-2020 agriculture season begins in September, and farmers need to make extensive preparations to get ready for the season. Frank is teaching them various techniques and emphasizing to them that, this preparation is the most important thing in every agricultural activity, that when you start badly then you will have a bad finish.

Some of the farmers are learning how to prepare a plant-nursery bed, and how to manage the nursery and to know when the time of transplanting for different crops is. Frank and the farmers are focusing on how to prepare the nursery bed for crops such as onion, tomato, etc. Frank also discussed with the farmers, individually, how best to choose and to plan for their various crops to cultivate. Frank’s knowledge and ability in preparing the nursery bed has been invaluable to the farmers.

Frank also encouraged the farmers to try again cultivating chili peppers because chili peppers are a high-value crop. They tried growing chili peppers in 2016 but failed due to lack of proper advice and a failure to take care of the problems on time. However now they can seek Frank’s advice whenever they see problems developing on their chili peppers. Frank emphasizes to them that it is very important to regularly visit the field and they must be very observant and have immediate action taken if need to be.

The way forward

The farmers are eager to succeed at the motorbike-based transportation solution for their local communities and to see what it will bring to their lives. In addition, their agricultural activities are still on going and are now in seasonal preparations. As they await this coming season, they believe this will be their best season.

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Introduction

Apart from preparing for the next planting season, the Twisungane cooperative of smallholder farmers have been analyzing proposed projects to improve their overall nutrition and economic security. After discussions and field visits with other farmer groups, Frank and the Twisungane group settled on two important projects for the group. These projects are, getting a motorbike (for transportation of goods and people) and getting a small goat herd (20 goats). They have asked that, TFH lend them the funds according to their needs and their ability to repay the loans from the profits of the proposed projects.

 

The next planting season will start in September. Frank has been working to link the Twisungane farmers and researchers at the Rwandan Agricultural Board (RAB) to see if they can do some research in their areas for various issues including soil and water management. RAB has promised Frank to supply some help. With Frank’s help RAB will investigate the agricultural problems our farmers are facing and work together to find solutions.

 

Analyses of the Two Projects

• Transportation

We have worked with the farmers to find the projects that they need, and to develop budgets for the activities. Our Rwandan employee, Frank, held discussions with the farmers’ leadership committee. In addition, Frank, and representatives from the Twisungane cooperative visited various local sites to understand the suitability of the various proposed projects.

 

They started with the issue of replacement of the basic utility vehicle (BUV). In Rwanda there are two popular types of motorbikes suitable for the farmers. One is the standard motorbike (a 125-cc motorcycle; there are an estimated 30,000 such motorbikes in Kigali) usually used in transporting people and goods throughout Rwanda. And, the second is the Hard-Body BUV which can transport goods and people.

 

Frank and the farmers discussed the advantages and disadvantages of both types of vehicles. Considering the topography of their area, expected cash flows and profitability, vehicle maintenance, and overall operational issues they found that the farmers will be better served by getting the standard motorbike. The motorbike has many advantages, which include, working daily (transporting goods and people), its proven ability to easily handle the mountainous and rough roads, and it is more likely to be profitable.

The motorbike Proposed

 

Their next issue to address was whether to buy a new or a used motorbike. Their calculations on the price(s) were as follows;

• Price for a new motorbike is $2,000 plus $600 to get all the things and documents for the motorbike to enable it to start working.
• Price for the used one is $1,600

Based on the above, farmers prefer to get the new motorbike.

The next issues to address are the details in developing and implementing an agreement on how to repay the loan. Typical repayment for such new motorbikes would be $30.00 weekly ($30 X 52 weeks/year = $1,560/year).

 

• Goats

The second project that farmers are eager to get started is the goat-herd project. (Frank would also like to stress that; this goat project will be one of the projects that make TFH highly visible to all the local communities and their leaders; and greatly enhance the reputation of Tools for Hope in Rwanda for helping farmers with their everyday work).

 

The benefits of rearing goats include;

• They integrate well with both crops and other livestock production,
• They supply a useful form of savings for the rural farmers who have no means of access to banking facilities,
• Dairy goat keeping is a very convenient enterprise, especially for farmers with small parcels of land,
• Goats can be sold for cash,
• Goats are cheaper to rear as they survive on low quality foods and in difficult conditions on relatively small amounts of food.

The projected budget for the goat project, is;

• They need 20 goats; each is 40,000 RWF (20 X 40,000 = 800,000 RWF)
• The total for buying 20 goats is 800,000 RWF
• They also need 20 Roof covers (Iron Sheets) for goat barn, each for 6000 RWF (20 X 6000 =120,000 RWF
• The total for 20 roof covers is 120,000 RWF
• The overall total is 920,000 RWF. This is the amount needed for the goat project. Which is equivalent to $1100.

 

• Funding the Two Projects

$3,700.00 supplies 20 goats and a new motorbike for the Twisungane farmers to help fight poverty and to ensure food security for their families.

 

With your support the Twisungane families get help they need;

• Direct action on their most pernicious ills … hunger and poverty.

And You Get:

• Knowledge that people in need will be fed, instead of left to fend for themselves.
• Knowledge that less hunger will make their whole community better and safer, which will make it a better place to live and raise a family.
• The personal satisfaction of addressing a problem. It feels good just to do … something.
• The satisfaction of carrying out a selfless act for other human beings.
• Fulfilling the obligation involved in being a caring member of society.
• The satisfaction of being part of a group of donors who are also good, caring people.
• Association with Tools for Hope, a well-known local nonprofit that’s recognized for doing good work in Rwanda.
• The benefits that come from donating itself, regardless of the cause. These include better physical and emotional health and greater prosperity—all of which are widely documented.

For 10 more good reasons to donate see https://www.moneycrashers.com/benefits-charitable-giving-donations/)

 

Support Tools for Hope’s Mission

Donate today. Monthly donations made through PayPal are very helpful in that they help us to plan and budget Tools for Hope operations better. See the donate ‘button’ on our website     http://www.toolsforhope.org/.

 

To our current supporters – We and the farmers Thank You Very Much!

 

 

 

Introduction

Our main activity in Rwanda for May 2019 was to sell the basic utility vehicle (BUV) which Tools for Hope, Inc. (TFH) bought in December 2107 through the Institute for Affordable Transportation (IAT). The BUV has been our primary challenge for the past year as the BUV was not working in our area and the farmers complained about its safety. Frank and the farmers successfully concluded the sale of the BUV.

Tools for Hope had the opportunity in May to announce collaboration with a major new project sponsored by the Rwandan Agricultural Board (RAB). Under the CARAVAN project the RAB will conduct soil testing services for small-holder farmers. We will link our farmers with this project. (The CARAVAN project will provide a mobile soil laboratory – http://rwandainspirer.com/2019/05/07/caravan-a-mobile-soil-testing-laboratory-project-to-improve-farm-productivity/). Testing will start in a few months. The purpose is to test Rwandan soil so that farmers would have the knowledge of their soil fertility status and know how to apply the right fertilizers at the right amount(s).

Frank has been conducting meetings with the Twisungane cooperative farmers’ representatives to discuss plans for new projects and how to continue working with them. With the successful sale of the BUV, TFH was able to fund the purchase of a suitable laptop computer to help with Frank’s work aiding the farmers.

BUV Transportation and Sale

As directed and authorized by Tool For Hope, Inc. (USA), after the completion of negotiations with the institute for Affordable Transportation (USA) we sold the BUV to the NOVA Farm which is in the Rukara Sector of the Kayonza District. After TFH agreed to sell the BUV to NOVA Farm, the next steps were to ensure the operability of the BUV, and then to transport the BUV to their area.

In checking the operational status of the BUV, we found the BUV did not work as expected. We brought in a mechanic who looked at the BUV and found some problems in the wiring system and the battery as well because the BUV was inactive for quite some time. So, we had to wait for some time for the necessary repairs to be completed.

The BUV was kept in the mountains and during this rainy season it was very dangerous to transport anything heavy. So, we waited for the rainfall to slow down to be able to begin the transportation phase.

 

On Friday 10^th May 2019, early in the morning (6:00 am) we went ahead with our plan of transporting the BUV, from Bugesera District to Kayonza District (62 miles +). Although the team faced heavy rainfall after they loaded the BUV onto the transport-truck, they couldn’t stop and so they continued, but took precautions and they moved at low speeds with great caution. Around noon they reached their destination and found the staff of NOVA Farm waiting for the BUV.

 

Frank transferred the BUV to them (Nate and Chantal), and gave them all the documents. Frank successfully completed the sale for TFH. TFH delivered a BUV in good working order with all documentation required to NOVA Farm. Frank returned to his home in Kigali around 5 PM. The activity went as planned and the BUV in now in the hands of NOVA Farm management.

Land Preparation and Soil Testing Plans

In May the farmers were preparing their lands for season ‘C’ activities. During this season farming activities normally happen only in marshland areas, were there is water. The period encompassing June, July, and August (JJA) is known as the drought season. Farmers (e.g. the Twisungane cooperative farmers) who are near a source of water and who can afford irrigation can prepare their lands for the JJA season. It is a short and very complicated season that requires the farmers to take precautions on how to deal with the drought stress on the crops.

It is very important to know the type of crops that can sustain these stresses. We are encouraging them to plant crops that have a short growing period of not more than 90 days, vegetables such as beans and other crops that do not need a great deal of water.

We also expect that the information about the soil fertility we receive from the CARAVAN project tests will be very helpful. That information should help the farmers with selecting and applying fertilizers for the crops,

 

Support Tools for Hope’s Mission

Donate today to fund future projects and to fund other TFH needs such as Frank’s salary. Monthly donations made through PayPal are very helpful in that they help us to plan and budget Tools for Hope operations better. See the donate ‘button’ on our website   http://www.toolsforhope.org/. (for 10 more good reasons to donate see https://www.moneycrashers.com/benefits-charitable-giving-donations/)

To our current supporters – Thank You Very Much!

 

Most of the Tools for Hope (TFH) work in Rwanda for the month of April was concentrated on the preparation of the basic utility vehicle (BUV) to enable us to sell it, discussions with the farmers on their post-harvest handling techniques, planning for the next agricultural season, which is JJA (June July August) commonly known as the dry season, and also the way forward of the partnership between TFH and Twisungane farmers Cooperative.
The agricultural activities are on-going, and we are still mentoring the farmers.  The farmers have been calling us daily to assist in different activities and give our understanding on matters regarding on-farm and off-farm activities.
Thanks to TFH (USA) we to have managed to secure a buyer for the BUV and we are now in the process of delivering the BUV to the destination as requested. Farmers are eagerly waiting for the projects proposed.  We tell them to continue their business as usual until after we will sell the BUV and implement the projects that TFH staff in the USA have approved.

Agriculture Activities

Farmers are still working in their fields as usual. The have planted sorghum, maize, pumpkin, banana, and beans. In their banana fields they have also inter cropped them with beans as to maximize the use of the land. This is the right combination as beans can fix nitrogen to the soil and that nitrogen benefits the banana crop. (Inter-cropping is a multiple cropping practice involving growing two or more crops in proximity.)

The intercropping system is very well known among farmers in this area, but some of them do not know what the best intercropping combinations are for their crops. This is what we as TFH have been teaching them i.e., how to best inter-crop using cereals and legumes, and how to prepare and get the best production.

Post-harvest Handling

As we approach harvest time in May, we found it very important to provide technical advice to our farmers on the issue regarding post-harvest handling. This is a continuous TFH activity, and we gave this technical advice to individual farmers while monitoring their individual farms, and their cooperative’s farm. TFH employee Frank Mutesa has been teaching them how to prepare and use the appropriate materials and equipment for their harvests e.g.,

• good clean sacks,
• appropriate grain removal materials / equipment,
• how to properly store their yield e.g.,
  • managing the store room temperature,
  • maintaining storeroom neatness to avoid rodents, other pests, and diseases,
•  farm to market transportation materials,
• how to use materials (preservatives) for storing the harvest to make the food last longer.

We are encouraging them to be valiant and to look for better market opportunities and learn the principles for attracting more and better customers.
A significant part of our technical advice and support has been focused on how to prepare their harvests especially maize harvest, because some of them are still using the local and traditional way of dying maize which results in 40% of the harvest being destroyed because of improper handling leading to attacks by insects, other pests, and diseases. Therefore, we have urged them to use a more modern way of handling their maize harvest during post-harvest, by building what we call a hangar for drying maize.

The above picture is a hangar for dying maize that the Rwandan Agricultural Board (RAB) recommends. Frank is happy to be one of the trainers that was responsible for its implementation and is very happy to introduce this technique to our Twisungane farmers.

Keeping up with individual livestock activities and other off-farm activities

TFH has been conducting a small survey while giving technical advice to the Twisungane farmers on the issue of their livelihoods and sustainable production planning. The farmers well understand the advantage of combining their farming practices with livestock rearing. They understand the benefits of raising livestock. The benefits include manure which will boost their soil fertility so that they increase their production, and for improved nutrition.  For those who are keeping cattle, they do get milk for their children and their old people. There are also few farmers who are keeping pigs for business purposes and to get manure.

Therefore, we have been showing them how to go about keeping their livestock with care and cleanness as we found that the issue of keeping the barns clean is still difficult.  This is because they feel that it doesn’t add anything to the production.  We reasoned them that it is very important to keep the animal clean as it helps prevent harm to the animals from diseases caused by pathogen attack, and that eventually they will save the money that would be needed to buy drugs for livestock medication.

Four farmers do combine crop farming with rearing pigs, and they sell piglets twice each year. Also, two farmers do cattle rearing with their crop farming, and three of them have goats and chickens combined with crop farming.  The rest of the cooperative members are just doing only crop farming. When we compare, we have seen the farmers who are practicing both livestock keeping and crop management are the ones doing fine with life, in terms of wealth at home and the health of the family members as compared to those practicing crop management alone.

The way forward

The farmers are planning to be spreading out into various business ideas and to start working seriously with banks.  Frank has reasoned them that bank loans are best way to expand operations for those that have assets like pieces of land that are well documented and who have the property license(s) which permit(s) them to get loans. Others, without such assets, are still engaging in small holder farming and they rely on TFH for the continued collaboration.

Charitable Giving

Until I became involved in helping Tools for Hope raise money to assist Rwandan subsistence farmers, I had a very different perspective on charitable solicitations. I dutifully made weekly contributions at church, threw a few dollars into the Salvation Army bucket, and occasionally wrote a check to some other worthy cause. But the contributions were generally small and often given begrudgingly. The ubiquitous mail solicitations promptly went into the waste basket, unopened.

Today I have a completely different perspective on charitable giving. Through my involvement in Tools for Hope, I’ve had the opportunity to see firsthand how important every contribution is to improving basic farming and small business activities. I’ve seen how the money is used to save lives and to preserve the quality of lives. I’ve also seen firsthand how important generosity is to non-profits such as TFH. And I’ve learned how difficult it is to raise money, and how very hard it is to ask someone to contribute to a charity you relate to or feel passionately about.

I’ve come to believe that everyone at some point in their lives should involve themselves with a charity by volunteering their time and committing their resources. You’ll learn a lot about how necessary charitable giving is, and you’ll help the team with their important work. You’ll also feel good about yourself.

Most of us have far more material things in our lives than we need, and we continually add to them. Supporting central African subsistence farmers is a great opportunity to divert a portion of that spending to a better place; to do something that will have a lasting benefit for generations to come. Please consider giving something back.

Tools For Hope, Inc. Board of Directors

In accordance with the Tools For Hope, Inc. Bylaws our corporation is to be governed by a Board of Directors. Our Board has three primary legal duties known as the “duty of care,” “duty of loyalty,” and “duty of obedience.”
We have begun steps toward forming a five to seven-person Board this month with a goal of identifying the Board membership in June (2019).  If you are interested in volunteering to be on the Board (we anticipate two-year terms) or would like more information please contact Richard Trevillian at richard@toolsforhope.org or at 865-696-6032.