Kuria Project
2008 IN REVIEW
Nuru's Pilot Seed Project in Kuria, Kenya launched in September '08. We began by meeting with community officials, village elders and average folks in the community, listening to their needs and asking them for solutions. Next we hit the streets (or dirt roads), visiting farmers in their fields, mud-walled homes, and water collection points to gather vital information needed to establish a baseline for our measurement and evaluation system. When we held our Group Formation meeting 500 farmers signed up to join Nuru (we had expected 200). These farmers were put into groups and Water & Sanitation and Healthcare representatives were selected to attend a series of trainings. Our newly hired Kurian Community Development Committee (CDC) trained these reps in basic disease prevention and hygiene, and each representative was in charge of going back to their Nuru Groups to train the other members, who would then train their families, resulting in over 2,500 people receiving this life changing knowledge. To learn more about our first 3 months, watch the video EPISODE 3 - LAUNCH.
WHAT'S AHEAD IN THE 1ST QTR OF 2009
We begin the year humbled by the generosity of our friends and supporters around the world who met our Christmas for Kuria campaign challenge and provided us with the funding to loan 450 Nuru farmers with the farm inputs to grow a bumper crop of maize this spring. Planting training is already underway, and the seed, fertilizer and topdressing will be delivered in early February for planting. Also in January our hydrogeology study will be complete and Nicole will determine the most strategic locations to dig deep wells. Janine will continue her assessment of the healthcare system, formulate a long-term plan for the community, and roll-out a community-wide mosquito net treatment program. Jake, Nicole and Janine will continue training the community in agriculture, safe sanitation and disease prevention, as well as mentoring the CDC while continuing to identify new local leaders. We will also continue to pursue partnerships with various NGOs and for-profit organizations to partner with the people of Kuria to lift themselves out of extreme poverty.
Lastly, Foundation Team II (FTII) has been hired and trained and will arrive in Kuria in February for a 1-month handoff between teams. FT2 will continue Nuru's work in Agriculture, Water & Sanitation, and Healthcare, as well as begin our Small/Medium Enterprise and Education programs. To learn more about FTII, read their bios on the WHO IS NURU page.
Check out Foundation Team Member's Blogs:
FOUNDATION TEAM 2: AERIE'S BLOG | CHRIS'S BLOG | MEGHAN'S BLOG
Nuru Farmer's Maize Performing Well
- By: Jake Harriman
- Date: Wed, May 27th 09 at 10:20AM
- Comments: 2
It’s amazing how providing access to simple information and resources can dramatically improve the lives of the extremely poor. In February, Nuru issued farmers in the Nyametaburo and Nyangiti communities a loan of maize seed and fertilizer. Why? Their soil was so depleted of nitrogen and phosphates (critical to crop growth and sustenance) that the people could not produce enough food to feed their families.
By training the people to prepare and plant their fields using innovative farming techniques, providing high quality fertilizer to replenish the soil and as well as excellent maize seed, our farmers are anticipating higher yields than at any period in recent history. For the first time in years farmers are going to be able to feed their children for the entire crop cycle! As you can see in the above picture, the increase produced by empowerment is nothing short of astonishing. These incredible results will go a long way towards building trust between Nuru and other community members now eager to join Nuru’s program.
In this work, one of the most important lessons that I have learned is that those suffering from extreme poverty are just like you and me in so many ways - they feel, they dream, they seek to improve the lives of their families, they laugh, and they mourn. They are incredibly intelligent and resourceful – always thinking of innovative new ways to meet the needs of their families. These brave souls have survived things that I never could have, and have come out on the other side stronger and more determined than before.
When it comes right down to it, the real reason that these folks lack choices in life – why they are unable to throw off the chains of extreme poverty – is that they lack access to basic information and resources needed to step on the first rung of the ladder of success. Providing tools to empower the people of Kuria to lift themselves out of extreme poverty is what Nuru does.
When I left their fields in late March, these farmers were just beside themselves with a happiness they had not known in years. It wasn’t just an empty happiness that comes from a handout – it was a deep happiness that comes from the realization that they are changing their lives forever.
wonderful job,
I was amazed by what NURU is doing in Kenya especially Kuria district. I am wondering if it is possible to extend what is done in kenya accross the border to Tanzania. I am a Kuria man living in Tanzania. Kuria are the same people, just separated by artifitial country borders. Therefore, whatever is experienced among Kenyan Kuria will be experienced among Tanzanian Kuria. You are welcome to help us.
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David Story says:
May 29th 09 at 08:40PM
Wow. This was very encouraging to read, as well as very humbling. It's great to see visible, positive results. Our God will continue to bless you and the whole Nuru team as you follow the example of Christ.