Celebrations and the New Cohort!

Sunday evening, August 14, 2011

Arrived in Kigali after a smooth flight.  Great to see Dona’s smiling face greeting me.  He said, “We are invited to Sandrali’s 50th birthday party at Lemigo Hotel, which has already started; however, you cannot go looking like that.”  He was referring to my Addidas sport pants and running shoes.  A 50th celebration at a nice hotel demanded a better outfit.

I was tired after 25 hours traveling, but I wouldn’t miss celebrating with Sandrali, one of most faithful graduates of the BDC.  I changed quickly and we arrived in the main hall with more than 150 celebrants.  Dozens of people spoke of Sandrali’s impact on their lives.  Many said he had been a father to them because they had lost their fathers.  One said that if everyone Sandrali had helped with school fees stood up, half the audience would be standing.  Many lived with him during their youth.  At least a half dozen gave him cows, the gift of highest honor in Rwanda.    

Monday, August 15, 2011

Much work to do today to recover from the resignation of our only full-time employee last week.  Fortunately, Anatole, a Cohort 1 graduate who helps us part time, rose to the occasion.  He called and text messaged all the accepted students to get them to class.

Class was smaller than we had hoped, but it includes many excellent learners.  We put them to work right away, interviewing a partner and introducing him to the class.  I say “him”, because the class has only one woman, Consulata, recruited by Mathilda from Cohort 2.  Not sure why the women haven’t come.

Tuesday-Friday, Aug 16-19, 2011

I am combining these days because they were such a whirlwind that I didn’t have time to blog about them as they happened.  I’ll mention highlights.

Renier and Willy, visiting execs from South Africa, added tremendously to this week.  They met with graduates from Cohorts 1 and 2 to encourage them.  They also participated in class and gave their testimonies, which prompted one student to ask what “born again” means.  Great opportunity to share the gospel with all.  Many in the class are believers—one a pastor.  They started quoting the Bible to support their points and using biblical examples in their comments.  Quite interesting.  I felt a little more freedom to share a biblical perspective on the purpose of business.  Carine, from cohort 1, was visiting that night.  She later commented that this was better than Cohort 1, because it was more biblical.

The sessions on life purpose seemed to resonate with the class.  They generated much discussion and opportunities for mentoring.  Some believe they are right on track, but others recognize a need to change direction.

While many exciting things happened this week, I want to focus on one major development, made possible by the past year of work at the BDC.  Willy came to Rwanda hoping to find people interested in a new approach to agriculture—Farming God’s Way.  He used this approach to transform his 7,500 acres in South Africa from a depleted farm with terrible erosion and muddy streams to an award-winning game park, with beautiful grasslands, crystal clear streams, and no erosion.  He has helped farmers increase yields of corn, beans, and other crops by 500-1,000%.  He wants to bring the system to Rwanda.  He had the same idea when he came in September, 2010, but he didn’t meet the right people.  Renier has joined Willy in his vision.  Renier is a business consultant, coach, and trainer.

What a difference a year makes!  Consulata, took Willy and Renier to her 40 acre farm outside of Kigali.  They told her about Farming God’s Way, which she embraced.  They were happy to help one small farmer, but they want to have a broader impact.  On the way back, they detoured, at Dona’s suggestion, to meet a woman who has been a Senator in the parliament, but now has dedicated herself to helping farmers.  She sells seed and provides advice to 580 farmers.  She loved Willy and Renier’s ideas and agreed to provide a house for a trainer who would work with the farmers.

Mathilda, Consulata, Renier, Willy, Beatrice 
Viewing Videos of Farming God’s Way

 

Willy, Renier, Conulata, Mathilda 
Bags of Maise Grown on Consulata’s Farm

The next day, Willy and Renier met with John, the founder of Solace Ministries, which runs the guest house where we stay.  We have developed a good relationship with him over the past dozen trips Jason and I have made.  Willy and Renier mentioned their vision.  John said “this is what I have been praying for.”  Solace runs several demonstration farms to help rural farmers.  He said that he would house a trainer at the guest house and take him to the farms so he could train many farmers who come from the surrounding areas.

The missing piece was someone to coordinate all these efforts in Rwanda.  Over a lunch meeting with Serge, a member of the Cohort 3 class, they learned that Serge has a vision for increasing food production to help the poor.  He is very sharp and capable.  Could Serge be the one God will use to coordinate these projects?

As we reflected on these developments and strategized the way forward, we saw the opportunity to involve a dozen graduates from the first two cohorts who have businesses and business ideas in agriculture.  The Farming God’s Way approach involves “production units” which combine crops, chickens, goats, cows, dairy, fruit trees, etc.  Lands are worked in cooperation, with each “farmer” doing his specialty.  Such operations need good business knowledge and management.  Our graduates bring that expertise.

It seems that God may be preparing a major, visible demonstration of His love, His ways and His power through agriculture in Rwanda.  Consulata’s farm sits right next to a major road.  As her fields flourish, they will be a “billboard” for God’s ways.  The 580 farms sit right next to the President of Rwanda’s retreat on a lake.  As they flourish, he will see the results.  Finally, Peter, a cohort 2 graduate, is starting a Christian school in an impoverished lowland at the edge of Kigali.  He will cultivate a “well-watered garden” (based on Farming God’s Way) for students and their families, and for sale to support the school.  The school sits just below the President’s residence.  We believe that the President, who is a man of great vision, will see the results of these projects and promote them for the whole nation.  That is our prayer.

This development is a perfect example of the synergy and leverage of the Business Development Center in Rwanda operating under the blessing of God. 

For more on this approach to farming, visit the website:  www.foundationsforfarming.org