Partnership Overview
Eshel Garden is a Foundations for Farming demonstration garden where training seminars are held to create awareness of improved farming methods in an effort to enhance food security and reduce poverty in this area of Kenya.
In September 2012 Bright Hope World sponsored three agricultural workers from DOVE Africa to attend an intensive Foundations for Farming seminar in Zimbabwe. Following this training these three people were convinced about how beneficial and important this farming method is. “Foundations for Farming” conserves the environment, increases food production in quantity and quality, saves time and energy, realizes profits, and above all, glorifies God. They now desire to put this method into practice in several strategic locations and carry out training for farmers and communities in Kenya.
The plan is to use Eshel Gardens, in Karen, Nairobi for training seminars and then spread this farming method out to other locations. The reason for starting here is that this garden has been established for some time and has been converted to Foundations for Farming methods so it's had a good start.
The objectives of this partnership are:
1) To create awareness on improved farming methods
2) To increase food production
3) To enhance food security for the most vulnerable sectors of society
4) To reduce poverty and dependence among the most vulnerable sectors of society
5) To demonstrate sustainable energy methods such as natural composting and biogas production
6) To conserve the environment
7) To establish self-supporting agricultural projects
Eshel Garden comprises of approximately 3 acres and already has a greenhouse and fish ponds on site. In addition to these, the intention is to have demonstration plots growing vegetables, a tree nursery, a zero-grazing unit with cows, chickens, and a training centre/workshop/store.
History of Partnership
BHW participated in a dialogue with DOVE Fellowship for a number of years, exploring the most effective ways of developing a strategic partnership. There were a number of meetings and visits to DOVE Africa sites in Kenya, at Garissa and Got Osimbo.
In 2012 three people were sent to the training in Zimbabwe and from that some strategies emerged.
Beneficiaries
The beneficiaries are:
- The people who are working at Eshel Garden and DOVE Fellowship from the produce and income generated from the project
- The key people who come for training and who then take this back to their own locations for their own benefit and for their communities
- People in communities who are trained, take the training on board and have their food security enhanced
What We Like About The Partnership
The leaders of this partnership are very passionate about their community. They have a clear vision and a clear strategy to impact many families and assist them to become self-sustaining.
Key People
Leadership Profile
Ibrahim and Diane Omondi both serve on the DOVE International Apostolic Council. They also give oversight to churches and movements of churches in East Africa in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. They have been ministering together in Kenya since 1984 and now oversee the work of more than 100 congregations in four nations. They also give leadership to the missions thrust of DOVE Africa which includes 14 Kenyan and Ugandan missionaries serving among unreached people groups in these nations. The Omondis direct Springs of Africa, a non-profit organization sponsoring micro-finance, community development and various education initiatives.
Ibrahim, a trained journalist and natural visionary, continues to dream about expansion and new territories. The most compelling of these visions is to establish a centre for training leaders who will transform Kenya – and Africa – from a continent of dependence and poverty to one of self-sustenance and hope. He served as General Secretary of the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya for several years and is still a board member of that organization. He was also a delegate to the National Constitutional Congress that worked on re-writing Kenya’s constitution and is a member of Kenya’s Anti-Corruption Steering Committee. Ibrahim actively networks with several intercessory groups and has led March for Jesus as well as other National Prayer Day events in Nairobi.
The Omondis’ property in the Nairobi outskirts provides a home for their family and includes a guest house which is used for refreshment and training for missionaries, churches and Christian organizations. Diane trains early childhood teachers and has written curriculum books for young children. She also enjoys teaching the Bible, leading worship, administrative work, handling accounts, and editing.
Ibrahim (a native Kenyan) and Diane (American) are the parents of four children: three sons and a daughter who live in the States.
Other People Involved
Jesse Kilel : After high school, Jesse trained in agriculture at Manor House Agricultural College in Kitale, Kenya. He has been working at Eshel Farm for almost three years, overseeing the greenhouse, poultry, fish ponds and horticultural aspects. He is a committed Christian, single, and very enthusiastic about farming. His perspective changed a lot after the FfF training, and now he is excited to begin applying these methods on Eshel Farm.
Vision And Annual Strategy
Vision: to improve the farming methods in target locations in Kenya thereby enhancing food security and reducing poverty
Strategic Plan:
• Adopt Foundations for Farming methods in several strategic locations
• Establish demonstration farms
• Train farmers to utilize this methodology for farming
Initially the plan (in early 2013) was to enhance and develop the DOVE base at Eshel Gardens in Karen, Nairobi. This was successfully implemented and they are now proceeding to develop programmes in two further locations in Kenya and then into South Sudan.
Annual Budget
There was an initial one-off amount required of US$14,630 to get this training centre at Karen underway. This included set-up costs and operating costs for 12 months. Thereafter this project will be self-sustaining.
