Economic Development

Creative Solutions Lead to Community Flourishing

aheckman — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:35:43 +0000

Creative Solutions Lead to Community Flourishing aheckman Wed, 03/27/2024 - 00:35

Creative Solutions Lead to Community Flourishing

MARCH 27, 2024 - NCM AFRICA

In Yombo, Tanzania, the local church, in partnership with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries, has developed a creative idea to support local ministry—a car wash that is staffed by young people who are connected to the church and need income.

This project has strengthened, improved, and supported the local church’s ministry by funding the ministry of the child development center (CDC) as well as providing an income for young people working at the carwash. The local church developed the car wash site and has ensured its maintenance.

Within a year, the church was able to buy an additional car wash machine and vacuum cleaner. They are exploring ways to continue to grow, including opening a refreshment shop, establishing kitchen gardens, and securing more property next to the bus station to develop an additional car wash in the community. They consider their efforts to be a story of hope.

Even as the members hope and dream about the next steps for the church, they continue to work with NCM, conducting strength-building training with the community and other churches in the area, encouraging sustainable, compassionate ministry and holistic approaches to meeting the needs of children.

The car wash has empowered the center to continue to provide holistic care for 35 children who are at risk and vulnerable. Through this center, children are given the tools and resources to grow spiritually, and the project provides funds to purchase supplies to ensure children experience successful educational and social development. Finally, the center focuses on the children's physical well-being by providing opportunities to play sports, participate in a food program, and receive nutrition and hygiene education.

Nadia*, a parent of children who attend the center, has seen how her children’s lives have been impacted.

“Since this CDC started about two years ago, we are seeing our children’s behavior change for the better,” said Nadia. “When they return home, I notice they implement what they were taught at the CDC.”

Students have seen the social benefits of attending the center.

“My grades have improved since I started attending the [center] because I can get [together] with friends to discuss homework with them,” said Mila*, grade 7. “It improves my understanding when I finally do it myself. My friends from school would also want to start attending next year because I told them the power of friends.”

*Names changed for protection.

From the Magazine

Tanzania

Economic Development

Holistic Child Development

2023 Christmas Project: Providing for Family Through Farming in Burundi

aheckman — Tue, 26 Dec 2023 20:51:22 +0000

2023 Christmas Project: Providing for Family Through Farming in Burundi aheckman Tue, 12/26/2023 - 20:51

2023 Christmas Project: Providing for Family Through Farming in Burundi

DECEMBER 26, 2023 ~ BARBARA ROBERTS

Across the world, food insecurity is an ongoing struggle that has been exacerbated in recent years by the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and large-scale weather events. Between 691 and 783 million people face hunger and food insecurity.

When families don’t have access to food, they are more susceptible to malnutrition and other illnesses that can lead to chronic health issues. Children who experience chronic hunger are less likely to attend school consistently, and adults are less likely to be able to work, which makes access to nutritious food more challenging.

This year’s NCM Christmas Project supports compassionate initiatives that provide food relief in emergency situations and training and mentoring programs to help farmers find success. Whether in Ukraine, Malawi, Burundi, Armenia, Benin, Zambia, the Middle East, Sri Lanka, or beyond—when you give, you will stand with people who are hungry.

In Buganda, Burundi, a young man works a small plot of land. Stalks of maize reach toward the intense sun, ears weighing heavy, almost ready for harvest. Each ear is a product that will be sold in the market, generating life-changing proceeds for Eric and his family.

Eric and his siblings, two sisters and a brother, are lifelong members of their community. Years ago, civil unrest in Burundi forced Eric and his family to flee to the Congo as refugees. While there, his parents were killed by rebels, leaving Eric to care for his siblings. In 2021, they were able to return to Burundi and Eric made the difficult decision to leave school to provide for his siblings. “After the tragedy that struck my family with the death of my parents, life had become unbearable,” he shared.

Determined to take care of his family, Eric tried to make ends meet. “I went to the market of Buganda to be a shop keeper, but the salary I earned was not enough to get my family’s food and other needs,” he explained. “We even went for two days at a time with no food at home, and my brother and sisters were obliged to abandon school too, because of no food and no school fees. With the pressure of my brother and sisters to provide for, I didn’t know what to do.”

Despite a dire situation, Eric did not give up. He began working a farmer’s field, where he was paid in food grown on the farm. While there, he met a friend who invited him to join a youth association and community savings group (CSG), part of a church-led Nazarene Compassionate Ministries initiatives intended to increase food security in Burundi. Community savings groups provide a way for community members to save a portion of their salaries. The sum grows each month as members contribute a small percentage of their earnings. Members can then take out a loan, allowing them the necessary capital to start their own business ventures. Eric enrolled in the CSG and received business training through the initiative.

“We have food and I have paid for school for my two sisters and brother. I bought two rabbits and a goat with the profits acquired. During the dry season, I planted vegetables, and I am waiting for a good harvest in one month,” he said. With the profits from his farm, Eric plans to rent a larger plot of land.

Eric’s community also benefits from his involvement in the project. He is a testimony of transformation and a reminder that a better life is possible. As his business grows, Eric plans to pass the blessing on to others in his community in a vital way. When asked about his goals for the future, he shared that his first thoughts were for other children and young adults who have gone through the trauma of losing their parents.

“My goal is to help other orphans achieve the hopes that they dream of, help the youth in my community to join others in development, and tell them that change is possible. With hard work, and networking with others, we can achieve our goals and dreams as youth”.

When you support NCM’s Christmas Project, you support young adults like Eric as they work to provide for their families and transform their communities. Learn more: ncm.org/christmas.

2023 Christmas Project: Food Security Through Job Training in Armenia

aheckman — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 19:59:11 +0000

2023 Christmas Project: Food Security Through Job Training in Armenia aheckman Wed, 12/20/2023 - 19:59

2023 Christmas Project: Food Security Through Job Training in Armenia

DECEMBER 20, 2023 ~ DANA FRANCHETTI

Asya, 31, is a mother of three. She and her husband moved to Armenia two years ago and have struggled to find a steady income to support their daily needs, including providing food for her family.

In Armenia, local churches are partnering with Nazarene Compassionate Ministry to help their communities increase food security through vocational training programs and savings groups. This integrated program is focused on working with refugees and women who can learn entrepreneurial skills, business management, interview techniques, and more. When combined, these skillsets create long-term solutions for attendees to foster their economic resilience and increase their access to consistent food.

Asya connected with a local Nazarene church and was invited to participate in focus groups, financial literacy training, and career development training.

“I gained self-confidence, which helped me a lot for my job interview,” she explained. “I gained information that I didn’t have before. Knowing new things about finances, work relations, and other aspects that were discussed during our training helped me have confidence during the interview.”

While the trainings Asya has participated in so far have been helpful, now that she has a steady income, she has developed additional dreams and goals for her family.

“I want to start a business, that is why I am looking forward to the business trainings ... We have had so many difficulties. Now for our children we don’t want them to experience the same,” she said. “So, we want to do everything to save them from the challenges that maybe they will face when they become older.”

Asya is convinced that her involvement in these trainings will not only help create stability for her family now, but will also assist her children as they grow, benefitting all of the generations to come. Indeed, one of the goals of the food security project in Armenia is that the positive effects of education, job training, and access to nutritious food would empower young people as they approach working age. Annie*, age 16, is one such young person already experiencing these benefits.

When Annie and her family were forced to flee Lebanon due to the economic crisis gripping the nation, their future in Armenia seemed uncertain.

After attending the vocational training classes, Annie’s life and the lives of her family changed significantly. She began attending the local Nazarene church and found hope and support. With her certification in social media marketing, she is able to begin a career and help support her family as they restart their lives in a new country.

“Starting this program was like God’s light shining upon my family and me with his love, mercy, and grace,” Annie said. “I was delighted because, finally, I will be able to change our lives.”

When you support the 2023 NCM Christmas Project, you will provide even more opportunities for God’s light to shine in Armenia as people find food security and economic stability through local churches. Learn more here: ncm.org/christmas.

*Children's names are changed for protection.

Overflowing With New Life: A Community Is Transformed

aheckman — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 12:32:51 +0000

Overflowing With New Life: A Community Is Transformed aheckman Tue, 10/17/2023 - 12:32

Overflowing With New Life: A Community Is Transformed

OCTOBER 17, 2023 ~ SHARON TIGGA

After 26 years of brutal civil war in Sri Lanka, a new era of peace, reconciliation, and development began in May 2009 when the conflict ended. But in a small village called Iruttumadu, people were left with the worst scars from the war. The village was largely destroyed, and healing seemed impossible.

Many of the villagers returned after living displaced by the conflict for years. As they resettled in their community, these survivors faced extreme challenges in nearly every area of their lives. Iruttumadu is an isolated village in the northern province of Sri Lanka, and the people there received limited support or assistance from the government or any humanitarian agencies.

“In the past, before the final stages of the civil war, it was easy to live here. ... After the resettlement, we have nothing,” Dhitri*, a community member, says. “If you could come to help us now, we will learn to help ourselves, and you will not need to come and help us again.”

Dhitri’s longing to rebuild is shared by many others in the village. Together with Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Lanka (NCM Lanka), the village launched a five-year project beginning in 2017 to transform the community. This project aimed to restore hope and transform lives through a holistic and sustainable approach that addressed everything from clean water to finances. Now, at the culmination of the project, the transformation is clear.

TRANSFORMATION FOR CHILDREN

For many of the villagers, children were—and are—a priority. Since the war has ended, children could grow and thrive in a new, trauma-free environment. Chandra, a long-time community member, has six children and six grandchildren. During the war, his wife became ill and died because they didn’t have access to a hospital. The family had to live in a camp for displaced people for many years before returning to Iruttumadu.

“We have gone through enough suffering, but my greatest hope is that our children won’t have to go through the same,” Chandra explains. The focus on children has improved education for all of the village children, ranging from grade school to high school. Through the project, children receive holistic care—addressing, mental, educational, nutritional, and social needs—in a safe environment. Before, many children dropped out of school because of the distance they had to travel. NCM Lanka also collaborated with Helping Hands to provide bicycles to students to continue their higher education. Besides education, the project also emphasized strengthening and improving safety of children in the village. Trainings and policies were translated into the local language, making it possible for community members to create child-safe spaces and become well-versed in child protection.

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

For nearly three decades, the youth of Iruttumadu came of age under the shadow of war. It was difficult for them to hold on to hope, ambition, and faith. Rudra is 28 and has two children—he was married in a refugee camp. He has spent years living through falling shells and the extreme inflation post-war.

“Because of the fighting, I couldn’t take my exams, so I have no completed education,” Rudra says. “And after that, there were no more opportunities to study anything.”

There are many stories like Rudra’s, and those who had lost so much began to build peace and develop skills together. Young people meet daily on a sports field, playing volleyball or gathering in the evenings. The field used to be dotted with mines; now, it has been reclaimed for a hopeful future thanks to the generous donation of land from a family who lost their eight-year-old daughter to the war. Her father, Kasun, had been saving an acre of land for her.

“My daughter is gone,” Kasun explained. “Let other children in the village enjoy what she has left behind.”

The close interaction with the young people that Kasun made possible led to the formation of a youth committee, which offers emotional support as well as job skills guidance. Through the connections of NCM Lanka, young people could enroll in vocational training courses.

In fact, vocational training is a key piece of redevelopment. Many families were impacted by the war, and many women returned to Iruttumadu as widows. Women, especially widows, were invited to participate in self-help groups to strengthen job and finance skills. There, they learned income-generating activities such as home gardening, compost production, and the cultivation of mahogany trees, which prevent erosion and will sell for a good price once mature. Hiruni, age 32, is one of the women who joined.

“I am without a husband; after joining the project I learned I can survive on my own,” she shares.

Iruttumadu was caught in destruction; now, new life has sprung up across the community. Young people have found hope for stable futures, and many who struggled with alcoholism were able to overcome it with the help of the development program. Gardens overflow with new life—and the community does, too. Gayan, age 36, reflects on the five-year project.

“I want my community to become self-sufficient community,” he explains. “Like what NCM did, I hope someday our community will help another village.”

Taken from the latest issue of NCM Magazine. Read online here.

Growing Bananas, Lifting Burdens

aheckman — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 16:11:24 +0000

Growing Bananas, Lifting Burdens aheckman Thu, 09/15/2022 - 16:11

Growing Bananas, Lifting Burdens

What does a banana have to do with economic security, education, and skill development? In Rwanda, the answer is everything.

There, Nazarene churches discovered that by training smallholder farmers to grow and sell high-quality bananas, they could create paths for security and change for individuals, families, and entire communities. These bananas fetch a high price at the market because they are highly nutritious and few farmers in the area grow the fruit.

At Mbare Church of the Nazarene, one of the participating churches, project leaders explained that this idea came about specifically to address burdens that church and community members carried on a daily basis. Lack of funds to pay for school fees, medicine, insurance, clothes, and even food made life stressful. The COVID-19 pandemic and associated stay-at-home requirements shuttered options for income even further.

The project’s concept, while simple, has had a meaningful impact. The project leaders identified people and families in need of assistance, and trained those beneficiaries in modern cultivation techniques. They provided them with banana tree seedlings to plant at home, and instructions related to fertilization, watering, timing of planting and harvesting, and how to achieve high crop yields in small plots of land, among other related topics. More bananas are planted on land provided by local churches. When the connected farmers sell their crop, they can then provide for their needs and the needs of their family members.

The local churches and church members involved in this project provided essential support like land, project management skills, follow up with participating growers to ensure their needs are being met, and help coordinating with required government reporting. This year, the project had 150 families participating, impacting around 600 beneficiaries directly.

One of the coordinators explains that the structure of the project can be broken down into three steps.

“There are three main activities which we are carrying out to make this project happen—The identification of beneficiaries (in collaboration with local authorities and the local church), the training of beneficiaries so the knowledge they gain can be implemented in their respective communities, and the home visits so that we may make sure that the knowledge is being implemented at the local level.”

The farmers who attended the trainings take their education home to improve their own skills. Mukamna is a beneficiary who received training in fertilizer use and how to best plant her seeds for optimal growth, not mixing varieties together. When the team leaders visited to check on her crops’ progress, they found them to be well-organized. Mukamna shared that this education was very helpful.

Other farmers go a step further, using their training to help others. Migabo, another beneficiary, also learned about fertilizer use, single crop cultivation, good seed selection, and monitoring activities. Migabo has now started educating other farming groups and is working to form a rice-growing organization.

“This project has been of great benefit because we’ve gained a knowledge of how the bananas are planted,” says another beneficiary. “We bring this knowledge to our local communities where we try to implement the same knowledge at the local levels.”

Over time, the project aims to help reduce the overall cost of bananas in the area so as to better support the community and the nutritional needs of children and those with poor health. In the coming years, the project will expand to more areas in Rwanda.

One farmer shared how participation in the project helped insure her children could attend school. “This project helped me a lot because I gained funds from this project and I bought animals to keep at home,” she says. “I have chickens, and I sell the eggs. After selling the eggs I pay the school fees for my children.”

From initial concept to now changing the lives of 600 people, this banana-growing effort is breaking the cycle of poverty and providing new options for income generation for farmers, while solidifying local churches as hubs of compassion and care. As a farmer states simply, “If we have problems, we ask this organization to help, and they help. For real, this project helps us prepare for the future.”

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Cash Grants Fight against Poverty

Grace Tia — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 04:47:51 +0000

Cash Grants Fight against Poverty Grace Tia Thu, 04/30/2020 - 04:47

Cash Grants Fight against Poverty

Cash is something everyone likes to have on hand. When someone has cash, they have the freedom to choose how best to spend their money.

In the field of economics, this flexibility of cash being useful in a variety of ways is called fungibility, and it aids economic growth by providing a mechanism for a person selling a product or service to more easily find others with different products and services. Cash allows various parties to agree on fair and equal prices across products, time, and locations, something bartered goods cannot do. Cash fungibility also helps multiply economic efficiencies, or the transfer of goods with minimal waste, because the longer cash circulates within a community, the more people benefit. In other words, the more people are able to use cash to purchase as they choose, the healthier the local economy becomes.

Cash donations are growing in importance for those who engage in poverty alleviation. Previously, donors usually acquired goods (often in a country far away) and shipped those donations (at great financial expense and environmental impact) to economically impoverished places. The donor decided what was given, and the people receiving the aid had to accept the donations for what they were and figure out how best to use them. Sometimes, when donors were not aware, people would sell their donations (often at a significant loss from their real worth) to acquire the cash they needed and wanted for their most pressing needs. Today, cash donations, due to their fungibility, help shift the power for determining a household’s greatest need from the donor to the family who lives in poverty.

“Cash assistance given directly into households living in poverty immediately injects cash into a community.”

An additional benefit of cash assistance over traditional product donations is the substantial impact cash itself can have on local economies. In places of great need, economies suffer from a number of inefficiencies that hinder activities and transactions. Cash assistance given directly into households living in poverty immediately injects cash into a community. This infusion unleashes important economic exchanges.

Cash’s fungibility turns the donations into economic sparks, instantly multiplying people’s choices regarding who to trade and transact with that previously was unavailable. The increased cash flow within the community smooths economic transactions between people that, in turn, enhances further economic growth. Due to their economic power to spur a virtuous cycle in poorer communities, cash assistance is swiftly becoming an important part of poverty alleviation efforts.

Nazarene Compassionate Ministries is using cash grants to support people in need, including during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. For an example of a cash distribution relief project, watch this video highlighting an outreach in Malawi for survivors of Cyclone Idai.

Rob Gailey joined the Fermanian School of Business at Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) in 2005 and currently is a tenured Professor of Business there. Dr. Gailey serves as Director for PLNU’s Center for International Development (CID), and his experiences and work have revolved around ways to engage both the workplace and the church in helping to address global poverty through the avenue of sustainable organizations. He has served as an associate pastor, missionary, nonprofit leader, and educator around the areas of economic development, cross-cultural advocacy, and poverty alleviation. This past year, he has been on a sabbatical assisting Nazarene Compassionate Ministries on the Africa Region with nonprofit trainings and assessments throughout the region as well as working on a book on how to better engage churches in poverty alleviation efforts, which will include a section on cash distributions. Rob is married to Wanda and together they have two teenage children.

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Creative Solutions Lead to Community Flourishing

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2023 Christmas Project: Providing for Family Through Farming in Burundi

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2023 Christmas Project: Food Security Through Job Training in Armenia

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Overflowing With New Life: A Community Is Transformed

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Growing Bananas, Lifting Burdens

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Cash Grants Fight against Poverty

“Cash assistance given directly into households living in poverty immediately injects cash into a community.”

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