Sustainability is very important in any project! Since extreme poverty in Uganda runs rampant, FOLA felt it was necessary to collaborate on a “hands-up” project to purchase 20 acres of farmland in Masindi, Uganda. It is used to help raise food for the children in the two schools we help support there. We supplied the finances for the real estate purchase and our fellow Ugandans supply the labor to maintain the farm. It is a win-win situation because:

• In Uganda, there is no public school system with government funded subsidized programs
• Most families earn about $365 per year; cost to educate one child per year is about $360
• Without outside food sources, most schools would not survive
• Farm helps bring support and sustainability to the community
• Depending on the growing season, it cuts down food costs for schools by over 50-70%
• Without outside support, children would not have an opportunity to get an education
• For many students, their meals at school serve as their only food for the day
• Most students who study at our schools are poor “at risk” children

 

In August 2021, to help provide the needed food for our two Mercy Junior School campuses, FOLA purchased 12 more acres of farmland. This takes our total farm to 32 acres of farm ground, of which, 29 acres is tillable ground. With the addition of the land purchase, we have had to make a lot of farm changes. They are as follows: Hire a new farm manager and assistant farm manager; add a true agronomer to help grow the farm Hire a tractor to plow our fields, instead of plowing with 2 oxen and a plow Construct a barn to hold our farm equipment, fertilizers, seeds, etc. Implement new farming techniques that would help increase farm yields Construct raised water tank to hold water to be used in the fields Purchase farm truck and boda-boda to help ease the burden and move farm equipment/supplies to fields Purchase needed farm equipment Purchase chain saw and supplies to help remove trees and brush from fields