JOSHUA Ujamaa

 

The JOSHUA Ujamaa project was created December 9, 2006 at the JOSHUA Farm, as an effort to organize and empower poor and ill-equipped farmers in the Kyanamukaaka sub-county of Masaka, Uganda. The word Ujamaa translated in Kiswahili means “together”. As a positive result of the impact of The JOSHUA Foundation’s Mission Possible 2012 program, 30 poor, non-land owning farmers committed to participate in JOSHUA’s community farming initiative and selected the name JOSHUA Ujamaa to be the official title of this innovative project. The aim of the JOSHUA Ujamaa project is to address the importance of self-sustainability and independence through land ownership, and strengthen the capacity of village households through agriculture, education and commerce. The goal of the program is to ensure farmers who participate in JOSHUA Ujamaa will have the opportunity to purchase farmland by the close of the two-year program.

The objectives of the program are centered on training in the following areas:

Group Formation Education, Structure and Development

Sustainable Agriculture and Organic Farming

Alternative Money/Time/Energy Saving Techniques

Planning and Administration

Accounting Methods and Saving Plans

Extension Training Via “Train-the-Trainer” Approach

A major focal point of the JOSHUA Ujamaa project is to generate and save income through organized income generating activities, which provides JOSHUA Ujamaa farmers the opportunity to purchase land by reaching the program goal of 400,000 Ugandan Shillings per participant, (approximately $250.00 U.S. Dollars).

On a weekly basis, 30 JOSHUA Ujamaa farmers

Gather to grow income crops such as sugar cane, taro, amaranth, and beans for market

Attend training in sustainable agriculture, organic farming, fuel saving techniques, hygiene, basic accounting and planning

Organize and manage participants via meeting structured to assist in planning, administration, knowledge transfer, and future growth after returning from their respective villages

The members of JOSHUA Ujamaa desired to draft a statement of their own that reflects how they view themselves as a group…” JOSHUA Ujamaa is an association of people (surveyed non-land owning farmers) working together, exchanging ideas, and having sustainable agriculture and organic farming workshops to address abject poverty and food shortages locally through farming carbohydrate intense foods like sugar cane and taro, and protective health foods like vegetables rich in vitamins, minerals and proteins – for market and consumption.”

Much financial support is needed to expand the project to have a greater impact in Masaka, Uganda. Please consider financially supporting the JOSHUA Ujamaa project. Many farmers are being turned away due to The JOSHUA Foundation’s lack of funding to expand the project. Your support will directly reduce the number of orphans, vulnerable children, widows, elderly, and physically challenged households suffering from hunger, disease and death in Uganda. All prayers are welcomed!

Please mail all donations to:

The JOSHUA Foundation

315 Jefferson Street, NW

Washington, DC 20011-3123

Or by PayPal:

donations@paypal.com

Thank you in advance!

 

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