Helping hurts when relief efforts create dependency. Helping helps when recipients are treated as knowledgeable and skillful partners who demonstrate a desire to be self-supportive. Our relationships are grounded on mutual respect and understanding. We believe the success of our ministry requires that our recipients become self-sustaining. The following projects contribute to this dignity model of support.
The 15-acre farm at the Orphanage with cows, greenhouses, a fishery, and various crops as well as the leasing and farming of 100 more acres, with their own tractor and implements, have become the most productive and profitable enterprise for Seeds Ministry. Maize, tomatoes, and milk provide food for the orphans at the Children’s Home, Seeds High School, and Seeds Academy. The farm equipment is also leased to Kitale businesses. The agricultural income helps sustain the many Seeds Ministries.
When we began Chicks for Children, our first project was to provide funding support for building a chicken coop and providing chickens to help feed the kids and support the Seeds Ministries. Fast forward years later, and they have the dairy farm that helps provide essential food to the orphans in the Seeds Children’s Home.
The woodworking shop provides vocational training. Many of the pieces of furniture for The Seeds Academy and The Seeds High School come from the woodworking shops.
Building and maintaining the four greenhouses and vegetable gardens are vital to growing nutritious food and sustaining the efforts of the Seeds Ministries. The greenhouses are a profitable business capable of income saving and generating income to help afford the care for the orphans and vulnerable children.
The tailoring business provides job security and financial freedom for widows of the Kipsongo slum and saves money for the Seeds Ministries. School uniforms and other clothing are provided to hundreds of orphans and vulnerable children saving the Seeds Ministries from additional expenses.
The Tilapia ponds are another source of self-support for Seeds Ministries. Tilapia is not only a food source for the kids; the wastewater can also be used to irrigate crops. However, the fact that Tilapia can provide key nutrients and proteins to the orphans and vulnerable children that assist in the prevention of malnutrition, diseases, and starvation-related death is its most significant use.
Maize milling is a newly introduced business with significant potential for income saving and income generating. The milling machine will be used for processing maize for safe consumption, such as for daily food use.
