Category: Agriculture Training

August 2017 Program Roundup

Haiti An inspiring business development program has given a “hand up” to entrepreneurs in Jeremie, Haiti with the goal of reviving the local economy and giving back to the community. This capital investment program is creating a lasting impact by encouraging each participant to analyze ways they can develop personally and contribute to their communities while… continue reading

Farmers in West Africa See the Power and Business Potential of Compost

When developing countries face disease and war that wipe out huge percentages of a population, generational knowledge is lost, and can no longer be passed down. Many times, outsiders with good intentions arrive to help. But in an effort to improve conditions quickly, the effects of their work are often short-lived. Chemical fertilizers are an… continue reading

Hero Spotlight: Pastor Gborie Loves His Neighbors with a Servant’s Heart

Some people in leadership positions will “go along to get along,” but true leaders refuse to let go of a vision when they are convicted. Pastor Aiah Mark Gborie ( pronounced bor-ee) is the pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Fellowship, the “mega-church” of Lunsar, Sierra Leone. Pastor Gborie initially learned about sustainable conservation agriculture techniques… continue reading

[Guest Post] My Journey to Uganda with Just Hope International

We welcome the Rev. Dr. Harold L. Martin, retired Elder and former District Superintendent in the United Methodist Church, to share about his experience traveling to Uganda with the Just Hope International team. He has served churches in the Nashville area, including Brentwood UMC as Pastor of Missions and Outreach. He resides in Hermitage, Tennessee. In… continue reading

June 2017 Program Roundup

Bauya & Lunsar, Sierra Leone Program success is seen in different ways and at different speeds in the locations we serve. The Tamaraneh group in Kerefay, Sierra Leone, is an example of wonderful current success by a group of farmers who together work to a high standard to produce a crop of groundnuts. The plot… continue reading

Hero Spotlight: Blind Farmers See Through Their Hands, Learn from Experience

For about a year now, Just Hope has been working alongside a group of blind farmers in Sierra Leone who continue to inspire us with their determination and skill. You might remember Amidu “Francis” Kayina, the blind chaplain at the Baptist Eye Hospital in Lunsar, who is a powerful local champion for the blind being… continue reading

Turning Theory Into Reality: Vanderbilt Student Reflects on Lessons Learned in Sierra Leone

Josiah Holland, a Vanderbilt Human and Organizational Development student currently interning with Just Hope, recently returned from a trip to Sierra Leone with David Reeves, our Agriculture and VSLA Program Manager. He shares about his experience below. Driving along well-worn, dirt roads in Sierra Leone, I came to better understand a reality generally true for… continue reading

Seed Loaning Program is a Game Changer for Farmers in Sierra Leone

In agriculture-based economies like Bauya and Lunsar, Sierra Leone, seeds are a form of currency. They can be used to buy and sell, and they can be saved for future planting seasons. However, in the communities where we serve, it’s uncommon to find a farmer who can successfully save enough seeds from one harvest to plant… continue reading