• Thanks that there are many exciting opportunities opening up in South Sudan – please pray that REAP’s teaching will be effectively taken into areas that can hugely benefit from it.  There has been considerable interest in REAP literature that is specifically relevant to South Sudan.
• Prayer for funding for a building on the Kujulu site to facilitate a demonstration, training and resource centre
• Praise that Roger’s work permit has been approved for another two years and that rains have begun in western Kenya, so it is now all systems go!

South Sudan opportunities

Above a Pochalla blacksmith shows the tools he makes

Jos has recently returned from spending time in Mundri, where she is planning to found a Christian nursery school. There have been some problems with obtaining the land promised but hopefully this will now be dealt with by the local authorities.

At the same time Roger was able to make a consultancy visit to Pochalle on the Ethiopian (eastern) border of South Sudan.

Roger’s study for the Presbyterian Relief and Development Agency confirmed that REAP’s ‘potential’ based, rather than  ‘needs’ based, approach is highly relevant for South Sudan.

In 2002 Roger met this same blacksmith on a visit for World Relief and recommended that rather than bringing tools in from Kenya, that are not designed for South Sudan, they should import metal sheets. World Relief did this, and he showed Roger the latest products!

REAP’s Plot in Kajulu

The photo shows George digging a fish pond in the swampy area at the bottom of the plot.

REAP’s garden in Kajulu, near Kisumu, continues to mature. The Vetiver Grass hedges have become very effective barriers and soil continues to build up behind them, giving a striking image.

In the lower garden, where the water table is high, Artemisia (which cures malaria) is harvested often and its sale covers most of the ongoing expenses of the site.

A nursery area is being developed, where useful plants and trees brought in from other areas are being nurtured, developed, tried and seeds produced.

The fish pond is designed to work with the existing environment (using the principles of permaculture).  Leucaena trees will be planted around the pond, so their leaves can be harvested to feed the algae that feed the fish.

This is a photo of Sam working in the tree nursery that he has recently established on the REAP plot in Kajulu.

This is a photo of Sam working in the tree nursery that he has recently established on the REAP plot in Kajulu.

He has planted small amounts of seeds from trees and is also propagating herbs from cuttings. A combination of black plastic bags and milk containers are being used. The sugar cane in the background is from a neighbour’s farm, but in front of it, the darker green is Artemisia.

Stoves and Kitchens

Domitilla continues to expand the number of groups she is working with. 

Ruth Osano, a contact of hers in the remote area of Nyakach, has recently become very active in moulding and installing the jikos.

Domitilla’s husband is very enthusiastic about the use of vetiver grass.  This has resulted in vetiver nurseries being established in the places where women have been moulding liners.

REAP
18 Yewhurst Close
Twyford, Berkshire
RG10 9PW
United Kingdom

Please click here for an A4 printable Gift Aid donation form.

REAP has a commitment to encouraging others to have a poor-oriented and distinctively Christian approach to development teaching, based on the Bible. We are keen to share this vision with others. REAP is therefore committed to networking with other like-minded organisations.
REAP is developing a specific approach to teaching, backed up with materials. As the ministry expands we will be seeking to disseminate these and train others to use them for more effective poor-oriented teaching through the churches of eastern Africa. Although our target area is eastern Africa our main focus at present is in western Kenya and southern Sudan.

Our work cannot expand effectively into new areas where it is desperately needed without help.

Expertise can provide insight into many local problems, so REAP requires agricultural, medical and educational specialists who are sympathetic to the vision. A mixture of both technical and local personnel with appropriate rural experience is required to take the work forward.

Transport costs, office and communication equipment, together with the production of simple teaching materials, require finance that is beyond the means of many of the African churches. REAP depends on the giving of God’s people.

REAP also really values prayers. To receive regular updates please send your name address or email to the REAP address and you will be included on the mailing list.

These plants can be divided into three groups

1. Large trees that should be planted somewhere in the compound
2. Plants that can be planted in a specific medicinal garden
3. Plants that are either growing wild or are a part of the normal farm environment

Trees.

The following four trees are recommended:

1. Neem
2. Guava  (also Mango and Avocado)
3. Frangipani
4. Moringa stenopetala

Medicinal garden

The following plants are recommended for a basic medicinal garden

1. Moringa oleifera
2. Pawpaw
3. Passion Fruit (can be planted to climb in hedges)
4. Lemon grass
5. Ringworm Bush – Cassia alata
6. Aloe Vera
7. Artemesia
8. Roselle
9. Garlic
10. Ginger

Uses

REAP is seeking to encourage basic uses that are not too complicated.  The following table shows the main uses of these plants.

As a start the following species are recommended for planting, to be added to later:

 Neem

Neem is a relatively large tree.  It is normally started in a nursery from seeds.  The seeds need to be fresh as they do not maintain viability long.  The tree is not conducive with crops so is perhaps best planted as a shade tree near the home

Guava

Guava is a familiar tree that can either be grown separately or in a hedge.

Frangipani

Frangipani is a medium size tree with attractive flowers.  It is best grown where it can give shade and beauty to the compound.

 Moringa

The are two types of Moringa.  Moringa oleifera  is the smaller one from Asia and Moringa stenopetala is larger native to Africa.  Both have the same basic uses.  They are planted from seed, though cuttings can also be taken from mature trees.   Moringa oleifera is a small tree best grown as a hedge as it is also good to prune it so that it does not grow too tall

Cassia alata

This is a small shrub that has attractive yellow flowers.  The leaves are very effective for treating fungal infections, and especially Ringworm

Pawpaw

Already abundant locally.  Plant as for fruit.  Papaine already known in Gambogi area.  Pawpaw should be included in a medicinal garden and can be planted around the edge or implanted with the other plants.

Passion Fruit (can be planted to climb in hedges)

Passion fruit are already abundant locally.  Plant some in the hedge

 Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus)

Grows as a clump grass.  Planted as slips.  A bunch is separated and a row of grass can be planted.

Aloe Vera

Aloe vera branches directly from the base.  It does not have a tall stem like Aloe ferox and Aloe arborescens.  The plant sends out slips from the side.  These have small roots and can be carefully dug out and planted as a separate plant.  Plant a row.

Artemesia (Artemesia annua)

Artemesia annua grows into a bushy plant.  They can be grown with difficulty from seed, but are easily planted from cuttings when already established.  Cuttings are sometimes available from REAP.  Once plants are established care for them and take cuttings.  Plant cuttings in a seedbed or bowl.  Transplant when the roots are well established.  Plant a row with plants about 2 feet (70 cm) apart in the row.

Roselle

Roselle is a short lived herb that is grown from seed.  Seeds are available from REAP.  Plant in an area about 50-70 cm apart.

Garlic

Garlic is a bulb that has many segments (cloves).  Plant separate cloves 15 cm apart in rows 30 cm apart.

Ginger

The part of ginger that is eaten is the rhizome.  It is planted from sprouted pieces of rhizome.

Euphorbia hirta (Asthma weed)

This grows wild and favours places like short grass and alongside roads and paths.  It is normally collected from the wild.

Other possible species for planting include Warburgia, Tephrosia diversifolia, Prunus Africana, and Mondia whitei, Other medicinal plants are probably readily available and may not need to be planted.  These include Eucalyptus, Chilli pepper, Asthma weed (Euphorbia hirta), pumpkin.

Every church and school a tree nursery!

Every Kenyan a tree planter!

Join the National Easter Tree Planting Campaign

Let us join together in fighting for the future of Kenya and bring glory to God in doing so!

The Primary Focus of Easter Tree Planting

The primary focus of a tree-planting effort following Easter revolves around the celebration of the risen Saviour, and the new life we have in Christ.  With the proper preparation, it becomes a beautiful act, which honours and commemorates Christ and His work on the cross. The cross of Christ is like the tree of life, because at the cross the story of redemption and new life begins. The event serves not only as a celebration of the resurrection, but also as a demonstration of our gratitude. Teachings about the crucifixion and resurrection delivered on Easter Sunday can be reiterated and reinforced by conducting a service of thanksgiving and prayer before the actual act of tree planting commences.

• Rich parallels can be drawn between the biblical passages about the Tree of Life (found in both Genesis 2 and Revelations 22), and how tree planting can be a source of life for people today and into the future.
• This can also be tied into the truth that Christ died on a tree, because of our sin, in order to bring us eternal life. The cross can be described as the Tree of Redemption.
• Tree planting can be initiated on the farms of neighbours and non-believers to demonstrate Christian love and to open up opportunities to share Christ or the biblical message of caring for creation.
• Tree planting can be done as a demonstration of Christ-like concern for children and as a means of building a more hopeful future for successive generations.

Benefits of Church-wide Easter Week Tree-planting Initiative:

• Strengthening the witness and ministry of the church, its ability to reach out to non-believers, and its ability to address serious and present day realities.
• Transformation of the Kenyan landscape through the enlistment of 1,000’s to plant 1,000’s of trees.
• Inspiration and motivation for Christians countrywide to begin addressing other environmental or agricultural concerns.
• Widespread dissemination of the biblical calling to care for creation.
• Improved co-operation with secular institutions already working in these arenas.
• Improved unity and co-operation between denominations.
• Opportunity to set an example that may be adopted by other countries in Africa or around the world.

• Thanks for the encouraging start to South Sudan as a new nation and that Roger and Jos have been able to contribute to many of the organizations working there
• Prayer for peace along the northern frontier and that REAP may be able to be able to become more proactive it its own right within South Sudan
• Praise for God’s continued blessing on REAP’s work, particularly in the growing demand for REAP’s teaching and enthusiasm to implement it

More Awards

In August REAP retained Kisumu Show trophies for the Best Small Stand and Best Non-governmental Organization.  This year we also won the Best Jua Kali Stand award for the windmill power generator, displayed in conjunction with ‘Access Wind’.  

REAP also had a display of natural medicines at the Maseno Agricultural Training School Open Day which offered further contact with farmers.

Natural Medicine teaching continues to draw the greatest interest, with many people contacting the Nairobi office via our web site or Anamed links.

In spite of the unusually dry weather Artemisia plants have been multiplied successfully on the REAP plot.  There is now a considerable plantation at the bottom of the land where the water table is high.

South Sudan

In July Roger and Jos were able to make an historic visit to Mundri, South Sudan, to join with Jos’s relations in the Independence of their country.

Many contacts were able to be re-established with the Mundri people.

Roger was encouraged by what has already been achieved in the run up to Independence and challenged to know how best to be involved in the longer term.

He continues to be on the Across board and to have significant input on various committees, including The World Gospel Mission and SIM, offering different types of advice.

New Challenges

Jos (in orange) is honouring the Commissioner of Mundri during the Independence Celebrations.

REAP has a growing demand for teaching but is unable to meet it due to a lack of resources to take more people on board.

The unpredictability of the weather has continued to stimulate thought about climate change issues.

The successful use of mulch on the REAP plot has dramatically demonstrated its value.  Vetiver hedging, which continues to provide a valuable means to conserve soil and water in its own right, can also be used to supply dried grass for mulching.

Combining such links as these, to demonstrate the holistic nature of farming on small plots and make the best use of resources, continues to stimulate REAP’s teaching.

The ongoing problem of how pass on this teaching, with limited resources, to those who can most benefit, remains a constant challenge to REAP.

• Thanks for increased good working relations with other NGOs, especially recent links with the Inter Christian Fellowship Evangelical Mission (IcFEM)
• Prayer that possibilities for extending REAP’s teaching into new areas of Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan come to fruition
• Praise for God’s continued blessing on REAP’s work, especially on Environmental Stewardship teaching, in spite of economic constraints

Kisumu Land Developed

The transformation of REAP’s land, to exhibit it’s teaching put into practice, is beginning to attract many visitors.

Three vetiver hedges are now well established; these are already retaining up to 18 inches of soil.

Timber (Grevillea) trees have been planted round three sides and a variety of fruit and medicinal trees now grow throughout the plot.

Three ‘5F Hedges’ and one Tithonia hedge divide the land into smaller plots, which include a vetiver nursery, an example of ‘Farming God’s Way’ (using mulching), moringa experimentally grown close-spaced and managed as tea, an example of a medicinal garden, traditional medicinal plants under scientific research, and prunus africana (tea used to manage prostate problems).  Roselle and sweet potatoes fill areas not yet allocated for more specific use.

Natural Medicines

Planting of Artemesia among our contacts has suffered from the particularly harsh dry season, so there has been a concerted effort to replenish it.

Cassia alata, lemon grass, aloe and roselle have also been in huge demand.

Two one week training courses on Natural Medicine in June have been well received.

REAP’s new medicinal garden at Kajulu, Kisumu

The land at Kajulu has enabled REAP to bury potted plants, mulched over, at the nearby Kisumu Show ground. This improves the display and reduces the time required in watering.

Teaching at the Show this year will also include a simple windmill charger, nursery school equipment and personal hygiene products.

Sam gets on his bike!

Sam and his son, showing the heavy mulching that protects the soil from hot sun and heavy rain

Sam has been able to distribute vetiver grass plants more widely this year by using his motorcycle.

REAP’s new vetiver nursery also will enable more plants to be given out at the Kisumu Show, where the use of vetiver to conserve soil generally attracts a great deal of  interest.

Stoves Update

Three women Domitilla has trained have now extended the fuel efficient stoves teaching in their home area.

Domilla also trained another 20 women at Kililili, which included instruction on mould making, and 20 women at the Mary Ward Centre in Karen.

• Thanks for South Sudan’s peaceful referendum in January
• Prayer for wisdom in committing to the many challenging opportunities following South Sudan’s future independence in July.
• For future funding; Help a Child Africa is now administered from REK in Holland and this makes training opportunities, which have provided funds, difficult to arrange.

The Plot Thickens!

Reap’s plot of land at Kisumu is looking good, now demarcated by both tree and grass hedges.  The medicinal garden that was laid out in January has already taken shape.  Having water on site has been a great blessing as it has enabled George to keep the land well watered.

REAP hopes to use the plot to demonstrate the principles of Conservation Agriculture (by using deep mulch).  For this purpose George attended Care of Creation training last November, and is keen to put what he has learnt into practice.

The erection of a building on the upper part of the land, that could form part of the whole farm environment, is being given serious consideration. This would cater for training small groups as well as provide some volunteer accommodation.  A large kitchen could be used for the preparation of ointments as well as cooking!

Stoves News

Domitila has been busy developing new leaders who are able to make the green liners for local groups of women, so they can install the fuel efficient stoves into their kitchens.

One of these contacts is Ruth Osano, whose husband is a bishop with African Israel Church Nineveh, and who has become very committed to REAP’s stewardship teaching.

These unfired stoves are easily made from local clay and provide almost smoke free cooking using little fuel.

In late March Domitila will be training 25 women at Kimilili, near Mount Elgon.  This will incorporate our associate, Charles, training technicians to make another 10 moulds, so that many more liners can be made.

Other Opportunities

Once the rains are underway Sam plans to activate the sharing of vetiver grass plants by several enthusiastic growers with many interested parties, including the Ministry of Agriculture.

Although Easter Tree Planting has not yet been taken on as a National Event, opportunities continue for its promotion through churches. Ann has been promised seedlings by a health insurance provider to promote tree planting in schools.

George’s quarterly visit to Pokot to follow up his goat training provides a receptive audience for wider REAP teaching.

Tear Fund in Kenya have already booked 10 places on our Natural Medicines Seminar in June.

Later in June, at the Maseno Agricultural Training Centre one day show, we will be focusing on encouraging the growth of Artemisia, whilst also having our usual planting material of Roselle, Aloe, Moringa and Vetiver available.

REAP is a registered trust committed to distinctively Christian teaching that is developed specifically for the benefit of the rural poor in eastern Africa.

REAP works mainly with and through Christian churches and para-church organisations, by facilitating them to develop a holistic teaching ministry. It has four main ways of working:

• training and workshops on Bible based rural extension.
• advice and consultancy, focusing on Christian rural extension projects and approaches relevant for the rural poor.
• collection and provision of information for helping with practical advice.
• writing and production of teaching materials specifically relevant to the rural poor.

REAP facilitates ministry to the poor in a manner based on Christian values. It reflects Biblical principles, respects human dignity, highly regards the talents and gifts of local people, values the whole person, places high priority on communal participation and also successfully applies the self propagation principle of church planting to rural development.

Many people who start wanting to help the rural poor end up helping higher economic groups because they do not have the ideas that are relevant where the poor are. The rural poor are generally characterised by those who have a relatively large number of people to support on a small or otherwise relatively unproductive piece of land. This means that they do not have much money available but do have labour available.

In REAP we look for ideas that are relevant for the rural poor and if necessary adapt them so as to make them more accessible. In practice much existing teaching, especially in agriculture, seeks to replace labour with a purchased input. In our teaching we tend to reverse this trend.

Many of the ideas in the CWD article can be cross linked to the teaching leaflets.

We have been encouraging Energy Saving Stoves for a number of years. We use the liners originally developed by GTZ as being the most efficient and the easiest for rural women to use, as they just replace the traditional three stone fire. However, to our surprise when we first promoted them we found that these stoves have not spread as we would have expected. When we looked into the reason we found that the method developed of making the fired liners at production centres was not suited to getting the stoves to those who most need them. The product is difficult to market being relatively heavy, breakable, low cost and targeting the poor. To overcome this we have developed a system of moulding the liners within the community through women’s fellowships. We have found that women’s fellowships can easily make the liners if they have access to a mould, and by making a mould available to a church, many women’s fellowships at different branches can make them within their own community. By installing the liners when they are air-dried but unfired we have found a very acceptable product that is truly accessible. Click here for more information..

A related technology we have been promoting is the Fireless Cooker. This is basically an insulated basket, which we originally promoted as another energy saving device. When food is heated on a normal stove and cooked for part of the time needed, and then transferred to a fireless cooker, the heat in the food continues the cooking, saving the fuel that would be needed for keeping on the fire. Although this works well it is not the factor that has led to its popularity. The fact that the insulated basket keeps the food warm, and acts as a ‘thermos’, has been the attraction to most of the church women we work with. Since food can be kept warm for several hours, women are able to cook at the time most suited for them and have the food available at the time their husbands and family need it. This gives much greater flexibility to a woman’s day, and many have commented on how it has reduced stress in the home and in marriages. The women in the picture left are holding their fireless cookers made at a CWD workshop. Click here for more information.

Other Kitchen Improvements that have gone alongside the installed stoves, have been mud cupboards, mud seats in the kitchen, and hangers for drying firewood. Since the stoves burn the wood very much more efficiently, there is very little smoke so that it is pleasant to sit in the kitchen and even to entertain guests while working. The improvements in the kitchen have enormously improved the self esteem of most of the women who have installed them, as indicated by the joy they have in showing off their kitchens. The use of porous pots for cooling drinking water is common in many rural communities. We have recently extended the technology to making coolers for food as well.

Self esteem is something that is important for improving the quality of life of rural women, and working on ideas that help women feel good with little cost are important. We discovered this when we started teaching about Perfumed Body Oil. A body oil can be made from vegetable oil and candle or bees wax, and perfumed as the user wants. This enables women, and their children, to look well groomed at a fraction of the cost of the lotions available in the shops. It also helps a small amount of perfume to go much further. We have also started teaching on other ‘cosmetics’ such as making a Face Mask from avocado fruit.

In order to make this body oil even more available we are experimenting with making oil locally. Possible sources are Avocado, Moringa seeds, Roselle seeds, Yellow Oleander and Croton. Once we have a good way of extracting this oil we can extend this teaching and it should facilitate more economical making of other products including soap.

Another teaching that relates to self esteem is making Paper Beads. Using the glossy paper from calendars, posters, brochures etc. attractive beads can be made for necklaces and other jewellery at minimal cost. Once the skill is learnt a woman can make different coloured necklaces to fit each outfit and feel good without cost.

How their children look is also important to women. Although it may be considered a small matter, being able to make shoe polish from cheap soap and charcoal has proved a popular teaching as it takes away the burden of finding the extra money for shoe polish. Children can be smart when they go to school with well-polished shoes and shiny skins. Click here for more information.

Another simple recipe we teach is how to make Floor Polish. This helps keep cement floors clean. Although many rural women do not have cement floors many churches do and the women like to be able to make it for their ministry of keeping the church clean. Click here for more information.

We are always looking for technologies that will help solve problems in rural areas. For them to be relevant they must be low cost and making use of resources that otherwise would be rubbish that is littering rural areas is a very practical way of doing this. Two things that are becoming more common in litter are plastic carrier bags and plastic bottles and both of these are proving useful raw materials for rural women. Click here for more information about reusing local resources

Plastic bags can be plaited or rolled to make Plastic ropes for goats, cows, washing lines or other uses. Others cut the thin plastic into strips and crochet them to make baskets, handbags, hats and other useful and saleable items. One interesting use of plastic bags has been to use them to stuff a washable mattress. Orongo widow’s started cutting the bags into small pieces and stuffing cushions with the pieces. They then realised that the orphans that they care for often wet their beds. With the common rural mattress stuffed with cotton, if the mattress is washed it becomes hard and lumpy. However a mattress stuffed with cut up plastic bags is easy to wash and can be hung up to dry in one day without any problems. This idea has spread to enabling care of People with AIDS, who often have serious diarrhoea. A washable mattress enables practical care. The idea has further been developed by using the readily available plastic strips used for packing material for machinery etc.

Plastic bottles have many uses. Cut of the bottom of the bottle and ‘plant it beside a tree to enable bottle watering. Make small holes in the lid of a bottle to make a simple Pesticide spray. This is very practical when using home made pesticides such as we teach made from Neem Powder. Use a larger bottle for an effective spray for spraying livestock. Two plastic bottles can be used to make a simple Fly Trap. This simple technology can be significant in maintaining health. Click here for more information about reusing plastic bottles.

A small hole in the bottom of a plastic bottle enables it to be used for hand washing. When the lid is loosened on the bottle is squeezed a small jet of water is released. This is excellent for hanging outside a latrine, and also reduces the amount of water needed for occasions such as funerals or church celebrations. Another method is to use the 3 litre jerry can in which oil is sold. By burning a small hole and a string attached to a piece of wood, a Tippy tap can be made for washing hands. By stepping on the piece of wood the Tippy tap is made to tip so that water trickles out for washing hands. This enables practical hygiene as a bucket or other container left near a latrine is soon emptied, but 3 litres in a tippy tap lasts an appreciable time.

Another health related technology using plastic bottles is SODIS. This involves putting water in the sun so that the ultraviolet light kills the bacteria. However, we are keen to make this practical teaching so that all the family can use this source of water all the time. Although we know that the scientific basis of this idea is sound, we still need to work on the social implications of this teaching before we can confidently extend it to rural families. We are however able to teach the use of Moringa Seeds for cleaning muddy water, as they act as a very effective flocculent. Click here for more information.

Other simple technologies may need some co-operation between men and women, as few women are skilled as carpenters. Two simple technologies that we teach, based on a small paddle of wood are the Maize Sheller and the Fish Scaler. By drilling four holes in the paddle in the right places a simple tool can be made for removing the grains from maize cobs. Although this can be done by hand it is tedious and abrades and irritates the thumb and fingers, but with the sheller the process is much easier. The fish scaler is made by nailing five bottle tops to the paddle for faster and easier removing of scales from fish. Click here for more information.

Another idea that uses bottle tops is the tough door mat. When the bottle tops are nailed to a piece of wood it helps remove mud from shoes and thus helps keep the home clean. Many other things can be made from bottle tops including attractive small boxes, and percussion instruments for use in church.

Perhaps the biggest worry of rural women is the family’s health and this is also the biggest drain on family finances although many cannot afford any medical help. Simple remedies can be made at home for maintaining family health. The basic body oil, which we teach as a cosmetic, is the basis for many preparations. For example Chillie Ointment is made by adding chillie powder to the oil and wax mixture and is excellent for muscle and joint pains. In our natural medicine programme we also teach many other ointments, tinctures and preparations. Click here to learn about the Natural Medicines Programme.

A simple medicine to make is Medicinal Charcoal. This is made by charring groundnut shells (or other similar products such as coffee husks) till they form charcoal, and then grinding this to a powder which is taken for stomach complaints. Another form of charcoal is the Black Stone, which is made by burning a piece of cow’s bone without air till it forms charcoal. The very small capillaries in the black stone mean that it has very strong suction, and is used for treating snake, scorpion or insect bites, by sucking out the poison.

Natural medicines in general are leading us into a wider sphere of relevant technologies that are accessible to the rural poor. We continue to look for new ideas, and ways of adapting and communicating these ideas so that they can really help solve problems for the rural woman.