On March 18th and 19th three of the REAP team conducted a two day seminar in Nyakach, Kisumu County. The local contact person Francis Osano was the convenor of the seminar. Bp Samuel Ouma, who is the one responsible for the REAP Stewardship programme, took the lead in the teaching, supported by Pst George Matengo and Rev Rosalia Oyweka.
The seminar was held at the AICN church in Nymarimba, where there are a number of Vetiver hedges and nurseries nearby for teaching and discussion. The seminar was attended by 38 members of the local community. The teaching focused on the benefits of planting Vetiver hedges for protecting the soil against erosion and thus maintaining good yields from the land. This was supported by practical work on establishing a Vetiver Nursery and planting an effective Vetiver hedge. The latter was reinforced by visits to some established Vetiver Hedges in the area and discussions with the land owners.
As a basis for motivation the team emphasized the Biblical Basis for caring for God’s creation and how when we work with creation we get much more benefit that trying to work against it. Since REAP has established a Vetiver Nursery in the area there was plenty of planting material for practical teaching, and for the participants to take some home.
