Latest Global Food Initiative grants go to the DRC, Rwanda, and Venezuela

The latest round of grants from the Global Food Initiative (GFI) have been given to ministries of Churches of the Brethren in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for the Seed Projects; Rwanda, for purchase of a grain mill; and Venezuela, for agriculture micro-projects. For more about the GFI and to contribute financially to these grants, go to www.brethren.org/gfi.

Rwanda

A grant of $15,100 supports the purchase of a grain mill as part of the ongoing agricultural ministries of the Church of the Brethren in Rwanda. A major outreach of the Rwandan church has been its work among the Twa (or Batwa) people. This mill will serve the Twa and other farmers and also will help provide some grain for the pig farm operated by the church. Other components of the project include the purchase of a small piece of land to build a house for the mill and installation of electricity at the site.

Please pray… For the work of the Global Food Initiative around the world, and the food security work of churches in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Venezuela.

“Maize flour is the basic food in the area,” said the grant announcement. “People struggle to get enough money when they need it. With their own roller mill and huller machine, they can get the maize flour they need while paying to keep the machine running and saving for its future replacement. The purchase of the mill will help the Batwa people provide sufficiently for their families and friends. They should also be able to start saving and investing in their children, especially in their education.”

Venezuela

A grant of $12,000 supports eight agricultural micro-projects for churches affiliated with the Asociación Iglesia de Los Hermanos Venezuela (ASIGLEH, the Church of the Brethren in Venezuela). The projects include poultry, maize, beans, cassava, rice, and carrot production efforts that will be spread out across the country and include projects among Indigenous people groups, serving 600 people in 15 communities.

DRC

A grant of $7,500 supports the Seed Projects of l’Eglise des Freres du Congo (the Church of the Brethren in the Democratic Republic of Congo). Begun by nine congregations, the Seed Projects is the result of a series of Transformation Tree trainings provided to church deacons in 2019 by staff from World Relief.

“The trainings were sponsored by the GFI and challenged participants to return to their local congregations and start small outreach projects that would serve the needs of the most vulnerable in their communities,” said the grant announcement. “Specific projects include the following agricultural and small business micro-projects: food preparation, basket weaving, and a pharmacy, along with communal farming efforts to produce crops such as cassava, beans, corn, and vegetables. A training component is also included in this project and materials for drip irrigation trials.”

‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑

Find more Church of the Brethren news:

[gt-link lang="en" label="English" widget_look="flags_name"]