Food security
We work with a holistic development project in Laos. I am writing to comment on issues raised in the first article in the Food Security issue, No 32, as I question whether food security means having culturally acceptable food available. Does this mean only food which people have traditionally eaten? If so, then we can’t disagree more.
In the case of the villages where we work, people have always relied on upland rice and vegetables gathered in the forest. As a primary source of food that’s not feasible anymore and it’s irresponsible for us to encourage them to rely on that for the future. They need to learn to produce and eat other foods to supplement their rice diet.
We’re encouraging soybean products (especially tofu) and peanuts, to name two. Both are locally available, but have never been eaten in these tribal groups. Why shouldn’t they learn to eat new types of food? Is survival not more important than preserving cultural traditions? Of course, where their traditional practices have helped them, we encourage them to hold on to those things, as was pointed out in the article on traditional potato crops.
With reference to the Bible study by Stan Crees, it implied an unbiblical relationship between what we have and knowing/praising God. He stated, ‘Out of love for him (God) we must make sure our needy neighbours have that quality of life which enables them also to give thanks to God.’ However, nowhere does the Bible state or imply we need to have basic needs met before we praise, honour and thank God. On the contrary, Job praised God amidst the ashes. The Apostle Paul praised God in the Philippi jail as his open wounds bled. We are taught, rather, to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God for us in Christ Jesus. Let’s help our needy neighbours, but let’s not forget that their needs, or ours, should never hinder us from knowing God today, in the now. In fact, our needs should drive us to God all the more.
N Saeng, c/o Oppel, PO Box 27, Chiang Mai, Thailand 50,000.
Onion plants
In issue 30 of Footsteps, Acheka Kambaname, Haut-Zaire, was asking for suggestions on how to produce onion seeds. We have been working in agriculture for 22 years in Cameroon and can recommend this technique of multiplying onions without the need for seeds.
- Cut onion bulbs into halves as shown. (Eat the top halves.)
- Plant the lower halves, in well spaced rows, mulch and water well. Leave for one month, by which time the bulbs will be sprouting new shoots.
- Split off each of the new shoots and plant up in rows, water well and leave for 3–4 months when they will be ready to harvest.
We have been using this method for four years and find production of onions is good in the dry season.
Simon and Susan Ngwainmbi, Belo Rural Development Project, c/o Mbingo Baptist Hospital, PMB 42, Bamenda, Cameroon.
Solidarity in participatory activities
The IWACU Centre for Cooperative Training and Research began in 1984 to help rural people improve their living conditions through participatory activities. We support cooperatives and other organisations, helping them run their groups, find finance, stimulate creativity and income generation. We promote the networking of groups. Women’s groups receive particular support. To become a member, people must accept our rules, agree to participate in activities, and be proposed by two members. We publish a quarterly bulletin to exchange information and communicate by radio as well. There are training programmes in administration, management and food processing. The centre is well-equipped with accommodation and conference rooms and may be able to help with your training needs.
IWACU Centre, BP 1313, Kigali, Rwanda. Tel: +250 73325/6 Fax: +250 73309
Activities for young people
The BRIMAX ASSOCIATION in Togo work with young people, drawing them into activities, helping them out of poverty, encouraging them to discover and appreciate other cultures, and teaching them of the dangers of various diseases. They are keen to build up correspondence links with other young people.
Association Brimax, BP 13182, Lomé, Togo. Fax: +228 22 48 27
Credit schemes
Here in Ivory Coast we have used the guidelines from the Pas a Pas issue on credit (No 26) to set up our own credit scheme. We have just considered the first applications and are about to give out the first loans. At this stage we have used our own money to fund the project but the needs are much greater than we can handle. We have restricted the first loans to church members as a trial but the scheme will soon be open to the whole community. In the long term this sort of scheme has the potential to do a lot of good in the community.
Don George, Mission Evangelique, WEC International BP 80 Seguela, Ivory Coast. E-mail: 104030,311@compuserve.com
Health and hygiene committees
Within our programme we aim to improve health and hygiene in our communities. We have established Health and Hygiene Committees with the active participation of the people in the nine villages in the programme.
The objectives of these committees are…
- to ensure that weekly ‘cleanliness’ days are observed
- to teach people to wash their hands with soap or ashes before eating or serving food and after going to the toilet
- to ensure that places where water is collected are kept clean
- to organise classes so people are more aware of water-related diseases and the need for good hygiene
- to fight against the increase of rubbish dumps at the edge of the village
- to teach people to build and use sanitation systems.
Before establishing committees, we visit villages and draw up social maps with the people to demonstrate their present state of sanitation. People discuss possible actions to be taken concerning health and hygiene. Then we explain about how the committees operate. People then elect Health and Hygiene Committees. The members receive training and encouragement.
We have noticed an improvement in attitudes to hygiene in the first two villages, Tissi and Salakoira, where such Committees have been established. They now have successful ‘cleanliness’ days, additional latrines, fewer rubbish dumps and respect the hygiene rules for using the well. We plan to introduce the ‘tippy tap’ we learned about from Footsteps 30.
Boubacar Boucoum, Formateur PDI Saraféré, UJC-AMRAD, Niafunké, Mali.
Fire and water
We used the story of the ‘Fire of AIDS’ from Footsteps 31 to produce a drama here at the Balimo Health Centre in Papua New Guinea. Mona Asipali and the sisters performed the drama for the Independence celebrations this year.
In this country we are experiencing a drought situation. Here in Balimo, Ernie Gunders has produced a simple filter in an oil drum to purify lagoon water.
Other Footsteps readers may find the details useful. The oil drum must be completely clean. It contains sand and charcoal in layers. Both must first be washed very carefully. The layers will mix together in time but this does not matter.
If the water is very dirty you may need to chlorinate it with bleach. Dilute 250ml of liquid bleach with 1 litre of water. Add 30ml of this solution to every 120 litres of filtered water (one full drum of water).
ECPNG, Box 1, Balimo, Western Province, Papua New Guinea.
Take a look at your life!
- Look back! See the obstacles that you have already overcome. See how much you have learned in this life and how much you have grown.
- Look ahead! Stand up when you have been tripped over. Set up targets, goals and actions for yourself and go ahead steadily.
- Look inside yourself! Search for your motivations, know your heart and purify it. Do not let pride, vanity and envy dominate you.
- Look around! Help those who need you and love your neighbour as God loves you. Be sensitive to the needs of others.
- Look downwards! Do not humiliate anyone. See those who are humble and learn from them. We are all equal before God and we will all have to account for ourselves to God.
- Look up! There is a God who is greater than you, who loves you and has control over all things. God sent Jesus to be our Lord and Saviour.
- Look at God! Note the depth, the richness, the power and the extent of God’s love. Be glad to know that God will always be looking after you because he loves you.
Nathanial M Brandão Jr, Lar Batista Esperança, Rua Ten Cel Manoel M Ribeiro 233, Bom Retiro, Curitiba PR, Brazil