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CURRENT PROJECTS

Idjwi Island, Lake Kivu

Idjwi

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Idjwi island is a place of stunning natural beauty, but also of tremendous hardship and poverty for the 300,000 people who live there.

 

It is known as the ‘forgotten island’: outside the conflict zones, but forgotten by the government and by humanitarian agencies.

 

The people suffer from malaria (92% have had malaria), from malnutrition (90% of the people do not have enough to eat); child and maternal mortality are among the highest in the world, while life expectancy – 25 years – is the lowest in the world. 80% of the population is under 17 years. (Figures from amaniglobalworks.org.) With virtually no roads on the island, the people have very limited access to health services, and the island has suffered greatly from deforestation.

Idjwi island is a place of stunning natural beauty, but also of tremendous hardship and poverty for the 300,000 people who live there.

 

It is known as the ‘forgotten island’: outside the conflict zones, but forgotten by the government and by humanitarian agencies.

 

The people suffer from malaria (92% have had malaria), from malnutrition (90% of the people do not have enough to eat); child and maternal mortality are among the highest in the world, while life expectancy – 25 years – is the lowest in the world. 80% of the population is under 17 years. (Figures from amaniglobalworks.org.) With virtually no roads on the island, the people have very limited access to health services, and the island has suffered greatly from deforestation.

BREAKING THE CIRCLE:
Pygmy Land for Food

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Living in the second least food secure country in the world, most Congolese are challenged to find sufficient nutrition. But, for the 7000 surviving Pygmies—who have already been driven from their homes and marginalized in extreme poverty—it is almost impossible.

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This project aims to:

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  • Raise €40,000 to establish 5 acres of fertile land for Pygmies to farm

  • Provide training, tools, and seeds to get them started.

  • Ultimately establish sustainable food security for the entire community.

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More info is at Supporting Idjwi Island.

POULTRY:
Protein for Life

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The aim of this project is to address the problem of severe protein deficiency amongst the population, to aid nutrition and to provide an income through the sale of chickens, eggs and poultry manure as agricultural fertilizer. Beneficiaries include children, pregnant women, others suffering from protein deficiency, locals involved in the project through construction and care of the poultry, and the general community through improved health, and generation of income.

BEES & TREES:

for nutrition, medicine and income

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A third of the world’s food production depends on bees. We couldn’t live without them! This project is a winner on all fronts:

 

  • it will help save human lives, providing nutrition and medicine to the local people.

  • it will help save bees, essential to our ecosystems and biodiversity.

  • it will help save trees: Idjwi has suffered badly from deforestation and we are planting many more trees to house and feed the bees.

  • it will generate income for the local communities.

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So, buy a beehive and save lives! It's only $25/hive.

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Enjuki bw'Obuki: There is no honey without bees.

PERMACULTURE

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Through the efforts of Heather Haynes, around 8 acres of land were bought, and crops of maize, beans, cabbage, onions, and soya were planted. This supplements the diet of the orphans, provides food and work for locals, and feed for the chickens and guinea fowl in our poultry project.

ROUTES ACADEMY

SCHOOL FOR

GIRLS

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A new school for girls, funded by Vicky English Pearson and her family, to provide an education and a unique opportunity for the girls on Idjwi island.

For more information about this ‘forgotten island’ and the projects, see Supporting Idjwi Island

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