The work Tandaza Trust undertakes with disadvantaged Street Families in Nairobi, Kenya aims to provide both immediate relief from the stresses of poverty and to make longer term changes that will result in brighter futures.
The provision of material aid such as food, clothing and shelter is important but to eradicate poverty itself requires
a different strategy. It requires sustainable aid.
Sustainable aid means providing skills, education and economic opportunity. It means breaking the cyclical nature
of poverty. Tandaza Trust aims to do this through its community banking programs, small business enterprises and tech training but also through its Agricultural Initiative.
“Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime” – Chinese Proverb
Tandaza Trust’s Agricultural Initiative plays a crucial role in creating a sustainable approach to the aid provided. It allows for the Trust to develop an income through the growing and selling of cash crops that will fund
future projects. This is a crucial step towards self-sufficiency for the Trust. It also provides beneficiaries of the Trust that choose to participate opportunities to learn skills in agriculture and food production, increasing opportunities
for employment in the booming agribusiness economy in the Nairobi area.
The Agricultural Initiative was originally launched on leased property. This was very successful throughout 2016 & 2017 in teaching agricultural skills and cash crops which were successfully harvested. In 2018 the lease of the land was suddenly and unexpectedly terminated and the Agricultural Initiative was temporarily placed on hold while the Trust sought other land options.
In 2019 the Trust was gifted an acre of land on which to re-establish this very important project. The gift of this land frees Tandaza Trust from the necessity to rent. In addition there is a further two acres adjoining this land that the
Trust has entered into a lease to buy agreement. Funds raised in Australia via the Australian Friends of Tandaza is directed to this project. When you support Australian Friends of Tandaza by purchasing Fair Trade Products from our market stalls or online shop, making a donation or attending our fundraising activities you are helping the Trust to achieve their goal and to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged street families in Nairobi.
Below: video of the new land.
Right: images of fencing the new land. AFOT is very proud to have assisted with cost of fencing and the building of the new farmhouse which is due to start in the near future.
