Livestock for Orphaned Children in Congo

My name is Rose and I am a widow raising three girls. I was so happy when I was selected for the AFCA program in 2022, as my life has been very difficult as a widow. Life in the Bokonzo area is not easy, so the dream of being part of the AFCA project was a big one for my life and we danced when we were told we were selected.

After the training received at AFCA (we learned about planting seasons, how to use mulch, how to make a compost hole, how to use less water for the plants and many other things), I was given seeds - corn, peanuts, beans, carrots, onions, kales, tomatoes, pumpkin, eggplant, celery, and other vegetables. We had two gardens – a large one for the corn, peanuts and beans and a smaller one for the vegetables. I worked hard in my gardens and we carried water from the river to keep the plants watered.

We learned how to save larger seeds in small jars and we sell any vegetables that were left over in front of our living area. With the money we earned, the girls were able to go to school and I had enough to buy smaller seeds, such as the carrots. With the pumpkin seeds, we learned to make bread.

I sincerely thank you for everything you have done for me! I keep saving my seeds each year, as I was taught, and we have plenty to eat and we sell the excess. We also trade some vegetables for other things we need, like meat. This is a wonderful project and I am blessed to be part of it. Thank you!

The team here at the American Foundation for Children with AIDS thanks you for supporting this project and the work we do for the children in Africa.  If you would like to learn even more about what we do or how you can meet some of the children you have helped, please contact Tanya Weaver at tweaver@AFCAids.org.