A VISION ROOTED IN COMMUNITY
Hello, I’m Kioko.
I serve as a church leader in Malooi, a rural community in eastern Kenya. I am also a small-scale farmer, and I want to share my dream for the people of Africa.
My own farm includes an orchard, a tree nursery and an apiary. The farm has helped meet my family’s needs, and its proceeds have also made it possible for us to help others. I wanted to extend this model to a demonstration farm managed by young people from our community.
The project plan
The church dedicated approximately three acres for a demonstration farm where local families can learn to care for their soil and explore practical farming ventures. Many families in Malooi farm about three acres of their own. Our hope is that they can learn here and then apply these methods on their family farms.
Our vision is to teach neighbors that they can find hope from the soil and hope from Jesus. Community members have attended workshops and begun putting what they learned into practice.
The demonstration farm’s original plans included:
- A training institution
- An orchard and tree nursery
- An apiary and fish pond
- Poultry and mushroom farming
- A woodlot
Why Malooi?
Malooi is in Makueni County, an arid and semi-arid region of eastern Kenya. Limited rainfall makes agriculture challenging, while a lack of local opportunities can lead young people to seek work in cities. By teaching better soil management and introducing income-generating farming activities, we hope more families can thrive on their own land.
Growing from small beginnings
The youth group established a tree nursery in 2006. They later planted citrus, mango and avocado trees, and in 2011 planted a small forest of about 200 trees in memory of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai.
Working together
The original project vision brought together the church, young farmers, local advisors and international friends. The church established an advisory board, and volunteers in the United States also offered support. I committed to working closely with the farm team and these advisors as the project developed.
At its heart, Malooi Youth Demonstration Farm is about sharing practical knowledge, creating opportunities for young people and serving our neighbors with the love of Christ.