Sustainability. It’s the key to growth and stability in Africa. It ensures that African people will remain empowered with tools and resources to thrive in their communities and to build a better tomorrow for their children. Since 1989, the Baraka Farm has been an exemplary model of agricultural innovation and sustainability – not only do they provide enough food and milk to sustain their own Lewa Childrens Complex, but are able to produce enough surplus to provide a stable income that can financially support the Home, School, and Farm operations!
Delicious Innovation and Growth at the Lewa Children’s Home Complex in Eldoret, Kenya
Sustainability. It’s the key to growth and stability in Africa. It ensures that African people will remain empowered with tools and resources to thrive in their communities and to build a better tomorrow for their children. One of our partners that emphasizes this philosophy in every endeavor is the Lewa Children’s Home, Kipkeino Primary School, and Baraka Farm network in Eldoret, Kenya.
Since 1989, the Baraka Farm has been an exemplary model of agricultural innovation and sustainability, providing food and milk for 110 children at the Lewa Children’s Home, the 288 students at the neighboring Kipkeino Primary School, and the staff members at the complex. Not only do they provide enough food and milk to sustain their own mini-community, but are able to produce enough surplus to provide an income that can financially support the Home, School, and Farm operations! Truly, the complex and surrounding community in Eldoret are blessed to have the genius of the Baraka Farm Manager, Jos Creemers, at their fingertips.
Since its beginnings as a dairy farm, Baraka has more than quadrupled its milk production. With this astounding success comes a new challenge as the farm can no longer meet the demand for its dairy products. The capacity of the dairy farm to process all of the milk that it produces on a daily basis is no longer sufficient. After using 10% of the produce to supply the Lewa Children’s Home, the farm sells 90% of its produce and dairy throughout the country – from fermented milk to yogurt to its country-renowned gouda cheese – and there is a longstanding waiting list for their famous cheese!
In order to meet the growing demands for their products and to take advantage of the growth opportunities that their success has allowed them, it has come time for the Baraka Farm to expand.
Why should you support this project?
To provide an income for 1500-2000 local dairy farmers in Kenya and expand the local economy.
– Once the factory is expanded, it will be able to purchase the dairy produced by other local farms to be processed at the plant. Can you imagine – with their expansion, the Baraka Dairy Farm will be able to support the income for 1500-2000 local farmers and their families!
To contribute to the health and nutritional diet of local consumers.
– With more locally available options, families that are more disconnected from main city markets will have more affordable nutritional dietary options!
To provide vocational and agricultural training to local farmers.
– You know we support a handUP for African communities…and providing them with training and resources to improve their own financial situations through the Baraka Farm does just that! They will be able to apply all they learn from the successes, challenges, and technical training at Baraka Farm to their own agricultural projects.
To ensure the ongoing financial support and stable food supply for the orphans and students at the Lewa Children’s Home and the Kipkeino School…even in the face of another devastating drought.
– The expansion of this project will ensure a monthly income that is six times its current profits. This will allow the complex to become financially self-sufficient and – in the face of natural disasters and droughts such as those of this past year – will allow them to have ample water and food all year round.
To invest in an innovative development model.
– The Baraka Farm has the potential to serve as a replicable model for other farmers in other regions throughout Kenya and the Horn of Africa. Their success could pave the way for many agricultural successes in a region of the world that desperately needs it.
Because it’s a chance to support the future. Give your gift today in support of our Food Self-Sufficiency Programs.
