An Introduction to Floresta-BurundiBy Robert Morikawa, Technical Director

Burundi is a small country that is only 27,830 square kilometers in size. Haiti, interestingly, is 27,750 square kilometers. Both countries have populations around 9 million, both are mountainous with altitudes ranging up to 2,700 meters above sea level, and both have pressing issues of soil degradation and deforestation. However, Burundi has one major feature which sets it distinctly apart from Haiti: ethnic make up. The majority of the Burundian population is divided between two ethnic groups, the Hutus and the Tutsis. Rivalries between these two groups have led to much bloodshed and tragedy over many decades. Currently, Burundi is described as a ‘post-conflict’ situation, and many are cautiously hopeful about the possibilities for stability and prosperity. This is the situation Floresta has entered and we are trying to find our place. Starting a new program in a developing country is a challenging and humbling task under any circumstances. Starting work in communities where genocide is a recent memory and where the threat of conflict continues to simmer just under the surface is intimidating on a good day, and terrifying on a bad day.

Fortunately, we have some good people working to help make this project a reality. Lazare Sebitereko Rukundwa is our Country Director. Lazare is from the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country not

Breaking News: Plant With Purpose

In This Issue:DeparTmenTs:Floresta Breaking news ................... 1, 3Director’s Corner ................................. 2Volunteer of the Quarter ...................... 6 Faces of Floresta ................................. 7

FeaTures:Introduction to Floresta-Burundi ... 1, 4-5Cindy’s Time in Tanzania ................. 6-7

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Spring 2009

A Publication of Floresta USA, Inc.

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Robert with the Governor of Rutana Marcelline Bararufise and four representatives from the Department of Agriculture.

Floresta would like to introduce its latest initiative, Plant With Purpose! We are very excited about this new online community which will allow us to reach a broader audience and offer more ways than ever before for you to get involved with Floresta’s work. Here are the main programs:• With Grow a Village, donors can support a whole village for only $30 a month, helping communities build farms and buy animals to raise money for food. Participants can also virtually tour locations and shop for program needs such as water cisterns, environmentally safe stoves and latrines, and sustainable agriculture training.

www.PlantWithPurpose.org

2 | THe sOWer spring 2009 visit www.floresta.org

Director’s Corner By Scott Sabin, Executive Director

With all that is going on in the world it feels odd to say that I am excited about the coming year, but I am. The year 2009 is Floresta’s 25th anniversary and it promises to be a milestone year for us and for the people we serve. As I have mentioned in the past, there is a growing realization of the importance of the work we are doing in addressing economic, environmental and spiritual issues together. As a result, we are getting many more opportunities to share the heroic work that Carlos, Luis, Guy, Edith, Tui, Jamlong and Lazare and their teams are doing in the field. We only expect these opportunities to increase as the requests for Floresta speakers, workshops, articles and materials only seem to be multiplying.

To take advantage of that groundswell of interest, we are launching an exciting initiative called “Plant With Purpose”. This has many facets, but we are particularly excited about our new Web site www.PlantWithPurpose.org, which will launch this month and gives a number of interactive ways to connect more closely with the communities we serve. We expect that this will introduce a whole new audience to the struggles of the rural poor and the very practical solutions we offer. Plant With Purpose will be an important step in becoming more nationally known. Please take a look! Our US program team has been conducting field visits throughout much of January and February and is returning with great stories of how lives are being transformed. On the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic, I heard fantastic reports of hillsides covered with new trees, miles of erosion control barriers, and new fish farms. One farmer talked about how most people in the region had never eaten fish before, and some had never even seen them. We are also seeing the results of our rebuilding effort in Haiti. As you remember, Haiti was hit by four hurricanes in a three-week period in August and September of 2008. In addition to the destruction of

many homes, hundreds of animals, which for most Haitians are their emergency savings, were killed, and most of the crops were lost. Our Haitian team, led by Guy Paraison, assessed the damage in the areas where we work, and came up with a plan to provide goats, sheep and seeds to allow families to get on their feet again. Thanks to our wonderful partners here in the US, we were able to raise $156,000 for this and follow-on efforts. As of January 1st, Guy has been able to distribute 250 sheep and goats and nearly 14 tons of bean seed in 44 communities in two separate regions. This is already making a huge difference in the lives of people who had lost everything. The animals restore their economic safety net, and the beans give them hope for the future, as they will be able to replant their land and become self-sufficient again. Furthermore, as the animals have offspring, these will be given to additional families, so even more will benefit from this generous outpouring of concern on the part of our American partners.

Our efforts are continuing, as money raised is also going to reestablish erosion control barriers and plant trees to make the next hurricane less devastating. (The hurricanes of 2008 very effectively demonstrated the value of these measures, and we now have many more people getting involved in our work.) We are thankful for our partners and all you have meant to us and to the thousands who have benefited from our work over the past 25 years. God bless you.

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The year 2009 is Floresta’s 25th anniversary

and it promises to be a milestone year

for us and for the people we serve.

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Call 800.633.5319Call 800.633.5319 THe sOWer spring 2009 | 3

• Trees Please highlights the importance of reforestation in the lives of the rural poor. Participants can choose to donate anywhere from $1 for a tree to $100 for a forest. The Web site tracks the program’s progress and allows users to donate directly online and see the development. Check it out at www.PlantWithPurpose.org!

Come Celebrate!Join us at the October 10th2009 Planting Hope Gala as we Celebrate:• Floresta’s 25th anniversary!• The millions of trees Floresta has planted!• Floresta’s new “Plant With Purpose” initiative! The gala committee is planning a stellar evening with an amazing dinner, fun silent and live auctions, informative program, and lively “Fund a Need” opportunities for you to directly participate in the life-changing Floresta programs in Mexico, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Tanzania, Thailand, and Burundi. If you wish to donate a tax-deductible item to the auction, volunteer, or be a sponsor contact Kate McElhinney at 858-274-3728.

“Please bring your friends, family and business associates for an inspiring evening!” - Shirley Billingsley, Gala Chair

Environmental Tip of the QuarterWith spring quickly approaching, there is no better time than now to start your own garden! Planting herbs and vegetables gives you the satisfaction of harvesting your own healthy food, and you will be helping the environment and saving money at the same time!

Vision TripsJoin us as we experience first hand Floresta’s life-changing work with the rural poor on a Floresta Vision Trip to the field. 2009 Vision TripsDominican Republic, April 23-29Oaxaca, Mexico, October 21-26To learn more, contact Doug Satre at 858-274-3718 or doug@floresta.org.

Give the gift of monthly Floresta coffee. In partnership with Just Coffee, we can deliver a pound of delicious fair trade, shade grown coffee every month directly to your home. Contact Emily Skocypec at 858-274-3718 or emily@floresta.org.

Follow Floresta!Throughout the year, Floresta staff attend conferences and events across the country. Here is what’s on the agenda for the upcoming months. Let us know if we will be in your area and we’ll be sure to say hello!

Seattle Trip March 27 – 30 Seattle, WADoug Satre, Director of Outreach and Development, will be in Seattle visiting local churches.

Flourish ConferenceMay 13 – 15 Atlanta, GAScott Sabin, Floresta’s Executive Director, will be attending the Flourish Conference.

*Save a tree and have your Sower delivered right to your email inbox! To receive our electronic Sower newsletter, email kate@floresta.org.

*Check out all the chatter at ‘The Trees’ blog: www.florestablog.org

PLANTING

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__________________________________The sower Issue #84.

editor-In-Chief: Kate mcelhinney, kate@floresta.org4903 morena Blvd., suite 1215

san Diego, California 92117Ph: (858) 274-3718 • Fax: (858) 274-3728

E-mail: info@floresta.org • www.floresta.org The sower is published quarterly by Floresta usa

Floresta staff with Ben Lowe and Anna Jane Joyner, leaders of the Renewal Creation Care Tour, in front of Point Loma’s solar panels. Floresta is partnering with Renewel as they tour college campuses to inspire students to care for God’s creation. For more information email corbyn@floresta.org.

An Introduction to Floresta-Burundi Article continued from page 1

visit www.floresta.org4 | THe sOWer spring 2009

unfamiliar with conflict itself. He has extensive experience and training in peace building and conflict resolution, as well as a PhD. in Theology from Pretoria University. Prior to the official launch of Floresta-Burundi in August 2008, Lazare conducted preliminary studies to help us evaluate the feasibility of a new program. To date, 80 farmers have registered as members of 4 community groups, over 3,000 trees have been planted, and 12.5 hectares (approx. 30 acres) of land has been planted for cassava multiplication. A note about cassava multiplication: one of the consequences of conflict in Burundi has been the undermining of agricultural infrastructure. Forests and farms were destroyed and many farmers fled the country.

Now the need for basic agricultural inputs such as planting material and seeds is critical for stabilizing the farming sector, and providing basic food security for families. Floresta is contributing to the kick-start of the Burundian economy by assisting farmers to acquire and multiply planting materials for one of the most important crops, cassava. Lazare and staff are also in dialogue with a local agricultural company to initiate banana multiplication, and hopefully generate new business opportunities for farmers as they take over plant multiplication and distribution activities for themselves. Another exciting idea which Floresta-Burundi staff are exploring is post-harvest conservation and transformation

“…the land is mine and you reside as foreigners and strangers…you must

provide for the redemption of the land.” -Leviticus 25: 23-24

A seed multiplication centre in Rugwe, run by a community association and managed by the Department of Agriculture

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“He who is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and He will

reward him for what he has done.” -Proverbs 19:17

of cassava. Getting enough cassava planting material out into communities so that farmers can grow enough food to feed their own families is one thing, but Floresta-Burundi staff are thinking one step ahead. By making the right technology and training available to farm communities, it is hoped that new products will be created, and new markets accessed. This will generate a much needed family income, stimulate the local economy and give farm communities a chance to stand on their own and not get caught in the destructive cycle of accepting handouts from aid organizations. If and when such a project becomes a reality, it will also be designed to bring communities in conflict together, to help them build on what they have in

common, and to grow in love for each other. Big goals, big dreams; it would be naive to think that any of this is easy. Even getting from Bujumbura, the capital, to the Rutana province is limited by the security curfew. No vehicles are allowed on the main highway out of Bujumbura before 10:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. Although this is for safety reasons, it gives some idea of the limitations Floresta-Burundi staff and farmers are under, and the sacrifices they are making to bring change.

An armed guard in Ruzizi national park.

Burundi Program Director Lazare and his wife, Celine.

A nursery run by a community association in Rutana and funded by the World Bank.

6 | THe sOWer spring 2009 visit www.floresta.org

Volunteer of the Quarter: Susan KearneyFloresta would like to introduce Susan Kearney as our volunteer of the quarter! You may have heard Susan’s cheery voice in the past month as she called to thank you for your donations and find out your prayer requests. Or, you may have seen her volunteering at last year’s gala. She de-scribes herself as a ‘real people person’ and her infectious personality and can-do attitude have been a real blessing to all of us here at Floresta. Prior to volunteering with Floresta, Susan helped out at her church during holiday food drives. Looking for more ways to make a differ-ence, Susan settled on devoting more of her time to Floresta last summer. “You just feel good when you are helping others,” Susan said. “I feel very blessed to have this opportunity.” During a Sunday service at the San Diego Church of God, Susan met Floresta Programs Coordinator, Sarah Ferry. After finding out more about Floresta, Susan decided to get involved. She was able to use her main gift of interacting with people during the fall 2008 gala where she helped with the invitations and at the village stations. For Susan, the community and family aspect is what particularly drew her to Floresta. “Not only are you helping the poor, but you are trans-forming the lives of entire families for genera-tions to come. That is very important to me.” When she’s not busy volunteering her time, Susan enjoys outdoor activities, watching the Chargers, or hanging out with her cat, Ro-meo. Her favorite vacation experience is from Mexico. “Once I drove down to Cabo San Lucas and back in one week!” Susan said. “I had to get back for work so it was a quick trip.”

Thanks for all you do, Susan! We appreciate all of your hard work in furthering the mission of Floresta.

To find out more about volunteer opportunities and ways you can get involved with Floresta, email us at info@floresta.org or call 858-274-3718.

Cindy’s Time in Tanzania: A Look at the Roots of the Tanzania ProgramAt the base of Mount Kilimanjaro lie a group of villages that through the years have faced unrelenting poverty and hopelessness. In 2001, Cindy Outlaw first witnessed this during a hiking trip to Tanzania. The men in these villages had no jobs and were completely lost, struggling daily to feed their families. Many had turned to alcohol or drug abuse and the younger generation followed suit, perpetuating a vicious cycle of despair.

At the time, these issues seemed insurmountable. “I remember a local Tanzanian pastor who came to talk to us about the issues in the village and I just broke down and cried for the longest time,” Cindy said. “It has taken me a long time to get over that conversation.” Deeply affected by these circumstances, Cindy quickly decided that something needed to be done to help these people. Cindy first heard about Floresta through Solana Beach Presbyterian Church. After her trip to Tanzania, she believed that the people there needed Floresta. “It didn’t take me long to realize that the needs of the people in Tanzania fit well with Floresta’s mission of transforming the lives of the rural poor economically, environmentally and spiritually,” Cindy said. After her trip, Cindy approached Floresta’s Executive Director, Scott Sabin, and suggested that Floresta consider working in Tanzania. By 2004, Floresta - Tanzania was under way. Cindy and Program Director, Edith Banzi, met with those who suffered from malnutrition and unemployment. Word spread, and several villages were soon asking Floresta to help transform their lives.

Cindy in Tanzania in 2008 planting trees.

Cindy and the group on top of

Mount Kilimanjaro.

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Faces of Floresta: Jamlong Pawkham

Jamlong is the Program Co-Director for Flo-resta’s Thailand program

Name: Mr. Jamlong PawkhamBirthplace: Chang RaiCurrently working in: ThailandYears working with Floresta: 11 yearsJob title: Program Co-Director

Brief job description: I oversee all extension work implementing programs at the community level. Additionally, as the Program Co-Director for the Upland Holistic Development Project (UHDP) I make decisions on project management..

How you became involved with Floresta: As soon as UHDP began I applied for a job. Soon I was hired and I became the first employee at UHDP. Prior to Floresta I was working on a pig farm in Chang Mai.

Motivation for working with Floresta: There came point when I realized that I was the fruit of community development, or that community devel-opment was my gift, and so I believed in it. Therefore it is important for me to help others.

Favorite part of your job/Floresta’s work: The extension work is my favorite part because I have contact with the people in the village. I listen to their problems and help to solve them, particularly the environmental and eco-nomic issues. In the hill tribes especially, the church is almost completely focused on the spiritual aspect, so I like to help them to see the impor-tance of the environmental and economic. We see the problem when these three things are separated.

Favorite Floresta memory: Ten years ago the police came and caught the people in the village because they were living in a national park. Most of the men were taken away and therefore the women and children didn’t have much food. So we gave the people food. When the men went to court, UHDP helped them as well and they were released after 2 months. At the time, UHDP was the first organization to help the people. After that, they got more NGOs involved.

Hobbies/interests: Fishing- I have 6 fishing poles.

Favorite book: “Extension in Agriculture Work” and books on community development.

Favorite quote: Lahu saying: “The thing that has not happened yet, don’t tell others about it.”

One or two unique/interesting facts about you: I am quiet, but I get things done. I really enjoy fishing - - but I don’t like to eat catfish.

Jamlong Pawkham

During her 6 years of serving on Floresta’s Board of Directors, Cindy said she has seen a lot of growth. Currently, Floresta supports 23 communities in Tanzania with 1,200 beneficiaries, and the goal is to continue to expand the program and cover the base of Mount Kilimanjaro.

In August 2008 Cindy returned to Tanzania, this time taking a group of hikers with her on a three week trip. “It is remarkable to witness how God is working to transform the lives of the rural poor in Tanzania,” Cindy said.

Thank you Cindy for dedicating your time and energy over the years to helping further Floresta’s mission abroad! Floresta’s latest initiative, Grow a Village, allows donors a more tangible way of interacting with village communities. In Tanzania, you can sponsor a village for only $30 a month, or shop for program needs such as water cisterns, environmentally safe stoves and latrines, and sustainable agriculture training. To learn more, please visit www.PlantWithPurpose.org.

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––“... the needs of the

people in Tanzania fit well with Floresta’s mission

of transforming thelives of the rural poor

economically, environmentally and spiritually,” Cindy said.

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Cindy on top of Mount Kilimanjaro.

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Join us as we Plant With Purpose!Introducing Floresta’s new Web site initiative.

Featuring Floresta’s Newest Program: Burundi Photo essay inside…