by Damian Luteli, FURSA Project Coordinator, ELCT/KAD, Karagwe

I am very much honored to coordinate the FURSA Project executed at Kihanga Village in Karagwe. At first, I thought its outcomes would be realized after the Juice Processing Factory would be entirely built; but surprisingly, young people and community members (farmers) have already started showing their interests in this multi-service food processing project being built before their eyes, KARUCO students and area farmers are committed to invest in FURSA by producing pineapples which are the raw materials to feed the factory. This highlights that the intended impact will be embraced, improving farmers’ income levels and providing resources to improve families’ stability and quality of life. 

Perhaps, farmer interest should not be surprising since it was the community who asked for food processing when they were surveyed by the University of Minnesota who inquired regarding community strengths, needs and priorities for action. With such high interest by current farmers, we – the Project Team at KAD Management in Karagwe – are keenly coordinating and managing Project FURSA by adhering to the architectural and engineering plans and set requirements that meet national and international standards.

A participatory approach to any rural service project is the key to its success. This has become evident and we believe will be proved through Project FURSA where active participation of farmers and KARUCO students has already emerged and the communities are tirelessly following up with each construction phase. With monitoring and accountability as parameters to project a sense of ownership; it drives to the testament of project sustainability at its earliest stage.

As the project team, we are working and coordinating to ensure that the juice processing plant is constructed at the highest levels of quality and will be built to meet the set standards for thorough provision of the intended services. Our goal is to establish a hub for food processing that will increase incomes for area families, will provide nutritious juice especially for children, will reduce crop waste and will give women as well as men, a way to earn revenue from their hard work. We held the official FURSA Blessing of the project and we stand grateful for each donor to Educate Tanzania who helps make this possible. We hope to improve life in Karagwe and beyond.

Drawings by BE Design (Bruce Engel, Architect, NY and Rwanda)