Did you hear ETI shouting from the rooftops? The long-awaited Groundbreaking and Blessing of the Rural Opportunity Center (ROC) Food Processing Plant took place on March 8, 2024. The story unfolds thanks to the transformational leadership of the Karagwe Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, her partners and colleagues. Hongera!

DEDICATION & BLESSING OF THE RURAL OPPORTUNITY CENTER

Guest Writer: Rev. Dr. Benson Bagonza, Bishop
Karagwe Diocese, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania

Friday the 8th of March, 2024, on International Women’s Day, Karagwe Diocese led a gathering at the Rural Opportunity Center (ROC) site for the Groundbreaking Service rite. It has been 14 years since KAD led the similar rite at the KARUCO College viewpoint hill when the site for KARUCO construction was blessed. In 2012, two years after the blessing event, we laid a foundation stone for KARUCO. Five years later in 2017, we dedicated KARUCO buildings. Today there are nearly 200 graduates.

We are three dedicated partners fighting three arch enemies. Partners are 1) ETI representing all partners abroad; 2) KAD representing non-governmental actors especially faith-based ones, and 3) the Tanzanian Government. This tripartite is needed all the time.

The arch enemies we are fighting are poverty, disease and ignorance. In more cases than not, they scramble on one single person and it is challenging to tackle them. Education, economics. health, water and advocacy are vital in our strategies.

The turn-out for the ROC Service was good and the day ended up well. We express thanks to everybody. The story is unfolding.

***********
When complete, the Pineapple Juice Processing Plant at the ROC will provide a hub where raw crops from KARUCO and area farmers will be processed into value-added products. Incomes will increase providing money for medicine and education. Economic stability will grow and the standard of living for families will improve. The quality of life will be enriched for the 1.5 million people living in the Karagwe area.