SYNTROPY LIFE IN SIMBA

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Hello Africa, hello world, Kindly consider making this dream a reality 

This is an initiative formed by the Lake Victoria Peace And Sustainability Center, an organization registered by the government under Department of social services as a Community Based Organization with the aim of empowering our young people as they get mitigate climate change and food security through Syntropic agroforestry practices. It's situated at Rusinga island, Homabay county, kenya. Rusinga Island, with an elongated shape approximately 10 miles (16 km) from end to end and 3 miles (5 km) at its widest point, lies in the eastern part of Lake Victoria at the mouth of the Winam Gulf. It is linked to Mbita Point on the mainland by a causeway.

The terms used in the title may or may not seem to be unique to somebody. Let's see how it goes. 

- Syntropy is derived from the term Syntropic, another farming method that's driven by the power of the natural succession. Syntropic farming is a high-yield agroforestry method that also results in soil regeneration. It produces an abundance with almost zero inputs after the initial planting. Thanks so much Ernst Gotsch, a swiss farmer and researcher for championing the adoption of an ancient system of climate and biodiversity-friendly sustainable farming technique. If you can spare some of your few minutes to know more and more about this amazing concept, We have got a life in Syntropy link you can go through :

https://youtu.be/2HhSjGfVBCE...

"Simba" : Rusinga island community belongs to the Luo tribe, an ethnic group primarily found in kenya, but also found in smaller numbers in Uganda and Tanzania. We originally came from the Nile regions of Sudan, entertaining kenya through Northern Uganda. Rusinga island, land of paradise, a land of a family. Feel most welcome to Rusinga island one point in time. We will highly appreciate having you here. According to the Luo culture, a man can build several houses during his life. The first is a "Simba" a house built on his father's land while he is a teenager (Youth). A man marries while living in his Simba, but then he must build a house for his wife. 

Can you kindly try to imagine "Life in Syntropy in this amazing land (Rusinga island) at a youth stage. We will be automatically regenerating our mother earth for our future generations. 

Rusinga Island has been a very productive site experiencing heavy rainfall that has been very beneficial to farmers within the island, hence the establishment of communities. As the population grew in the 20th and 21st centuries, destruction of indigenous trees by women and men who depend on firewood for their livelihood has buried the dream of a forested environment for the community at large. The sustainable way of dealing with nature, anchored in the original culture and consciousness of the native population – among other things through taboos – had been lost. The island is now classified as a semi-arid region, although in the past it was a forested area with good climatic conditions that supported the growth of crops and also wildlife habitat. Rusinga island has got a population of approximately 25,000 people with fishing as the only economic activity targeted. 40% of the total population here are youths. With the reduction in the number of fish caught at the lake due to high demand for fish, very many sectors including food security and education have been interfered with. Very many youths are left idling around, doing nothing and to make matters worst, they are being misused by the politicians seeking for power in unauthorized way. It's really sad that we keep on loosing the lives of young souls that needed to be empowered for a brighter future. Check out this:

https://youtu.be/yKDKZvVeIFw...

Lake Victoria Peace And Sustainability Center has decided to come into the rescue of our youths through engaging them in a Syntropic Agroforestry practices through:

- Ensuring that the youths are well equipped with the basic Syntropic agroforestry principles through Organizing and Facilitating Syntropic agroforestry Workshops. (No Bare Soil, Stratification, Maximization of photosynthesis, Succession and lastly Management). 

- Ensuring that each and every youth living in a simba has a Syntropic Agroforestry System besides his Simba. Being that the Luo culture doesn't recommend a young woman (Teenage) to have a simba, this Will now be beneficial to the family as we ensure that the young girl creates a system around her mother's kitchen.

- Producing as many Syntropic agroforestry teachers as possible so that in future if fund allows we get extend our hands to other communities. 

- Ensuring that all the 12 Sub-locations forming Rusinga island Ward, there's a Syntropic Agroforestry demonstration site created and managed by the youths of that Sub-location. The demonstration site will be set upon holding a first Syntropic Agroforestry workshop in that Sub-location. 

- Ensuring that the abundance especially fruits and vegetables in each and every demonstration site is shared to the vulnerable homesteads in that Sub-location, (Food security) and combining efforts to create one in the hospital and school if there's any in the Sub-location. 

The main Syntropic agroforestry demonstration farm at Kaswanga Sub-location is currently underway having the following trees as biomas producers: Pawpaw, Banana, Markhamia lutea and Croton. On the grass line, we have considered planting plenty of Nappier grass, Lemon grass, and Mombasa grass. Remember that we have a grass line as an irrigator to the system. On the vegetable line, we've got different types of vegetables depending on the amount of sunlight each require for the maximization of photosynthesis. For those that require 100% sunlight (Emergent), we have Corn, We have kale as the high strata, cabbage and carrots as the medium strata and lastly spinach, cucumber and Dania on the lower strata. We have as well considered time and space. It's really coming up nicely I tell you.

The importance of youth empowerment can never be denied because a youth is the base of any nation. A community can never achieve the heights of success if it's youth is lacking behind. We are out to save our youths and make a better tomorrow. 

PROJECT PHASES.

Phase 1: Establishment of a main Syntropic Agroforestry demonstration farm at Kaswanga Sub-location costing USD 1500 including purchase of farm tools, seeds from certified seeds companies, Fencing of the site and purchase of water tank.

- Water tank - $460

- Farming tools (wheelbarrow, spade, chopper, gumboots) - $240

- Seeds = $40

- $760 for fencing

Phase 2: Organization and facilitation of Syntropic Agroforestry in the 12 Sub-locations.

- Each workshop takes 3 days at a total cost of $600 including certificates of participation, food and start-up seeds for the participants. 

Total - $600 × 12 Sub-locations = $7200

Phase 3: Establishing a Syntropic Agroforestry Resource Center fitted with different types of Syntropic agroforestry books and some computers for online classes plus a guest room at the main demonstration site at Kaswanga Sub-location. This will cost $2500.

TOTAL BUDGET OF THE PROJECT= $1500 + $7200 + $2500 = $11,200

For those who will consider donating towards the success of this amazing project, we will have a gift for you. We will be documenting and sharing each and every progress/update with you for free and this is one of the ways you will account for your donation. 

To those who will be donating $50+, we have got a each phase documentary plus 15 minutes sessions during the Syntropic Agroforestry workshop.

It was once said that if you want to go fast go alone and if you want to go far go together. Lake Victoria Peace And Sustainability Center through "Syntropic life in Simba" has taken the initiative of empowering Rusinga island youths (40% of the total Rusinga island population), as well as mitigating Climate Change and food security in the region. Kindly join us. 

An amazing project is here to rescue Rusinga island through youths.