Addressing sustainability in Sub-Sahara Africa: Mennonite and Amish collaboration with Tanzanian agriculture producers

• In Event: Poster Session 2
  In Poster Session: Addressing sustainability in Sub-Sahara Africa: Mennonite and Amish collaboration with Tanzanian agriculture producers

Proposal

The purpose of this poster/study is to examine the pilot program the Amish and Mennonite communities from Lancaster county Pennsylvania in the United States provided which focuses on Tanzanian agricultural producers developing improved sustainable methods of food production. The goal is to encourage and demonstrate practical earth-sustaining measures as part of a cooperative future using improved scale appropriate animal powered equipment. The acquisition of skill sets needed included business/entrepreneurial training and strategies, providing sources for finding, ordering, and shipping welding stock and supplies, carpentry techniques, and harness manufacturing. This pilot program was funded by the Mennonite Central Committee and volunteers from the Amish community who donated their time, shared their homes, and their business expertise. The exchange of ideas included cooking recipes, sewing techniques, and Sunday church service attendance with both the Amish and Mennonites. The study found the training to be effective in delivering the skill sets sought by the participants. They, in turn, will manufacture improved equipment and train others to do the same in their native region using the newly acquired knowledge and skills. While the education received by the participants was very important to them, the Amish and Mennonites readily acknowledged how important it was for them to be involved with such a program. Challenges and questions raised in this pilot study will be addressed as the program continues. It is our hope that by presenting this project at CIES we can share the findings and challenges while welcoming advice from colleagues.

Author

• William Edgington, Sam Houston State University