Seeds of Change in Cabinda, Angola

In the warm and welcoming community of Cabinda, Angola, a group of 55 individuals gathered with anticipation and hope in their hearts. They were about to embark on a transformative journey that would change their lives forever.

Rev. Flore Luiz Zau Pola, a respected figure in the community, stood before the eager crowd and shared his newfound wisdom. He spoke of the training he had just completed, which had opened his eyes to the possibilities that lay ahead. He exclaimed, “All that I have learned through this training, I will start to implement. We want to work, but we don’t have knowledge. Now that I have it, I will start implementing the techniques and will share photos about my work. I am happy,” he said. “God is good, and everything he does has a purpose. I was preparing my land, and now that I have new knowledge, I will wait for the rain and immediately begin.”

Beaming with enthusiasm, Joana Conde added, “I was glad to attend this training session. I learned a lot and have mastered many things. Now I will do my best to implement it. The ECHO West Africa team raised our awareness on many things we ignored.”

Even Pastor Agosthino, who didn’t have land to farm, found inspiration in the training. He shared, “I am happy with this training. I loved doing tire gardening. Even though I don’t have land, I can farm at home and plant corn, vegetables, and more. I was excited to learn about that.”

Alberto, originally from Cabinda, saw this as a great opportunity not just for himself but for his entire community. He was determined to share this newfound knowledge with his neighbors and teach them the techniques he had learned.

Throughout the three-day training, the participants delved into various modules in an atmosphere filled with excitement and active participation. They learned about Farming God’s Way (FGW), with topics ranging from church and community development, led by Robert Sanou, ECHO’s director and member of the AWF Relief and Development Team. This training is the last of a series of trainings organized by Alliance churches in ten African countries with the support of the Alliance World Fellowship (AWF).

One particularly engaging conversation revolved around the mission of the church in contrast to community development. At first, there was a variety of perspectives, but through skilled facilitation, everyone came to a unanimous understanding. They agreed that God had entrusted the church with the mission to reconcile humanity with himself, with itself, and with the earth, while also playing a vital role in the holistic development of the local community.

The first day concluded with a hands-on session on producing biofertilizers. Participants gathered to learn how to create organic fertilizers using accessible local materials. They left with newfound knowledge and the ability to produce three types of fertilizers: one-day compost, 14-day liquid fertilizer, and 10-day liquid fertilizer.

On the second day, participants embarked on practical demonstrations, guided by Adama Soma, one of the trainers. They learned to create a 21-day biothermal compost, explored FWG, and mastered gardening techniques. This hands-on experience was followed by a session on microcredit management, which ignited the participants’ interest in commerce and income-generating activities.

Soma also shared valuable insights on making biopesticides and succeeding in local poultry farming. Participants learned to create biopesticides from plant extracts and explored the potential of local poultry farming in their community.

The training continued with the Moringa oleifera module, where participants shared their experiences and gained a deep understanding of the benefits of moringa for humans, animals, and farming. Moringa is a fast-growing and drought-resistant tree native to parts of South Asia and Africa. It is often referred to as the “drumstick tree” due to the long, slender shape of its seed pods, or the “miracle tree” because of its numerous nutritional and medicinal benefits. Sanou concluded the training with a presentation about ECHO’s vision, mission, and the resources it offers.

Rev. Alberto Guala, the president of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) church of Angola, thanked the ECHO team and the AWF for their support. He encouraged all participants to implement and share their newfound knowledge with their local churches and communities.

The highlight of this journey came during the Sunday church service, where Sanou delivered a powerful sermon. After a time of praise and worship, certificates were awarded to the participants. The church echoed with applause and joy as each participant received their well-deserved recognition.

We praise God for this transformed community by knowledge, faith, and the determination to make a difference locally and in all of Angola. The seeds of change have been sown, and we pray for a better future for them.