Having 10 acres of land at our disposal and want to step towards self-sustainability, embracing various initiatives such as agriculture, livestock, and other projects. Through these endeavours, SIM aims to cultivate assets that not only nourish and educate the children under our care but also extend support to the wider community. Our ultimate goal is to liberate ourselves from reliance on donations to finance our ministry, ensuring sustained growth and impact in the lives we touch. To maximize the potential of our land and ensure a successful harvest, we are in need of various agricultural tools and equipment.
Main Farm / General Crops
At Sahara Orphanage, we are facing challenges in cultivating good crops due to our reliance on rain-fed agriculture. The unpredictable nature of rainfall leaves us vulnerable, as some seasons bring abundant rain while others leave us dry. We don't have enough resources to help us. As a result, we struggle to maximize the potential of our land and secure successful harvests.
To ensure a steady food supply for our children and community, we are in need of agricultural tools and equipment to enhance our farming methods and boost productivity. Specifically, we need:
- A tractor and Plow for efficient land preparation
- Irrigation systems to guarantee a consistent water supply.
- Harvesting equipment to make sure our crops grow well.
- Seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides to aid crop cultivation.
- Storage facilities to preserve harvested crops for future use.
Our self-sustainability project includes farming and food production.
Our farming and food production project would allow us to produce our own food to feed our children and staff by building farms for chickens, pigs, and cows; and erecting greenhouses to grow seedlings for our fruit and vegetable crops. Surplus food is being sold to the surrounding village and in the future to businesses and hotels. Producing our own food will significantly cut down on food costs for our children's homes. Additionally, this project will provide direct income and funds to pay our staff, ensuring sustainability and growth for our organization.
Our sustainability project will achieve the following outcomes:
- Better food security and nutrition for orphaned children.
- Enhanced farming skills and education in nearby villages.
- More job opportunities for local residents.
- Hope and positivity for vulnerable community members, along with a steady income to support the orphanage project in the long term.
By implementing these agriculture and husbandry projects within our orphanage ministry.
We can take significant steps towards self-sustainability while equipping the children under our care with valuable skills and resources:
- Food crop cultivation: Growing staple crops for nutritious food and cost reduction.
- Utilizing greenhouses: Enabling year-round crop production through controlled environment agriculture.
- Livestock rearing: Providing protein-rich food and income generation opportunities.
- Kitchen garden initiative: Supplementing our food supply with fresh produce, promoting healthy eating habits.
- Aquaponics: Integrating fish and vegetable cultivation efficiently.
- Beekeeping: Offering honey and beeswax for consumption and sale.
- Silkworm rearing: Presenting the potential for income generation through silk production.
- Poultry farming: Producing eggs and meat for consumption or sale.
- Goat farming: Providing milk, meat, and fiber.
- Establishing dairy farming: Allowing for milk production for consumption and surplus sales.
These projects not only enhance our self-sustainability but also enrich the lives of those we serve by providing them with valuable skills and resources.