2nd December 2024

Kumi PDC evaluation

Stella interviewing farmer Ismail, discussing how the experience of permaculture has impacted on their farming methods, soil quality and food security.

Interview 1. Begins in local language, changes to English at 1m.

This man is a tier2 trainee, supported by one of the PDC students, Ismail.

The community needs more support, they are ignorant of these methods.”

“Permaculture is about how to work with the environment. It has helped to save much, conserve water. Compost manure and using earthworms, it has helped build up the soils.”

Interview 2 June 2021. Talking with Ismail first and then his father.

They are both making active observations as the quality of their soil is improving through the use of organic methods.

“The permaculture principles are really self-explanatory, they give you a broad spectrum in thought, that is why I like permaculture.”

Ismail also talks about the permaculture ethics and how he likes how they are embedded with in it.

“The greatest mistake you can make is to destroy the soil, now I am really caring about the soil more than the plant”

Ismail is already aspiring to be a permaculture teacher and already feels he has much knowledge to share.

Especially interesting to hear the older man’s perceptive as well.

Interview 3. Local language

Stella will provide bullet point translations when time allows

Joy. Director of Kumi Happy Home. Joy was back in Korea in 2020 and the Happy Home project was on hiatus, this gave us the opportunity to develop the garden and hold the PDC there.

She expresses some frustrations at poor communications between us but is clearly impressed with the some of the project outcomes and seems open to work with us in the future. This is something that can be built on.

Wadembe Moses. Works at the happy home

  • We are enjoying capturing the knowledge, and now we are enjoying eating the food.
  • I have experience of teaching others outside
  • The soil health has changed
  • We appreciate the knowledge you have given us

Guston, works at Happy Home and is from Congo

  • Thank you for coming back again, we appreciate that you are following up
  • Now we have food in my home, i can sell and buy other foods also
  • The soil is changing because of compost manure
  • Please continue to support us
  • come back again to train us
  • God bless them

Angobu Richard

  • I learned how to catch water
  • It has helped my finances so much
  • I am making compost and I am going to use it
  • In my home here there is no waste
  • People here have knowledge but they need to be encouraged
  • Everybody needs food, this is only part time work, I can work my job as well

William

  • My neighbors are becoming friendly to me
  • They are practicing permaculture, 10 people
  • I want to get to another level
  • Right now I have one acre of land, I have rented
  • My challenge is the shortage of water, i need to do this permaculture through all the seasons
  • We need tools, like forks and wheelbarrows

Interview 9 Wilson, with Hellen Aanyu

Here are some of the activities that were carried out at the training. Alfred and Group Trained 15members (working as a group) Projects; swales digging, trenches, raised gardens, circle gardens, nursery construction, poultry, dairy cows, piggery, goats keeping, vegetable growing and lorrina construction. (low energy stove)
Hellen Aanyu
Permaculture teacher

Interview 10 Stella interviews Hellen about the Kumi project

Interview with Hellen, talking about the broader impact of permaculture training.

Significant achievements

Behavioral change.

Successes of the project

(minute 12)

  1. All are doing permaculture well
  2. team spirits
  3. good relationships S39/ EUPO
  4. challenge of the mind set. Poverty/ trust/ jealous
  5. organizational challenges
  6. challenge of transport
  7. Permaculture cannot stop
  8. Thanks to Arkleton
  9. There is a high demand for permaculture training
  10. Ambition to have own facility
  11. the challenge of water
  12. food insecurity
  13. need for follow on training
  14. enterprise development, brick making machine
  15. A desire for a training centre,
  16. consistent funding
  17. we could completely change this region
  18. observations of soil and how this can effect society
  19. Thank you 31 m
  20. sociology-economic transformation is possible we can