OUR WORK

Since its initial beginnings in October of 2006, Choshen Farm has dedicated considerable time to establishing relationship with the community at large, putting down roots, and growing its support base. At this stage, the Farm is continuing to improve on various programs and preparing to launch others for the years 2009-2011.

LRC: Learning Resource Center
The LRC as a building will complete construction in June of 2009. After completion, the LRC will be home to Fimpulu’s pre-school. Additionally, the structure will be used as meeting space for Bible studies, agricultural training programs, literacy instruction, life-skills sessions and other community meetings organized and facilitated by Choshen Farm in conjunction with community members.

HBC: Home Based Care
The HBC initiative of Choshen Farm involves training, equipping and coaching the care givers assigned to work in the Fimpulu area. Traditionally a government sanctioned program, HBC is designed to care for HIV positive clients in their homes. As the program has been more or less abandoned in most rural communities, Choshen Farm has decided to invest Fimpulu’s HBC circle. By providing the caregivers with resources from the Farm, as well as training materials to build capacity, we endeavor to see HBC thrive as a community program. Long-term vision for HBC in the village includes passing the baton of palliative care to Churches, encouraging the local believers to follow the mandates of Christ to love one another.

ORGANIC AGRICULTURE
Choshen Farm is uniquely designed to act both as a resource base and also a teaching farm for organic agriculture. To improve food security, nutrition and crop production, the Farm promotes techniques such as organic fertilizers, organic pesticides and intercropping techniques. Involvement in agriculture has proven beneficial in establishing Choshen’s stewards as legitimate members of the community by putting us on equal ground with the rest of the farming community. As we hoe, weed, and water along side our neighbors, relationships are deepened and doors for opportunity continue to be opened.

IRB: Intentional Relationship Building
Choshen Farm stands on the conviction that development, evangelization and transformation hinges on relationships with individuals. Choshen Farm values community involvement beyond the programmatic level. We work, play, eat, sing, laugh and cry with our neighbors. Investing time and energy into the people of Fimpulu has resulted and continues to result in ever deepening relationships. A solid foundation of friendship is essential for speaking truth into one another’s lives. Therefore, Choshen farm holds the relational aspect of our work in highest esteem.

ORGANIZATIONAL/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Various community groups have requested the assistance of Choshen Farm’s stewards and volunteers to advise on matters of organizational and economic development. The farm continues to be involved with the steering committee for the Fimpulu Pre-school as well as providing training and support for a local fish farmers cooperative. Choshen has been in conversation with local leadership about establishing a market in the village, though questions regarding timing, space and community involvement are still on the table.

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS DEVELOPMENT
As a “young” NGO, Choshen Farm continues to develop various partnership with various Churches and organizations. More than a base of funding for the Farm, these partnerships benefit the community by granting information, resources, insight, prayer and heart to projects that would otherwise struggle to take off.

CHURCH LEADERSHIP
With every possible opportunity, Choshen Farm calls upon and interacts with the local Church to foster a growing sense of accountability and leadership amongst Fimpulu’s body of believers. Plans are currently in the works for supplying pastoral training and leadership development training to various church members later this year.

FUTURE PLANS
As we pray for Fimpulu, our hearts continue to grow and our vision continues to expand. Projects we hope to invest in include:
-Rabbit multiplication
-Educational development and short-term teacher assistance
-Child Sponsorship
-Local Student Internship programs
-And more…