Dancing as an Evaluation Indicator

by Istifanus Gimba ~ March 2012

Body movement and gestures are used in every culture, all over the world and through all ages, as a means of exchanging information and expressing opinions and feelings. Dancing, in my opinion, is a powerful expression of inner joy and happiness that can spontaneously break out with the sounds of sweet music, songs, and happy moments.

In January 2012, a team of evaluators from the Foods Resource Bank arrived in Mozambique to visit a food security project being implemented by CRWRC partner IRM-RDD in Mutarara. The visitors were greeted in every community by groups of project beneficiaries who sang and danced their welcome and joy.

When I asked a community member what it means in Mutarara when the whole village breaks out in song and dance, he replied, “When people see visitors and start singing and dancing, it means the visitors are welcome, and we are pleased and happy about what has been done here.”

It was gratifying that in all three communities where FRB is working with the IRM-RDD, men and women came out to welcome the evaluators and sing and dance.

Shouldn’t we then say that dancing is an evaluation indicator?

The three communities in Mutarara where CRWRC, FRB, and the IRM-RDD began working are located in a lowland area that is susceptible to natural disasters. In response to a series of disasters over a number of years, the organizations, with funding from the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) provided emergency food supplies in 2006 and 2008. However, to provide more sustainable local resources, a food security program was then introduced in January 2010.

The new food security program taught participants conservation farming techniques and equipped them with a treadle pump to provide water to both rain-fed and irrigated crops. In the first year of the project most of the crops failed as a result of double tragedies: very poor rains and two floods that left residents again vulnerable to food shortages. Last year (2011) however, the result was more positive, and conservation farming and irrigation provided community members with bountiful harvests. As a result, most of the community groups were able to repay the loan for their treadle pump. The repayment provided income for IRM-RDD to then buy three more pumps for new project participants.

Program evaluation results in the three communities revealed that the project exceeded the 990 targeted participants by successfully reaching 1,008 farmers and their households since December 2011. These beneficiaries have acquired new farming skills such as improved planting techniques (spacing), composting, mulching, crop rotation, harvesting, storage, and marketing.

The evaluation also showed that the beneficiaries increased the variety of crops that they are growing due to better irrigation provided by the treadle pump. The farmers were able to extend the growing season to include vegetables that they previously had to buy elsewhere. Because both drought and flooding in 2010 caused a dire lack of food as well as seeds to plant, CRWRC also provided 2,000 local families with 2.5 kg of maize seed, and 150 kg maize and 30 kg beans in 2011 to supplement the food security program in the communities.

Most of the farmers in Mutarara believe that 2012 is a promising year for growing food, and they have already planted in hopes of a good harvest. CRWRC’s project beneficiaries in Mutarara give thanks to God and to CRWRC, her partner IRM-RDD, and FRB for the food security program. By welcoming the partner staff and evaluators, sometimes on short notice, the beneficiaries demonstrated that their relationship has grown in trust and confidence over the months of working together. Praise God!!!
 

Esther's Womens Program Receives a Boost

During our deputation in North America last year, we shared a little about Esther’s work with women in the Tete area, and it was well received by our supporters anywhere we went. A number of people responded by donating yarn, knitting needles, pattern books, and other items to the women’s group, and helped Esther with knitting classes. Your support has increased Esther’s zeal for the project all the more, and she continues to work with underprivileged women in Tete. We thank the Lord for you and for the materials and encouragement you have provided, especially those in St. Catherines, Burlington, and Elmira (Ontario, Canada), and in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for your generous support.

Back in Tete, Esther resumed her training sessions with enthusiasm for the underprivileged young women in our own neighborhood, Bairro-Azul. She began meeting with and training a new group of 20 women in February and has already held four training sessions. The trainees are between 16 and 25 years old and are either under-educated or totally without formal education and cannot access gainful employment. This training aims at giving them some skills to become self-employed. Esther includes Bible studies and simple health and hygiene talks in her trainings.

“Now may He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 9:10

Finally, Esther and I regard all of you, as CRWRC supporters, as our co-workers in the Lord’s vineyard. Without your generous giving and support, our work in Mozambique would not be possible. Thank you very much for your reception and hospitality during our deputation in North America in October –December 2011.

Thank you ALL and God bless you.

Yours In His Service,

ISTIFANUS & ESTHER GIMBA
CRWRC MOZAMBIQUE
 

Prayer Points

• Pray for fruitful ministry by CRWRC partners in Mozambique, the IRM-Mphatso Synod and the Anglican Diocese of Niassa as they implement projects in communities.
  
• Pray for many families in Southern and Central Mozambique that lost their crops and homes to floods, that they may experience God’s providence and depend on Him.
  
• Continue to pray for our children and families back in Nigeria, for protection in light of recent civil unrest there. Pray also for our son Daniel as he looks for a job that God will provide one for him.
  
• Continue to pray for Esther and me, for fruitful ministry as we serve in Mozambique.
  

About Istifanus Gimba

Istifanus and Esther Gimba joined CRWRC in February 2009. Prior to becoming Program Consultant for CRWRC in Mozambique, Istifanus Gimba a graduate of B.SC Agric. University of Sokoto Nigeria (1985) and M.Sc Poverty Reduction & Development Management University of Birmingham UK (2006); worked for 19 years with the development departments of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) in Nigeria. In Mozambique, Istifanus will work to strengthen partners leadership and management abilities, working to empower leaders in areas such as HIV and AIDS, food security, micro-business development, literacy and justice.

Istifanus and Esther are blessed with three children: Paul (24), Daniel (23) and Hannah (19).

Email:  igimba@crwrc.org