We run several agricultural initiatives that are environmentally friendly. They include:
Macadamia & avocado project
“The Enhanced Youth Employment Avocado and Macadamia Growing Initiave” is a seven-year project which started in 2020 in two places: Nzaikoni parish in Machakos county, and Kabazi in Nakuru county. Funded by Don Bosco Jugendhilfe Weltweit, Switzerland, the project is meant to boost the financial status of the youth and their families. It creates self-employment among the young people. It adds value to unused land, often in slopes to prevent soil erosion. It has a potential to develop into a youth cooperative when the cooperative can collect the produce and add value to it.
AITEC project
It began as a collaboration among many partners: Don Bosco Entities (DBTech Africa, DBDON, and Don Bosco Embu), CultivAID (an Israel-based international NGO), Water4Mercy, and Israeli Embassy in Nairobi. While the project was developed and managed by CultivAID at Don Bosco Embu, the funding came from many other partners. Cultivation here takes place in green houses and open fields. The project focuses on cultivation and training. The digitalised green-house nursery is one of its kind.
The training component for now is realised by supporting graduate-interns. Soon we hope to develop a Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) recognised certificate/diplomas in agriculture; and eventually to offer a Senior Secondary Programme of CBC (Grade 10 to 12) with STEM-pathway, and Agriculture track.
Agriculture unit at Kakuma refugee camp
Kakuma is a refugee camp in northern part of Kenya bordering South Sudan. It hosts about 250,000 people from different countries; the largest numbers being from South Sudan and Somalia. Don Bosco runs 7 centres for TVET training inside and outside the camp. Kakuma-2 is focused on agriculture. Though the land in Kakuma is arid and semi-arid, with water from a borehole, the farm is able to cultivate various crops.
There is also a chicken farm, beekeeping, and fish farm. The most important component of the project is the training programme for the refugee youth and the host community.
Other initiatives and possibilities
Don Bosco Marsabit TVET centre has been creative in making use of the land for agricultural purposes almost to industrial scale. Don Bosco Kitale also is a suitable location for agriculture project. Don Bosco Kenya has two other plots (still without resident Salesians) in Kwale and Diani where agriculture could be the focus.
