Helping Malawian Farmers

Two US university agriculture experts recently traveled to Africa to partner with AGWM Malawi missionaries in assessing the needs of local Malawian farmers and pastors and to glean cultural understanding about the complex issue of food security on the continent.

Together they visited local gardens, farms, a school, and a university. They spent hours discussing planting strategies and methodologies, soil health, and the resiliency of local resources. They visited several villages where locals are making and using their own compost and they planted two maize fields by hand.

God is already at work in the hearts of Malawians to heal the soil and their relationship as stewards of His creation. AGWM Malawi is grateful to partner with these US agricultural experts and local churches to prayerfully address food security in the Warm Heart of Africa. A healthy church within walking distance of every Malawian is possible when local pastors are healthy- both spiritually and physically.

Empowering Women and Girls: A Project of Dignity and Opportunity

We are thrilled to share a glimpse of Africa Oasis' recent venture in Kenya, focused on menstrual hygiene management. The project aims to empower young girls to manage their monthly cycles with dignity, ensuring that they can continue their education without disruption. We firmly believe that the best solutions are born out of community input, which is why we partnered with remarkable Kenyan women leaders to discuss a reusable sanitary napkin design.

Local Wisdom for Sustainable Solutions

We understand the importance of incorporating local perspectives in creating long-lasting solutions. By collaborating with our Kenyan sisters, we were not just creating a product; we were generating an ecosystem of self-reliance and community upliftment.

A Multipurpose Initiative

This menstrual hygiene management project is not merely a charitable endeavor. It is designed as a micro-enterprise initiative where women are taught to produce these sanitary napkins. They can then sell these products in their communities, creating an economically viable cycle that uplifts everyone involved.

Working Hand-in-Hand with Local Churches

Our faith-based mission drives us to serve with compassion and respect. Partnering with local churches ensures that our projects are attuned to the unique needs and cultural sensitivities of the communities we serve.

We are filled with hope and anticipation for the change it will bring to the lives of many young girls and women in Kenya.

Community Health Evangelism

Community Health Evangelism (CHE) is a ministry tool being utilized in Africa to equip and mobilize local churches to reach their communities with the love of Christ in tangible ways. Through training, the local church is empowered to reach out to their community in a wholistic manner. They are taught how to identify both community needs and available local resources for relevant outreach. One church in Siavonga, Zambia was introduced to these concepts through a CHE vision seminar. Before formal CHE training was even initiated, they took the concepts they learned and put them into action. The church leaders conducted a simple assessment in their own church community and found several adults could not read nor write. On further investigation of a wider population, illiteracy was found to be a significant trend in their community. They were quick to identify a most valuable resource right there in their church…Teachers! Together with the help of these teachers, this local church began a literacy program which currently serves 50 adult students and continues to grow. Through adult education and the power of the Word of God, they are bringing transformation to their community.

Burundi - Water Filters

Recently, Africa Oasis sponsored a bucket water filter project in Rugombo, Burundi. Rugombo is a small community of approximately 25,000 people. A local Burundian church, led by Pastor Ciza, wanted to reach their community in Word and deed. Illnesses caused by contaminated water were a frequent issue so the church decided to provide the bucket filters as a way of giving families clean water. Ten church members were trained in basic water, sanitation and hygiene practices and on the proper use and maintenance of the filters. As they went door to door to distribute the filters, they also talked about the Living Water and prayed with each family.

From dirty water to clean - this is the power of the bucket filters!

Over 20 people accepted Christ and the church has experienced growth directly related to this project. One filter recipient said that a woman in a nearby community offered her 3 months pay for her filter, She refused, saying that she has already seen a change in the health of her family, especially her young children.

Health is improved, families are hearing the Good News, and Jesus is glorified!

Burundi

Burundi is a beautiful forested country tin East Africa. However in the midst of this beauty it struggles with endemic malaria, contaminated water that contributes to severe diarrheal disease in young children, and other health challenges. When the Burundi Assemblies of God learned that the new missionary associate was a Registered Nurse they were thrilled. She was immediately asked to give seminars on women’s and children’s health issues. Africa Oasis was excited to be a part of helping to create the seminar content by partnering with the Burundi missionary team. Lessons were developed on on how to help children be healthy, disease prevention and hygiene practices that can decrease illness. Teaching local women through local church contacts increases community knowledge and empowers women to take charge of the health of their families. #LocalLastsLonger

Zambia

Introducing washable feminine hygiene products to Zambian leaders.

Women face many obstacles in Africa, not the least of which is menstrual hygiene management. The cost of locally purchased disposable pads forces many women and young girls to choose between necessities such as food or clean drinking water, and sanitary pads. Young girls may miss school because of challenges associated with menstrual hygiene management in the school setting. This can lead to girls dropping out of school, leaving them vulnerable to early marriage and human trafficking. The church can help change this through compassion ministry that empowers young girls to finish school.

Recently our missionaries, partnered with an organization called Be the Light. They facilitated training workshops for the national Women’s Executive Committee of the Assemblies of God of Zambia and a local Community Health Evangelism committee on the implementation of a solution to menstrual hygiene management challenges. These Zambian leaders were introduced to washable feminine hygiene kits which can last up to four years, received training on how to teach girls to use and care for the kits, and were provided with instructions for making kits locally. In addition, they were trained to address health and hygiene topics as well as gender-based violence prevention coupled with a unique presentation of the gospel of Christ. These Assemblies of God women are enthusiastic about the prospect of starting a compassion ministry through their respective churches to reach young girls for Christ while offering them dignity, empowerment, and freedom through simple washable hygiene kits.

Africa Oasis cares about the plight of girls and women. We work to help them overcome obstacles to education and health so that they can be and do all that God has for them…. for an increasingly redeemed and transformed Africa.

Local lasts longer.

Zambia

Africa Oasis Director Suzanne Hurst with Zambia General Superintendent Pastor Lipenga.

Recently Africa Oasis sponsored a Community Health and Evangelism training (CHE) for our AGWM-Africa missionaries. The workshop took place in the Zambia and was the first time that CHE training had been offered on the continent, to our missionaries. We had 15 spots available and all were filled. We were honored to have the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God in the Zambia, Pastor Lipenga Banda, attend one day. Pastor Lipenga participated in one of the first CHE trainings in the Zambia many years ago. He enthusiastically endorsed CHE and said he was attending so he could brush up on his CHE knowledge.

Missionary Heather Marten taught us about the moringa plant. Moringa is an amazing plant whose leaves contain impressive amounts of protein, amino acids and vitamins. A great resource in areas with high levels of malnutrition.

CHE is a faith-based community health program that focuses on local involvement finding local solutions to local issues. In our AGWM-Africa context, that means working through the local church. The CHE philosophy is a great match to the Africa Oasis motto of “Local Lasts Longer.” Participants discussed key concepts related to holistic health, community engagement/ownership, and how to involve the community in identifying priority problems while using local resources for problem-solving. These principles are our core values that will be evident in any Africa Oasis project. By the end of the week there was growing excitement as participants began to plan how to implement these concepts in their respective areas.

Africa Oasis is committed to providing quality and applicable training for AGWM-Africa missionaries and our African partners.

Cameroon

Water Filter Training in Cameroon

Water is LIFE. However, in Africa millions of men, women, and children become sick and/or die due to contaminated water. Africa Oasis Water Solutions aims to provide bucket filters for families who do not have access to clean drinking water.

Children under the age of 5 are especially vulnerable to illness and death from contaminated drinking water.

Africa Oasis partnered with the local missionary team and the national church in Cameroon for a family bucket filter distribution. A local church agreed to lead the project. Ten church members volunteered for filter training. This training, provided by Africa Oasis, included teaching on the importance of clean drinking water, filter use and maintenance, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) training, and a spiritual component of Jesus as the Living Water.

This project was done in conjunction with a church plant in a gospel-resistant area. People were shown the love of Christ, health was improved, and a church was planted! Word and Deed with a focus on local ownership is how we fulfill our vision of “Local Churches Transforming Communities.”