Vocational Development
Agricultural Training
AIMM works with Mennonite churches to nominate suitable candidates for sustainable agricultural business training and provides scholarships to the Songhai Centre in Porto-Novo, Benin.
Alain Bakajika
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In its concern that the Evangelical Mennonite Church of Congo (CEM) would benefit from a trained, active and enterprising development agent, AIMM gave a second agricultural scholarship for CEM to the Songhai Center in Benin. Alain Bakajika was chosen by CEM’s National Management Committee for this opportunity. Once his application was accepted by AIMM, he was enabled to travel to Benin and Songhai, while his family was also cared for during his 6-month absence. Upon his arrival in the Beninese city of Porto -Novo, where the Songhai Center is located, Alain began his training. He succeeded brilliantly, and upon completion returned immediately to Mbuji Mayi. Upon his return, Alain began to practice what he learned in a field he purchased before his departure for Benin. During the first growing season in the fall of 2018, he raised peanuts, corn and legumes both for his own use and for sale. He also gave some of his produce away to others. I myself benefitted from his generosity. Alain took what he had learned and immediately put it to work. In conversation with our National Management Committee, he presented a very interesting action plan which includes 3 training modules open to CEM members, focusing respectively on raising crops, raising animals and on transforming agricultural products for market. Alain is stepping into the roles which AIMM had envisaged for him: to be able to make his own living through sustainable and innovative agricultural practices in order to be a model for others; to assist others in learning those practices and increasing incomes through agricultural activity and in so doing, to be a blessing to his church community.
Jean Felix Cimbalanga |
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Arouna Sourabie
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Farmer Arouna Sourabie, received agricultural training and further developed his farm business as a microloan recipient. He now uses his agricultural expertise to help others in his community near Orodara, Burkina Faso.
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Fils Fuisa
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Fils completed his training at the Songhai Centre in 2015. He now works to select appropriate garden crops for the region of Tshikapa, DR Congo and uses his expertise to train others in the community. He recently worked with the United Nations to address the food shortage among internally displaced people in the Kasai.
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Lycee MiodiMennonite Church of Congo operates this school in Nyanga to equip young women with sewing skills. Sewing creates opportunities for these women to earn income through self-employment. The Barkman Foundation provides funds to supply each graduate with a treadle sewing machine. Lycee Miodi is also developing a computer skills program.
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Medical ScholarshipsAIMM periodically provides scholarships for specialization or further training to medical doctors serving Mennonite hospitals in DR Congo.
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Dr. Chuck Kamassa is currently receiving a one year (2018) AIMM medical scholarship for Public Health Training at the University of Lubumbashi.
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