Muliivalamei Farms is a CBO based in Kpetema, Malegohun Chiefdom, Sierra Leone, that works with farmers, who may request and choose projects. Farmers are trained by Muliivalamei Farms and provide resources for them. Muliivalamei Farms is a registered and paid up member of Pig and Poultry Farmers Association (PPFA-SL). We are in a network with Government Ministries, Njala University, Eastern Technical University and other NGOs.

Rev. Musa Jambawai is the project leader, immediate supervisor and one of the trainers. His credentials are: B. Sc. (Agric.) University of Sierra Leone; M. Sc. (Agric. Eng.) Cranfield Institute of Technology, Silsoe College, England; Dip. Agric. Ext; CTVM, University of Edinburgh, Scotland; Dip. Agric. Mech. Jiangsu Institute of Technology, China; Dip in OD, EZE, SAAP.

The SMALL LIVESTOCK AND FEED FARMERS ASSOCIATION (SLAFFA)  is a cooperative group of small livestock keepers and crop farmers for raising small ruminants. SLAFFA is a project of Muliivalamei  Farms.

03 June 2024
TRAINING OF "COMMUNITY ANIMAL HEALTHCARE WORKERS," (CAHW).

On Wednesday 29/05/2024, I visited the Director, Livestock Division, Kenema and I reported the following:

1. There is now a lot of 'green pastures; ....... and still waters' in the Holding Pen we have prepared at Kpetema.
2. Two groups have come together and selected the name, "A MU LOMA" and selected a site for their personal pen for the livestock.
3. They have started the write up of their Constitution.

TRAINING.

The Director of Livestock, Mr. Ngegba, reported the following:

1. The Livestock Division is calling for volunteers to be trained to be "Community Animal Healthcare Workers" (CAHW).
2. They must be people who can read and write in English.
3. They must be resident within the community from which they are selected.
4.  Malegohun, our community, had been offered to select one person.

I requested that they offer us two volunteer workers, which will ensure collaboration and thorough coverage, regularly.

RECOMMENDATOINS.

I have recommended the following to our community for us to select two people or any other choices:

1. Kpetema to select one:-
   Yankoba Sesay
   Andree Sesay
2. Giyehu Kojo to select one:-
   Peter Aruna
   Peter Gallia.

These names are with Mr. Ngegba as we wait to hear from the community.

The dates and venue for the training will be announced later.

"WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, DO QUICK NOW." Says Livestock Management.

25Jul24

ONE HEALTH
"One Health" is a worldwide programme. Malegohun Chiefdom was initiated into it at a training workshop that was held at Largor Jasawabu, in June 2024. We promote:
Human Health
Animal Health
Plant Health
Environmental Health
Land Protection
Biodiversity

All these in one package, with equal importance.

ONE HEALTH FAMILY MALEGOHUN CHIEFDOM.

Aims:

1. To bring information about health and sanitation issues into the Malegohun Community.
2. To coordinate One Health information and activities that are circulated and circulating in our community.
3. To communicate and collaborate with the outside world on issues of One Health activities and facilities.
4. To collaborate with each other among the the people of Malegohun on good health and sanitation and also collaborate with the worldwide "One Health" work.
5. To promote other areas of development as one team in all our communities.

LONG LIVE ONE HEALTH!

MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF MAY 7TH 2024.

1. VENUE

Office of the Livestock Division Kenema.

2. PRESENT

Mr. Paul Ngegbda, Livestock Division Kenema

Mrs. Jeneba Turay, Livestock Division Kenema, 

Revd. Musa-Jambawai, farmer, Chiefdom Representative, Livestock, Malegohun Chiefdom.

3. MAIN POINTS

Revd. Jambawai reported that the Holding Pen is ready for the livestock for the Malegohun Chiefdom. Staff of the Livestock Division Kenema, are invited to go and inspect it. The list of the names of farmers that were registered by Livestock Division, Kenema, is not yet available. With that list, the farmers that are going to receive the first set of livestock will build the permanent pens in their compounds. This will enhance strong security measures.

4. IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

Farmers do not know how to mark livestock on the ear. Plastic Ear tags are not available. Therefore coloured strings will be used to identify Communities, (blue for Kpetema). The number of knots on the string will identify the group and the animals. Animals will be allocated to communities, Groups and Individual farmers, as soon as the livestock arrive.

5. TRAINING

Farmers are reminding Livestock Division Kenema, of the need for drugs for the livestock. Communities are reminded to select farmers who will be trained to become "Community Animal Health Workers" (CAHW)
a). They must be permanent residents in the community.
b). They must be able to read and speak in the English language.
c). They must be volunteers.
d). They will go for a three-week training workshop.

6. GRAZING

FAO will not allow free range grazing system. The goats/sheep must be kept under control in fences or by tethering. Revd. Jambawai and his group started a fodder farm where the goats/sheep will graze. But some dispute has blocked it. We are at work to resolve it. We have found out that you can plant fodder crops more easily by using cuttings than seeds.

7. COLLABORATION

It was requested that opportunities be provided for farmers to visit farmers in other communities, for them to learn from each other. Peter Aruna and Revd. Jambawai are working on an international collaborations.

--------------------------------------------------

This minutes is fresh, approved and signing by Mr. Paul Ngegba, Director, Livestock, Kenema

Composed by Revd. Musa Jambawai, farmer and Malegohun Coordinator.

11 April 2024

MINUTES OF THE VISIT OF LIVESTOCK DIVISION TEAM FROM KENEMA TO KPETEMA.

ATTENDANCE: Present

a). Matthew Turay, Livestock

b). James, Livestock

c). Revd. Jambawai, farmer

d). Section Chief, Sembehu

e). Town Chief, Sembehu

f). Town Chief, Kpetema

g). Section Chief, Kpetema

h). S. S. Jambawai, elder.

I). Brima Charles, Youth.

MAIN POINTS

1. Inspection of the building for the holding pen:

a). A Building of 50 x 40ft was presented by the Kpetema Community.

b). The building has a big open parlour and two rooms.

2. The Livestock Division Team took a photo of the building.

3. The building is located in an open plot of over one (1) hectare.

4. There is a stream at the southern edge of the plot, which is about 200 metres away.

5. The plot is at the edge of the town with large open farm land, which is available for grazing.

CONCLUSION

1. The site was approved for the holding pen.

2. The Kpetema Community has a strong net that is enough to fence half an acre.

3. Kpetema-Sembehun Community to collect local materials and fence the holding pen.

FUTURE PLANS

1. Kpetema-Sembehun Community to provide local materials for fencing the pen.

2. Drinking water facilities to be provided and improved for the livestock.

3. Group members to provide two ten-litre drinking troughs per group for the livestock.

4. Livestock Division to pay another visit soon.

5. Two pairs of gloves and five (5) litres of sanitizer (spirit) to be provided per group.

6. Livestock Division to provide the design and dimensions of housing for the livestock.

7. To work out member ownership identity codes.

8. To collect planting materials for livestock:

a). Foddar crops: maize, sorghum, cassava, piticulombie, soybean, sugar cane, etc.

b). Medicinal plants: neem tree, Acacia manguim, bitterleaf, etc.

26 August 2023 

VISION: Farmers acquire appropriate skills, running effective cooperative and raising productive livestock.

We have lined up six projects on the farm for next year and beyond. They are as follows:

1. Training and Empowerment
   Farmers acquiring efficient skills and empowerment, raising productive small livestock.
2. Farm Land
   Developing a 2-ha fodder farm with for many animals to roam in it freeiy.
3. Fencing the farm.
   High solar powered electric fencing, keeping the livestock safe and under control.
4. Fodder and Feed
   Growing many types of well adapted, high yielding and nutritious fodder crops and prossessing fresh balanced diet feed all year round.
5. Shelter and Protection
   Animals living in strong and spacious buildings, well protected against theft, predators and weather harzard.
6. Hygiene, Sanitation and Healthcare Service.
   Livestock living in clean and safe environment, well fed and clean, enjoying regular, effective and timely healthcare services.

SUMMER VISIT 2023

20 August 2023

Summer 2023 is now over. It is now clear that Summer Visit 2023 is no longer possible. Shall we review issues to find out what happened and why?

A number of things took place on our side here on the goat farm. Some of them are:

1. We entered 2023 with an outbreak of PPR in a village that is 5km away from us. We lost 4 goats.

2. The PPR took away over 50 goats from the village in question. This put them on the GPS map of the internal PPR Program.

3. Later in the year, our goats were in innoculated. We got 4 kids from our goats but they all died.

4. In March, 5 local farmers bought their own goats, one each, and joined us.

5. In July we raised finds and bought 5 goats.

6. In June there was an outbreak of orf pox in the pen. It has taken away 3 goats. Treatment is going on.

7. A veterinary team visited us on 17/08/2023.

There's a promise of 24 goats and 24 sheep from the Ministry of Agriculture. Pray with us as we wait.

The farmers didn't cultivate the fodder farm this year.

PLANS FOR NEXT YEAR.

To cultivate the foddar farm is the number one priority.

We plan to build a solar powered electric fence round the farm.

Please comment and advise.

I thank you in advance.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Musa.

SUMMER VISIT 2023

28 February 2023

As we prepare for the SUMMER VISIT 2023, here are some of the steps I take.

Director of Livestock,

Ministry of Agriculture,

Freetown.

Dear Dr. Bah,

I sent you an email reporting "The Summer Visit 2023" This is a team from USA. Their focus is training workshops for "SMALL RUMINANT" farmers. I have told them that our need at Kpetema is "FODDER FARM FOR FEEDING SMALL RUMINANTS"

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

With or without the visit of the team, we will prepare 1ha of fodder farm this year. If you have any suggestions, please let me know as we get ready for the visit.

Please assist us to collect "pitikolombi seeds". The forest between Yuyi Building and Miatta Conference Centre are trees of pitikolombi. There are other pitikolombi trees by the Police Post, at the Yuyi Building gate. I have collected lots of Lucaenia seeds. I will collect moringa too.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Musa J Jambawai

From the WhatsApp Group

5th September 2023

ETHNOVETERINARY BOTANICAL GARDEN

This is also called "Social Forestry" (Read about it in the Internet)

OUR VISION

Farmers are safe and livestock are healthy and productive.

OUR GOAL

SLAFFA establish a botanical garden, planted with ethnoveterinary medicinal crops and plants alongside every livestock farm.

OBJECTIVE

SLAFFA promote regular and timely immunisation of all livestock every year, and keep efficient veterinary first aid kit at hand on every livestock farm.

TASKS.

1. Mr. Walter Carew sends a photo of the tumeric plant to this forum.

2. We all search for the tumeric plant and inform this forum of the location, the name of the owner and his/her phone number.

3. Supply the name of any veterinary medicinal plants and crops, and how to administer it and against which infection.

a). Acacia mangniun: 18 Mohamed Konneh St., Kenema City; Jambawai family; dewormer for goats. (I found it in the internet, I have to read more about it)

b). The bark of a mahogany tree. Search for it in any forest (or come to Kpetema, Jambawai) Preserve the material by drying it in shade. It is an immunisation against the Newcastle infection in poultry. Apply by soaking it in drinking, three days a week from January to May. I have been using it since 2013.

RESEARCH: I will now try it on goats.

4. Collect these and other plants and cultivate your personal garden. More to come as you supply them.

Mu'Jamba (05/09/2023) Kenema City.

26 July 2024

ORAL RABIES VACCINE

Canine (dogs and cats) rabies continues to take the lives of tens of thousands of people every year, particularly children in Africa and Asia. Here, free-roaming dogs play a key role in the transmission of rabies among other dogs.

While there are increasing reports of the inadequacies of the parenteral vaccination approach, Oral Rabies Vaccine (ORV) may offer a powerful tool in achieving and maintaining adequate herd immunity in these subsets of susceptible dog populations. This efficient way of reaching unhandlable dogs for vaccination can be a game changer if the goal of zero dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030 is to be achieved. On behalf of the Tripartite, the United Against Rabies (UAR) Forum is currently working on new recommendations on ORV for dogs.

So future efforts will hopefully lead to large-scale application of ORV as an integrated strategy for the control of dog-mediated rabies.

The Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut in Germany is a WOAH Reference Centre for rabies.

25 July 2024

ONE HEALTH

"One Health" is a worldwide programme. Malegohun Chiefdom was initiated into it at a training workshop that was held at Largor Jasawabu, in June 2024.

We promote:
Human Health
Animal Health
Plant Health
Environmental Health
Land Protection
Biodiversity

All these in one package, with equal importance.

ONE HEALTH FAMILY MALEGOHUN CHIEFDOM.

Aims:
1. To bring information about health and sanitation issues into the Malegohun Community.

2. To coordinate One Health information and activities that are circulated and circulating in our community.

3. To communicate and collaborate with the outside world on issues of One Health activities and facilities.

4. To collaborate with each other among the the people of Malegohun on good health and sanitation and also collaborate with the worldwide "One Health" work.

5. To promote other areas of development as one team in all our communities.

LONG LIVE ONE HEALTH!

28 May 2024

TRACTOR VIDEO

Good morning Sisters and Brothers. Here are some comments on the tractor video:

From Revd. Lansana K. Njigba, Methodist Church Sierra Leone.

"With compliments Senior... Indeed an eye-opening challenge to Sierra Leone as well. It's high time we woke up to growth!! Sierra Leone can do it close to if not like Nigeria..."

From Revd.Solomon Van Kanei, Methodist Church Sierra Leone.

"With the political will such things can happen which is different from syphoning funds from Africa to foreign banks of already Well Developed Countries and making investments there that our poor countries will never benefit. The private sector too can have confidence to invest in their countries. There is a "re-thinking" that has started in Africa. If we continue in this positive direction, surely Africa will develop soon because we are rich but sadly not using our wealth for our betterment.

Then those who know of our wealth are destabilizing us to their advantage or promoting unrest among us while taking our wealth away. Our eyes 👁️👁️ have opened but it will still take time to get a firm grip. We are moving already and it's really marvelous. Let's keep praying as our God reigns. Watch a few things happening around Africa.👇🏽"

4th November 2023

Dear Colleagues in the academic fields,

I thank you very much for your welcome and the offer of this article. I will go through it with great deligence. I look forward to great gain from it. I believe that you will welcome and react to any questions that mayarise it in the future. Yes, I will like to send in materials that I will work on. I had worked on a few papers in the past, when I was a lecturer at the Njala University College. But sadly, I lost them all during the Civil War, in my country, Sierra Leone, (1990 to 1999).

After the war I was in the service of the Methodist Church Sierra Leone and I retired in 2018. However, I did not close my doors to Agriculture and development services. But to a great extent, I turned away from research and the academic fields. But in 2004, the word of God directed me very well that, "The Church, Research and the Academic fields are not antagonistic to each other." 

I was in Ghana, attending an Agricultural Engineering Conference, at Kumasi (I printed a paper). Then I was invited to the launching ceremony of the "Nerica Rice" at Accra. I was asked to lead the opening prayers. After paying honour to delegates who were of other faith, I read this passage from Mark 6:37, 'But He [Jesus] answered and said to them [the disciples], “You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”' "Yes, I answered as I went on with my address. "We are here, at the command of Jesus, to obey this command and give them 'something to eat, the Nerica Rice." (Nerica is a variety of rice that was bred in Sierra Leone.)

In 2007, I started a small cattle raising project with a local farmer. We could not create any impact because we did not have enough capital to invest.

On December 6, 2022, I launched a goat raising project with ten goats and sixteen farmers. By July 2023 we had twenty-five goats. But we are left with only two goats. There was an outbreak of PPR and orf pox. We could not get some appropriate veterinary services to control the outbreak. The 'COUNTER POINT' is that I am on the search with a fine and sharp focus on 'Ethnoveterenary Medicinal Foddar Plants/Crops' to take care of our goats, before we restock.

This is why I am at your door. We want local farmers to acquire skills and resources that will make a difference this time in traditional goat raising.

We look forward to great days. Amen.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Musa J Jambawai (Revd.)

3rd November 2023

Hi Rev. Musa,

Thank you for joining the Academia.edu community.

Your download, Biodiversity by ekta deshmukh, is too big to email, but here is a direct download link

If you would like to upload your own work so others can read it, you can do so from your Academia.edu profile.

Thanks,
The Academia.edu Team

Academia.edu, 580 California St., Suite 400, San Francisco, CA, 94104

30th October 2023

HINDRANCES TO LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY.

Production = The ability/skills of and facilities for the farmers to produce.

Productivity = The ability of and facilities for the livestock to produce optimum quantity and of good quality.

KƆƆLII = Unwillingness to invest (greed) and share with others.

KƐWEI = Unwillingness to learn and to work hard, especially in groups.

DIIMANYAMUA = Lack of collaboration and networking.

19th March 2023

GOD BLESS ALL MAMA.

As we celebrate Mother's Day 2023, also celebrate with me "The Power of Mother Tongue" especially as it works in the Holy Scriptures. (Acts 2). My parents gave their best and planted me in the Christian life.

THE POWER OF MOTHER TONGUE

Along that line, the first book I read on my own was a copy of "Pilgrim's Progress" written in the Mende language. ( JAMƆI JIꜪ LILꜪI GLƆMA ). This book was a gift from my mother.

BRAVO! METHODIST CHURCH, SIERRA LEONE.

My mother returned home with this book from a 'Lay Training Workshop'. The workshop was held by the Methodist Lay Training Centre, Segbwema Circuit, Sierra Leone. Today, I love the local languages. I have worked in teams and we worked in translating the Bible into the Mende language. God bless all mothers born of the Spirit of God. May more and more come to BIRTH, and lead the children of God in every home.

Jambawai.

18th March 2023

AGROFORESTRY DAY.

Saturday 18 March 2023 is declared Agroforestry Day in Muliivalamei Farms. We shall include Agroforestry in our programme.

Saturday is the routine cleaning day in our compound. As usual, I joined the family, but this time with special interest in collecting fast growing acacia tree seeds.  This type of tree is called Acacia sensu lato or locally called Pitikolombi. There is a forest of such trees by our house. However, this is stimulated by other issues earlier in the week, which I call, "God's incidence"

On Tuesday 14 March 2023, I collected seeds of fodder plants for one of the SLAFFA farmers. On Thursday 16 March 2023, a friend called and asked me to work with farmers in his village to plant trees to provide forest cover for a three hundred hectare plot of land. This land area had been devastated by diamond mining activities. I agreed to help but outside Muliivalamei Farms. That same day I have started collecting acacia tree seeds for a tree planting work.

WHY TREE PLANTING?

This village is surrounded diamond mines. This started in 1954 (I was a small boy by then) and it is going on to date. Vast stretches of arable land have been devastated. There has been no rehabilitation work. This land is now a waste. Only weeds, which are not palatable to even goats, grow on it. The heavy grass that grows there is a threat in the community. Wild fire often starts from there and spreads.

PLOTS OF LAND.

I acquired this plot of land in 1993. I built the first house on it in 1994 and the second one in 2014. I have a forest of fifteen fast growing acaia trees by my house. In 2015 they were about 2,000mm tall. Today they are over 10,000mm tall. We planted just a few trees on this land. Many more came up from their own seeds. We have already harvested lots of them for domestic use, but replanted just a few more. Am I joining the bandwagon of deforestation and distortion of ecology? Certainly not. That is why we have now added "Social Forestry" to the list of activities of Muliivalamei Farms.

SEED PROPAGATION

The seeds are propagated mostly by the wind. The seed has two parts: the seed and the sail. The orange portion is the sail and the black portion is the seed itself. See photos above. A gentle wind can carry lots of seeds, far away.

DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY.

We will call on the workers of forestry to train our farmers.

LIVESTOCK AND AGROFORESTRY.

Livestock can benefit a lot from Agroforestry. A lot of the plants can yield valuable fodder. But livestock in a free range grazing system is a threat to forest plants. This village has lots of goats and sheep. Is this a call to modify traditional practices of goat raisng? We look forward to that.

Jambawai.

23rd February 2023

GREAT HUNGER BUT LITTLE SKILLS TO RAISE FOOD.

There is a great hunger, especially for meat, everywhere in Sierra Leone. This is what I observed in the Bomi Community, within the four days I was with them.

MEAT FOR WHOM?

They raise a lot of goats and sheep that community. But are the animals for farmers own household consumption? Most farmers in this community raise livestock to sell for the cash they may earn.

I was in Bomi from 15 to 19 February 2023. I went to attend one of the Synod meetings of the Methodist Church Sierra Leone, because I am one of the ministers. From the home where I took accommodation to the church building where we were meeting was within walking distance. It was about two hundred metres. There were about five compounds within that distance. I visited eight homes where the households raise small ruminants.

GOOD SHELTER FOR LIVESTOCK

The shelters for those livestock were very well built. The floors were at least 500mm above ground level. The floors were made of strong timber that could safely bear the weight of the livestock. There were slits between the planks of timber to let out the dung. The walls were similarly built of strong timber. The roofing was strong C. I. sheets. The rooms were very clean but the dung was packed high and deep on the ground underneath the shelter. They do not make much use of the dung for vegetable gardening. Their own goats and sheep are the pests.

SLEEK AND NEAT

Most of the animals very neat and sleek. There were many young ones among them, which shows that they are productive. They were let out every day in the morning and they came home in the evening.

ELEVEN FARMERS

I collected the following data:

(Momoh Gieva Brima sold some of his goats to the Church to feed us.)

THEFT PROBLEM

Households 1 to 8 are people living in the town centre. There is a higher concentration of livestock owners at the town centre. At the town centre the shelters are closer to dwelling houses and with a lot of people around most of the time. This puts up a strong network of security, especially at night. Household numbers 9 to 11 lives at the outskirts of the town. With fewer people in the community, thieves get away with their animals very easily at night.

DANGERS OF THE FREE RANGE SYSTEM

The soil in this community is very fertile. The guinea grass Panicum Maximum grows very well in this community. There is therefore highly nutritious grass available. There is a vast stretch of community land where the animals graze freely. They said that they have not encountered any major disease issues yet.

Theft is the most serious problem they are facing. They said that the situation is like that because the the justice system and law enforcement agencies do not treat their reports and cases with the importance they deserve. Drowning is the second threat that affects the animals. This community is a diamond mining area. There are many open and deep pools of water, which are death traps for the free roaming animals.

I have already mentioned that the goats and sheep are a great threat to backyard gardening. Therefore they do not use the dung of the animals.

Of the eleven farmers listed above, not one of them had ever been visited by any officers. They are not working with any government workers nor any NGO workers.

WHAT IS THEIR PROBLEM

They were asked whether they are making any mistakes that are creating and or multiplying their problems. They admitted to the following:

1. They do not herd or control the animals. Therefore when they go out during the day, they will be exposed to thieves or drowning.

2. They do not feed the animals, therefore they go out so far away.

3. No two households are working together. They gang up only once in a while to chase a thief and take the matter to court.

4. They have not knocked at any doors and asked for assistance, because they do not know where to go.

WILL YOU HELP

They asked me to assist them but I did not make any promises for the following reasons:

1. My resources can support only eleven goats, which I have deployed to work with sixteen farmers.

2. Most farmers in Sierra Leone do not see the need to feed sheep and goats. Goats, sheep, etc. should be let out to fend for themselves.

3. My group of farmers is an experimental one and this is our first year.

VAST EXPERIENCE

I have worked with livestock farmers in England, Scotland, Germany, China, etc (up to nine countries). I have learned from them. I have recommended some of their ideas and skills to our farmers in Sierra Leone. But they say that they do not understand my foreign ideas and they do not have the resources to deploy them.

TASTE AND SEE.

Yes, I have worked with many of our farmers, but none of them had implemented the recommendations I spell out. I want to taste my own concussion now.

Mu'Jamba. Kenema

8th February 2023

1 February shall be EDUCATION DAY in my life and in my family.

5 February 2023 was EDUCATION SUNDAY in Methodist Church Sierra Leone. On that Sunday we held Church Services in most Methodist Churches to celebrate what God has done in communities and homes by the hands and resources of the Methodist Church Sierra Leone.

QUALITY EDUCATION: FREE OR AT WHOSE EXPENSE?

Free quality education is the heartbeat of the current government in Sierra Leone. A lot of resources and time had been invested into it and there are plans for more. The teachers and learners are intimate friends. The textbooks are their tools and guide. Textbooks also yoke teaches, learners and parents together to cultivate quality education.

1st February was a great eye opening day for my son, Saffa John Wesley Jambawai. "Did your teachers give you any notes today?" I often ask them as we start their evening studies. We first go through their notes and make corrections, especially spelling mistakes that they make.

On 1st February, he came home with a note in Agricultural SCIENCES and I am an agriculturist. Saffa had many mistakes in his notes. I suggested that we refer to the textbooks I had bought for him. The notes were in the textbook 'word for word.' We easily made the corrections. The next evening I asked him, "What lessons did you learn from the exercise last night?" "The teachers do not want us to use textbooks." He answered. "The teachers may not like it if you say it that way." I disagreed with him. "There is more help in the textbooks," I suggested, "for both the teachers and the learners." He accepted and things are getting better.

Let us look at the learners:

a). How many learners are eager and willing to learn?

b). How many of them take their time to sit down and read textbooks and other books?

c). How many of them appreciate and respect the teachers?

d). Too few of them respect and listen to their parents.

e). How many of them really want acquire knowledge and skills through clean, hard and honest means?

But there is the other side of the coin, with many issues to be addressed, together with the ones above.

1. Many schools do not prescribe standard textbooks. Therefore the teachers and the learners depend on the teachers' notes.

2. Some teachers do not make reference to any textbooks, for more help for the LEARNERS. (Remember, the textbooks are always with the learners.)

3. How many teachers love and encourage the honest hard working learners better than the lazy generously giving learners?

4. Some parents do not work at home with the learners, their own children.

5. Some parents do not buy textbooks for their children. They claim that books are too expensive.

6. There are too few textbooks on the market in Sierra Leone, (that are of high quality,) therefore some of them are too expensive.

7. There are too few writers and publishers in Sierra Leone.

8. Educationists and educators do not write books. How then are they productive?

9. This is the worst and largest BRAIN DRAIN in Sierra Leone.

a). We acquire a lot of information, knowledge and skills, LOCK THEM UP IN OUR HEADS, pack books on our shelves.

b). We die with them and WE ARE BURIED WITH THEM.

Don't say "AMEN" to this. Chɔch nɔ kɔmɔt yet. (Church is not yet over). Let us wait for the postmortem and then the funeral service. There will be the memorial service too.

i). Do the points above promote quality education in Sierra Leone?

ii). Do they support the government to achieve FREE quality education?

iii). Free quality education, at whose expense?

iv). How well equip is our education system: our laboratories, our classrooms, our Techvoc Institutions, our workshops, our engineering school workshops?

v). How well paid are the teachers?

vi). But how well trained are our teachers and how professional and productive are they? (Ngi mɛ nɛgɔ? Ba mɔnɛ pɛin!) (You want it delicious, you must work for it)

vii). How committed are the teachers? Or are the classrooms loaded with only 'job seekers'? (mi a jɛs kam fɛn mi bred.) (I am here only to seek my daily bread.)

viii). Do you see yourself in any of the pictures above, (positive or negative)? Don't cry.

ix). What would you, as an individual, do for a change for the better? Let it be little or much , most efforts will never go in vain.

x). Do you give birthday presents to young people? Do you know that textbooks are presents that are of longer lasting values?

_______________________________

Share your blessings give them out to all.

Share your blessings see what God will do!

Share your blessings.

Give them one by one.

And it will amaze you how God will bless you more.

Chorus:

Little is much when God is in it.

Labour not for wealth or fame.

There's a crown and you can win it,

If you go in Jesus's name.

Are you laid aside from labour,

Body racked with pain or care?

You can still be in the battle

In the secret place of prayer

_______________________________

"Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need. (Exodus 15:17-18)"

DON'T POINT FINGERS AT OTHERS.

A). Can you buy a pair of shoes for yourself or for your child? Why not buy textbooks also for your child?

B). Do you listen to your child as he reads his notes at home?

C). This is an encouragement for the child, even if you 'nɔ sabi buk'. (even though you are not educated)

D). Ask questions: "wetin na 'letter'?" Tɔkam na Mɛnde fɔ mi." ("What is the meaning of 'letter'? Tell me in the Mende language.) Find out from another person.

On your mark! Get set! GO!

Mu'Jamba

23rd January 2023

You’re just thinking about starting a hobby farm, more so a commercial farm? Then you’re also probably wondering what is the best livestock is for breeding and raising on your farm?

Goats offer plenty of income opportunities for a smart farmer. Goats, the market for goat products are on the upswing.

GLOBAL MARKET

First of all, know that 65% of the red meat consumed globally is goat meat. Gaining organic certification for your goat products will enhance your sales even more.

ETHNIC VALUE

There’s a big demand for goats from the ethnic markets in Sierra Leone. In every community in Sierra Leone, and all the time, there are many ceremonies and festivals that call for goats.

POINTS TO NOTE

What Do You Want To Sell: Milk, cheese, meat? Our primary focus currently is goat meat for the local community. The secondary option is income for the herdsman. This will be invested on resources to improve the standards on the farm and then extend the farm. As we grow in goat raising skills and acquire resources, we will consider providing many other goat products and other livestock and their products.

FENCING

Fencing is an excellent option to practice in raising goats. Some of the benefits are:
1. Protection against predators.
2. Protection against theft.
3. Little or no damages to crops.
4. Clean environment in the villages. The droppings of goats can be very offensive and can lead to health hazards.

Solar Electric fencing is an option to think of. Goats are climbers, so you need tall, high tensile fences to keep them contained.

We welcome any helpful information advice and other resources, as we pursue our goals.

Jambawai

6th January 2023

Celebrate with us the birth of the first kid on our goat farm. We launched this farm on 6 December. 

There is a good and strong message here. The leader of the group who is very kind and working hard, is the first God has rewarded. He was not the first person to choose among the seven female goats. Now he is the first God has rewarded with the first kid. We have a traditional proverb, "God knows a hard worker." The gift of this first kid is our 'Amen'

Please continue to prayfor us and with us.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Musa

6th December 2022

CELEBRATION

 Today 6th December is my birthday. This is one of my greatest days in history. I was born on 6th December. I have celebrated in a grand style.  

This morning, I handed three male goats and seven female goats to the Kpetema Community to launch a goat raising project.  

This is going to be a community development project and a research project.

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

 The research hypothesis are:

"Animal husbandry in Sierra Leone is not productive because of:-

1. Korlii: that is we don't feed the animals.
2. Kehwei: we don't work hard enough to take care of the animals.
3. Dimanyamui: that is we don't want to work in groups such as cooperatives, network, etc.

THE VALUE OF NETWORKING

 The resources for this project are the outcome of network among Christians: individuals and organisations. 

1. The funds for the goat project was a donation of $500, as the seed money from SAVE USA, that laid the foundation towards my animal husbandry project.
   
2. I attended the Njala University College (now the Njala University), where I was well trained. RURCON, a Christian community development NGO exposed me internationally and I acquired more knowledge and skills.
   
3. I obtained the goats from the farm of Bro. Daniel S. Moiforay, a Christian brother. He was a student at the Njala University College when I was a lecturer there. He and I have worked in many communities and developed many community animal husbandry projects for them. The goats are very strong and healthy goats.

 This Christian community development network has made it possible for me to get this project started.

BIRTHDAY PRESENT

 "And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh." (Matthew 2:11)

Yes, the wise men came with gifts for Jesus, but Jesus came with and gave the greatest gift: eternal life.

"... I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you".  (John 14:27)

I have launched this project as a present to the Kpetema Community, my home town, for hosting me for the past 74 years. They have fed me well and educated me well. They made me a great lover of animals, from my childhood days. I pray that this project becomes an indelible footprint of Christian Community Development Work in this community and beyond.

You can join us in this battle, "in the secret place of prayer."

Rev. Musa Jambawai

11th December 2022

Dear Musa,

Greetings from Ireland. We hope you all stay well. We will be praying for you.

It would be good if you could send a few photographs. I suggest a general photograph of Kpetema village; a photo of the church with some members; a photo of the goats with a farmer; a photo of yourself with some from the village. I can circulate these.

God bless you all.

Ken Todd

Revd. Ken S. Todd was a missionary sent Sierra Leone from the Methodist Conference, IRELAND. He and many others, have been of great support in my work and more so my spiritual life.