Meet Doreen, Joyce, Julliet, and Harriet, four remarkable women from the Abamareire Small Group in Ryemigobora, Uganda. Their transformative journey began when they joined The International Small Group and Tree Planting Program (TIST) in 2004, and it's since flourished into a life-changing experience. With the seed of tree planting sowed into their hearts, their lands now radiate with lush vegetation, offering refreshing air and serene beauty.
Beyond cultivating an environment, their learning journey expanded to nursery bed management, a skill they've used to generate income by selling seedlings of various fruit trees, like grafted mangoes, oranges, and avocados. Their growth continued with Conservation Farming training, leading to the establishment of nutrient-rich home gardens, bringing healthful additions to their meals and economic savings.
The learning never stopped; seminars covering tree management, soil erosion control, nutrition, mushroom growing, and energy-saving cook stove construction enlightened them. Joyce, their TIST trainer, even extended her wisdom to Kenya. She and her family also took up mushroom farming as an income and food source during the COVID pandemic, proving their resilience.
Within the group, they practice Rotational Leadership, fostering confidence and leadership skills together. They take pride in their members who have risen to parish-level leadership, attributing this success to TIST's Best Practice. As Joyce sums up, 'Through TIST Values, we learned to work with our hands and heads, united as group members.
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