Yogo-Past-Present | youfeedthem

Yogo Village - Past & Present

Since the first missions trip to this village in 2008, many changes have been made. Below are some of the major before and after photos and details, knowing that there are many stories not written, but realized by the families in this community. Their stories are shared with you when you travel to this village and meet the beautiful and faithful people of Yogo.

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BEFORE (2008) Depleted Soil Given the lengthy drought seasons in this region, the soil was depleted of any life. Described as being as hard as your driveway!	Initial 4 acres purchased The goal of a 20 acre farm began with the purchase of 4 acres. The community worked hard to clear the land and apply the fertilizer.
Organic Fertilizer To add nutrients back to the soil, organic fertilizer was added. Although the fertilizer was provided at no charge from the local sugar cane factory, transportation charges to deliver to Yogo was quite high. (500 CAD).	Irrigation lines added Soon after purchase of the land, drip line irrigation was installed. More effective than traditional watering of crops from sprinklers because of extreme heat and sun.
Water tanks Water storage tanks were purchased.	Garden began to grow
and grow...	Success! Abundant crops were harvested, providing food for the children in the school, the widows and the poorest of the poor in the community. A portion of the harvest also sold at the local market.
2009 Production continues to expand to additional vegetables, grown in raised beds. Donations provide another 4 acres of land to expand the Yogo farm.	2009 Given the additional land purchased and the installation of drip line irrigation, the increase of corn production was 10 fold.
3 weeks later! The previous photo was taken on the day the 2009 mission team arrived. This photo was taken before they left, 3 weeks later!	Increased yields by 10 times! Used as local currency for trading, the increased yield of corn/maize, provided the community based organization with the funds needed to complete other projects within the community.
The Yogo farm now! The Yogo YFT farm expanded from 4 acres in 2009 to 12 acres by 2014. Irrigation is in place for 8 acres with the remaining 4 acres of land to be irrigated.	Drilling for well was a huge success Given many previous attempts to dig wells in the area, it was a miracle that good, clean, drinkable water was found, on the first attempt in 2011.
Lush Farm B	Farm Manager Elisha teaching student In 2014, the community based organization hired Elisha as the Yogo Farm Manager. Elisha's education and experience in farming has already proven to be a huge benefit to the community.
Innovative ideas Farm Manager Elisha planted snow peas with the kale plants so the shade from the kales will avoid over-exposure to the sun.	Drying process Providing school children with "Ugali" and Uni. Approximately 180 students are fed two meals a day with some of the harvest from the farm. The remaining harvest is sold as cash crops, and provides food for the poorest of the poor.
Purchase of equipment During the 2014 missions trip, donations provided for the purchase of a walking tractor to assist with land preparation for planting. Visit our Missions Trip page for more info and other projects completed on the 2014 trip.	New methodologies The introduction of growing fodder was shared with parents in the community with plans to use as a food source for livestock. Providing a food source will allow for the animals to be confined in a fenced-in area, their 'compost' to be collected and used in the garden.

The Yogo Farm

The Yogo YFT farm expanded from 4 acres in 2009 to 12 acres by 2014.
Irrigation is in place for 8 acres with the remaining 4 acres requiring irrigation.
Crop yields have increased considerably (10 fold in the first year).
Better organic farming techniques using sugar cane compost and better seeds have been introduced.
Food is being provided to the school and people in need.
Cash crops are being sold at the local market leading to a sustainable farm.
The addition of farm manager Elisha Otieno has greatly benefited the success of the farm, and sustainability of the community.

The Yogo community based organization (YCBO), gained international recognition of its farm program through the United Nations and hosted World Food Day at the farm.

2009 - Yogo School With the support of donor partners, the Yogo school, CGC (Christ Glory Centre) Academy began with a kindergarten and pre-kindergarten class.	2015 - Expansion of CGC Academy Now with the addition of classes 1-5, as well as the kindergarten and pre-kindergarten classes, the school building has expanded. Total number of students now 180. The farm supplies 2 meals a day for the students, and class sizes are approximately 30 students, compared to 100 in public schools throughout the area.
CGC Academy 2015 The small building in the centre of the photo was the initial school building, and the building to the right was the Church building, now being renovated to also use as classroom.	Class 4 students Many of these students were in the 2009 kindergarten or pre-kindergarten classes. Tested against other schools in the region, these students ranked in the top 10 percentile. Future leaders that will have a huge impact in this community.

The School

A primary school has now been completed! In 2008, the school opened with 30 children attending nursery school. The school has continued to grow by one class per year and currently includes classes up to Grade 8 (pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, included). All the children receive two meals a day from the YFT farmand safe drinking water.

The children are selected each year by the YCBO. One third of the children are sponsored, one third of the students' parents are employed and able to pay the tuition fees, and one third of the students' parents or caregivers work on the farm in exchange for their children’s tuition. This model ensures that the school and the farm support one another. Government testing of the children has found the students in the top 10 percentile of all schools in the area.

The continued expansion of the school is vital, given that it allows the students that began in 2008 to continue to receive quality education, and two meals per day (supported by the community farm). The school building has expanded to accommodate the student growth, thanks to support from a local Ministry (AMIC - Ambassadors Ministries in Covenant, Russell, ON, Canada), and other private donors giving through HFL.

Yogo village 2008 Prior to 2008, approximately 25 people worshiped together under a tree.	2008 With community fundraising by the local community leaders and some support from family members in Canada, the first church was built in Yogo Village.
2010 Since the congregation grew from 25 people to 250 people, the first church was too small. A new building was erected, without walls, to allow for continued church growth. A good problem to have!	Worship As the Good News of Jesus Christ is shared throughout the community, hope and faith continues to grow.

The Church

As changes have taken place in the community, and the glory for these changes is given to God, hope and faith are growing and spreading throughout surrounding villages. From 25 people worshiping under a tree, to 250 people attending two services. In the nearby town of Siaya, a new church was planted and is already full each Sunday. Nine other churches have been started in the district by Pastor (now Bishop) Silas Owiti-Oduor.

Women's Bible studies, youth programs, and fellowship events are continuing to grow. Crusades to nearby villages and towns are bringing the Good News to many who have never heard it and people are being healed from various diseases, and experiencing the love of God. People are giving their lives to the Lord and are being baptized, as the Great Commission commands [Matthew 28:16-20].

Before water was boiled since the only well in the village was contaminated.	Before Gathering water for washing and drinking (after boiling).
2011 The drilling begins All previous events to drill for water had previously failed in this area. Because of generous support by 2009 mission team members, a hydrological study was done and drilling began.	First attempt! Success! Plenty of clean water, for drinking, and for the farm!
Storage tank Farm B	Drinkable Water!
2008 The first students in the Yogo nursery school with two classes, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten.	2014 Grades 1 to 5
School expands! Yogo VOSH Academy is a successful and	Quality education With smaller classes of 25-30 per teacher, compared to public schools in this area that are closer to 100, plus two meals a day and clean water...
Happy kids! During District testing, the Yogo VOSH Academy kids have been in the top 10 percentile.	Water Storage tanks for irrigating farms A and B.
Cabbage fields Water, drip line irrigation, quality seeds, raised beds, crop rotations, and composting, all lead to plentiful harvests. Cash crops sold at local market, and food for the school children.	Farming techniques Kales provide necessary shade for the peas to endure the intense sun.
The jamba The common garden tool, the jamba. Hard work and time consuming.	Now! Farm Equipment Mission team project was to bring funds needed for a root-tiller. Given the extremely hard soil, and because of funds raised by a young lady named Melissa, a walking tractor was purchased instead.
The harvest is plentiful Corn and millet drying and then will be made into "Ugali" and "Uji"	Joyful Experience the joyful people of Africa on a short-term missions trip.
Happy children	Games Bringing skipping ropes and teaching the children games.
More games.. Teaching the children team-building games and strategies.	Soccer fun Providing soccer balls to a village...
Youth soccer team ... can lead a group of youth to start their own soccer team as in this photo. The missions team that went to Yogo in 2010 brought soccer balls and coached these youth. When the team left, the youth raised their own funds for uniforms and started their own soccer team.	New Bibles Bibles are often provided to the missions teams to bring to those in need.
Sharing the Gospel Pastor Silas Oduor preaching the Good News in the community.	Crowds gather People are hungry for the Word of God and gather to listen to the preaching and worship at local crusades.
2015 Church planting A new church (Christ Glory Center)was planted in the nearby town of Siaya by our field partner Pastor Silas (& Kimberly) Oduor.	First Sunday On the first Sunday that CGC opened, after the crusades, the church was packed!
Hope and Faith As the Good News of Jesus Christ is shared throughout the community, hope and faith continues to grow.

The Community

The village of Yogo has been transformed. Since 2008, changes have taken place such as clean water, electricity, community farm, a growing school and church.

Because of the above changes, lives are being saved. The death rate, especially among children under five years old, has drastically decreased in this area.

Browse through the photos to the left and read about the changes in the community.

Yogo Village - Past & Present

BEFORE (2008) Depleted Soil

Given the lengthy drought seasons in this region, the soil was depleted of any life. Described as being as hard as your driveway!

Initial 4 acres purchased

The goal of a 20 acre farm began with the purchase of 4 acres. The community worked hard to clear the land and apply the fertilizer.

Organic Fertilizer

To add nutrients back to the soil, organic fertilizer was added. Although the fertilizer was provided at no charge from the local sugar cane factory, transportation charges to deliver to Yogo was quite high. (500 CAD).

Irrigation lines added

Soon after purchase of the land, drip line irrigation was installed. More effective than traditional watering of crops from sprinklers because of extreme heat and sun.

Water tanks

Water storage tanks were purchased.

Garden began to grow

and grow...

Success!

Abundant crops were harvested, providing food for the children in the school, the widows and the poorest of the poor in the community. A portion of the harvest also sold at the local market.

2009

Production continues to expand to additional vegetables, grown in raised beds. Donations provide another 4 acres of land to expand the Yogo farm.

2009

Given the additional land purchased and the installation of drip line irrigation, the increase of corn production was 10 fold.

3 weeks later!

The previous photo was taken on the day the 2009 mission team arrived. This photo was taken before they left, 3 weeks later!

Increased yields by 10 times!

Used as local currency for trading, the increased yield of corn/maize, provided the community based organization with the funds needed to complete other projects within the community.

The Yogo farm now!

The Yogo YFT farm expanded from 4 acres in 2009 to 12 acres by 2014. Irrigation is in place for 8 acres with the remaining 4 acres of land to be irrigated.

Drilling for well was a huge success

Given many previous attempts to dig wells in the area, it was a miracle that good, clean, drinkable water was found, on the first attempt in 2011.

Lush Farm B

Farm Manager Elisha teaching student

In 2014, the community based organization hired Elisha as the Yogo Farm Manager. Elisha's education and experience in farming has already proven to be a huge benefit to the community.

Innovative ideas

Farm Manager Elisha planted snow peas with the kale plants so the shade from the kales will avoid over-exposure to the sun.

Drying process

Providing school children with "Ugali" and Uni. Approximately 180 students are fed two meals a day with some of the harvest from the farm. The remaining harvest is sold as cash crops, and provides food for the poorest of the poor.

Purchase of equipment

During the 2014 missions trip, donations provided for the purchase of a walking tractor to assist with land preparation for planting. Visit our Missions Trip page for more info and other projects completed on the 2014 trip.

New methodologies

The introduction of growing fodder was shared with parents in the community with plans to use as a food source for livestock. Providing a food source will allow for the animals to be confined in a fenced-in area, their 'compost' to be collected and used in the garden.

The Yogo Farm

2009 - Yogo School

With the support of donor partners, the Yogo school, CGC (Christ Glory Centre) Academy began with a kindergarten and pre-kindergarten class.

2015 - Expansion of CGC Academy

CGC Academy 2015

The small building in the centre of the photo was the initial school building, and the building to the right was the Church building, now being renovated to also use as classroom.

Class 4 students

Many of these students were in the 2009 kindergarten or pre-kindergarten classes. Tested against other schools in the region, these students ranked in the top 10 percentile. Future leaders that will have a huge impact in this community.

The School

Yogo village 2008

Prior to 2008, approximately 25 people worshiped together under a tree.

2008

With community fundraising by the local community leaders and some support from family members in Canada, the first church was built in Yogo Village.

2010

Since the congregation grew from 25 people to 250 people, the first church was too small. A new building was erected, without walls, to allow for continued church growth. A good problem to have!

Worship

As the Good News of Jesus Christ is shared throughout the community, hope and faith continues to grow.

The Church

Before

water was boiled since the only well in the village was contaminated.

Before

Gathering water for washing and drinking (after boiling).

2011 The drilling begins

All previous events to drill for water had previously failed in this area. Because of generous support by 2009 mission team members, a hydrological study was done and drilling began.

First attempt!

Success! Plenty of clean water, for drinking, and for the farm!

Storage tank Farm B

Drinkable Water!

2008

The first students in the Yogo nursery school with two classes, pre-kindergarten and kindergarten.

2014

Grades 1 to 5

School expands!

Yogo VOSH Academy is a successful and

Quality education

With smaller classes of 25-30 per teacher, compared to public schools in this area that are closer to 100, plus two meals a day and clean water...

Happy kids!

During District testing, the Yogo VOSH Academy kids have been in the top 10 percentile.

Water

Storage tanks for irrigating farms A and B.

Cabbage fields

Water, drip line irrigation, quality seeds, raised beds, crop rotations, and composting, all lead to plentiful harvests. Cash crops sold at local market, and food for the school children.