$340k to 9 countries = a busy six months!
The latest news on ARDF’s Development Projects
November 2021
In the past 6 months (since the last project update on May 1, 2021), ARDF has sent nearly $340,000 to projects in:
Egypt, Ghana, India, Kenya, Myanmar, Nigeria, South Sudan, Tanzania
We also funded a project in an undisclosed country (due to security reasons).
Kenya: Bakery (operated by the development arm of the Anglican Church in Kenya)
In 2019, the ARDF Global Council approved the construction of a bakery in Machakos, Kenya. This bakery now produces two types of bread using flour made from highly nutritious amaranth and sweet potatoes, which are rich in vitamin A. Meanwhile, the church worked with existing farming associations to provide agricultural extension services, mobilization, and training to local farmers. With a guaranteed market for their produce, farmers will have incentive to produce enough raw materials to sustain the bakery.
After two years of COVID related delays, the bakery is up and running! This project is unique as the funds from ARDF are part grant, part loan. When the bakery begins making an income, the loan will be paid back to the Anglican Church of Kenya in order to fund other ministry initiatives. The goal is for the Anglican Church of Kenya to become self-sustaining through income generating businesses like this one.
This project is now in its final stages. Per our granting agreement, ARDF has committed to fund some of the staffing expenses for the first few months of operations.
A big ceremony was held on October 21 to officially launch the Bakery.
Tanzania
In rural Tanzania, there are not enough schools to accommodate all of the girls who wish to attend. Furthermore, many schools are too far away for students to safely travel to as day students. To meet this need, the Anglican Diocese of Rorya is expanding the Nyang’ombe girls secondary school with a dormitory, four classrooms, a library, laboratory, and computer lab.
Construction on this project was halted as the diocese waited for a new bishop to be consecrated. In late May, the Rt. Rev. Musa Yamo, was officially welcomed as the new bishop. He immediately re-started construction of the school. The next (and final) phase is currently underway to install windows and doors, wire the buildings with electricity, and add paint and other finishings.
New students are expected to be admitted in early 2022.
Last May, shortly after his consecration, the new bishop visited the school. It has been a priority for him ever since.
Construction is almost complete on this project in a rural village in Northern India.
India
ARDF partnered with St. Michael’s (Charleston, SC) to support the expansion of St. John’s school in Northern India. Bishop Probal Kanto Dutta reports that the building will be ready to receive students when the government opens up school attendance in West Bengal. This is expected to happen soon and we are thrilled that students from the village of Kalikapur will have an English school in their village for the very first time!
In anticipation of receiving students, the school is now looking for a female missionary teacher to come teach the youngest students ( 3-6 year olds) for up to six months. Let us know if you are interested.
South Sudan
For most of our completed projects, we create a video summary of the impact. Here you can watch the video for a recently completed project in Juba, a classroom expansion that is responding to the demand of the community for quality education.
Global Council Meeting
Today, on November 3, the ARDF Global Council is meeting (on Zoom) to evaluate six new projects that have been rigorously researched by our independent research team. If the Global Council approves a project, we will announce this in our newsletters and publish the details on our website. Stay tuned to learn what new projects ARDF will be funding in the coming months.
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