Feeding the Future: A Franciscan Farming Project in Rwanda

A Growing Parish with Growing Needs

As a young parish only two and a half years old, Karama Parish in Rwanda is in the early stages of building a sustainable community. Led by Fr. Jean Eric Mutabazi, OFM, the parish started with hope, hard work, and a long list of practical needs. Chief among them? Food.

The friars cultivated a garden, but poor soil and lack of fertilizer meant harvests were small. They also needed fresh milk each day—but buying it meant risking unreliable quality.

The friars saw a chance to create something more sustainable—something that would help nourish their small community and eventually provide income for people in the area.

A Practical, Local Solution

Thanks to donor support, the friars launched a livestock project. They built shelters for animals and purchased five cows and forty rabbits. Project support also included money for animal feed, and enough to pay two workers and a veterinarian to help care for the animals and keep the project running smoothly.

The cows now provide clean, reliable milk. The rabbits are already reproducing—offering a source of protein and a path to future income. The manure is helping restore the garden’s productivity, so more fresh food can be grown on site.

Small Steps, Steady Progress

For a new parish in a rural region, this kind of infrastructure brings stability and hope. The friars and those they serve now have access to better nutrition. The project is well on its way to becoming self-sustaining, as the friars begin to sell milk and rabbits to fund veterinary care and pay workers—creating two stable jobs in a region where such opportunities are scarce.

And the vision doesn’t stop there. As the project grows, Fr. Jean Eric and the friars hope to add pigs and goats, further expanding food production, income generation, and community outreach.

Your Support Makes This Possible

Because of your generosity, Franciscan Missions can continue supporting parishes like Karama as they build stronger, healthier communities from the ground up.