Bezalee's MCC-HPI Project grows as rabbits multipy and turkeys take the stage
Rob Cahill

Phase Two ten months have passed since three families of Semesche' received their rabbits. A lot of learning and challanges haved passed like water under the bridge and now the project participants are completing the first phase of the project.

Semesche', an exemplary community: the original three participant families have now multiplied to thirteen. Families multiplied their original allotment of five rabbits. All three original families have passed on fifteen rabbits. Semesche' has done so well, in fact, that due to their success the project was able to invite the community of Chitap to participate. Chitap lies downhill from Semesche', a two hour walk.

Project spin offs:

Nurseries: In the second phase of the project three communities will be building nurseries for the propagation of tree seedlings and reforestation efforts.

Compost: New project particiants are still receiving red worms to process animal waste. Manuel Cu Caal saw results almost immediately after emending the soil around his tree tomatoes by his house.

Student Participation: The students in Bezaleel's agro-ecology class are being "deputized" to work as Junior Project Promoters.

Pedro Orr and his wife Maria Ico (left) enter into the project and receive the gift of five rabbits. Almost a year after its inception in the village of Semesche', the MCC/HPI project has grown from three to thirteen families.

Rostrum Junior College visits, contributes: RJC, a mennonite High School from Saskatchewan, Canada visited Bezaleel for the second time in two years. However, this visit took them a step beyond.

Community building: A key element in this project is that of cooporation, team work and sharing. Participant families who successfully "pass the gift" are receiving turkeys. The communities share their experiences, solutions to problems and eventually outlets to markets. The market for rabbit meat is no where near saturated but is actually growing. This means that at this point that communities can cooporate to market their products without fear of driving one another's prices down.

Other Key Elements in the project: