Brethren In Christ Compassionate & Development Services

31/03/2023

Every year, in the month of March, the world celebrates women and as an organization, alongside everyone, we are honored to celebrate women in farming. It is as the month ends that as Brethren in Christ Compassionate and Development Services (BIC CDS) we stand in solidarity with women as we commemorate volunteer farmers working towards changing their livelihoods under the Gwanda Gender Sensitive Food Security Program (GGFSP). We delight in knowing that 70% of our volunteer farmers under GGSFP is accounted by women who thrive to create sustainable livelihoods for their families.
While women have been acknowledged to be prone to food insecurity if they remain less empowered, with the flourishing food security programmes aimed at enhancing women’s farming capacity, they take great strides partaking in mechanism that improve their livelihoods and see them becoming game changers in the sector. Women’s roles in agricultural development and food security are being felt as they have become economic players with much demonstrated innovation and resilience.
According to the United Nations (UN), women play a key role in food production and form a large proportion of the agricultural work force globally. Their empowerment is essential not only for the well-being of individuals, and families but also for the overall economic productivity. It is through BIC-CDS’s continued engagement with valued partners and volunteer farmers that we hope to see more fruitful results that will change and contribute to the sustenance of our communities' well-being. We believe that through team work, and innovative collaborations, women in farming will continue to leave their mark and become role models and that people who see their work will provide testimony of their diligence, resilience and commitment towards the betterment of their lives.

29/09/2021

29/09/2021

It was great day today as BIC CDS and its valued stakeholders gathered at Sibona village, Ward 6 of Gwanda district to commemorate International Day of Peace and further witness the commissioning of Makhwatshana Nutrition Garden and a newly installed solar powered water pumping system. BIC CDS has always pledged to intensify efforts towards supporting irrigate Agriculture to boost food and nutrition security. We pledge to continue to partnering and supporting communities as they develop themselves!

31/03/2021

31/03/2021

Celebration of Women Farmers: International Women’s Month

The month of March has seen the world over religiously celebrate women across all walks of life. It is as the month ends, that as Brethren in Christ Compassionate and Development Services we feel compelled to not take lightly the extra ordinary foundation and engagement we have built with our female farmers as we brandish their resilience and brilliance.
Over the years, we have had the pleasure to work with volunteer farmers who up to date account up to 70% female participation and continue to show dedication in their numbers. Women’s dedication to farming is what would have them survive the hunger strife brought forth by climate change and outbreak of the world biting virus-COVID-19 which not only caused a dreadful loss of life globally, but its existence would soon shatter the world’s economic pillars. To note is the unfortunate implications of farmer target markets as COVID-19 restrictions were leveled out to contain the virus, and would mean a non-existent transportation of goods to consumers they normally would have been selling to.
The competence of female farmers is applaudable as albeit being burdened by other household chores, they continue to vibrantly, and determinately juggle up farming activities too. Their attitude continues to demonstrate their ability to sustainably produce their own food and all the same refraining them from being reduced to beggars. In the long run, their commitment to such developmental issues reduces their vulnerability. On this account, part of the implementation of the Gwanda Gender Sensitive Food Security Program (GGSFSP) looks into contributing to improved gendered food security and resilient livelihoods and would have women in farming learning a lot about empowering themselves.
Through team work, they have not only learnt to produce food for themselves but to fight against aid dependency and have therefore come to appreciate the need to preach the language of women empowerment. It is also intriguing that some women who have also notedly come of age are almost always seen running around and taking the world of farming to a greater level. Given that the farmers have also been educated of conservation agriculture (CA), their use of such methods of farming sees them achieve improved harvests as compared to years prior to them attaining that knowledge. As it stands, these farmers value conservation agriculture as it affords them opportunity of producing food in a sustainable, climate smart and environmentally friendly way.
It is as such that as the month of celebrating women ends, we reflect on women involved in farming, who have not only taken farming by storm but into their hearts and are gladly producing for their food security, financial sustainability and improved household livelihoods. At BIC CDS together with our valued partners, we continue to identify and work towards improving upon the welfare of vulnerable and food insecure communities.

31/12/2020

We wish you all a Prosperous and Happy New year 2021!

31/12/2020

It is time to praise our God since evidently he has been with us through 2020. Though @ CDS we have not operated normally since March we at least managed to score victories within the context of our programming and we owe all this to the Most High, who is our refuge and strength (Psalm 46:1). None of our staff contracted or suffered from COVID-19 nor did we get any report that any of our volunteer farmers, learners that we support or fellow extension staff suffered from the disease. That was only by His Grace. Praise be to God!!!

25/11/2020

“BIC-CDS joins the world in commemorating the against . The success of this movement rests within investing in collaborative n worldwide actionable interventions to end such social injustices. It is a gradual process but together we can do it.”

13/10/2020

The Corona Virus Pandemic has in many ways demonstrated the need to invest in disaster risk reduction oriented mechanisms celebrated every 13th October. CDS acknowledges the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction and takes account of the many organizations and communities that have been a part of this culture. It is CDS' vision to ensure a just and progressive Zimbabwe and as is the case, we have been involved in humanitarian aids amongst other areas of concern. Covid-19 saw price hikes of basic commodities in Zimbabwe and it is in this regard that CDS has been a helping hand in some communities. As the day celebrates a shared culture of being our own strength during cases of trauma, CDS stands and shares with the rest of the world a united voice which preaches for success in disaster reduction for the survival of humanity.

06/10/2020

God created us to share one common home -- the earth. The Mennonite Central Committee - MCC has been a great facilitator of reconciliation across many nations. Join us as we bless MCC at this centennial celebration. Our Programs Manager, brother Ndabenhle Ncube, is featured on this page of 100 faces. Can you spot him?

31/07/2020

Peace Sunday preparations are underway. Here are some suggestions from the Mennonite World Conference.