Promoting religious and environmental initiatives
TISA is dedicated to fostering eco-friendly practices and life skills development
Education and
Awareness
Educating communities and religious organizations on nature conservation
Welcome to TISA
Trees Initiative Sustainable Agriculture (TISA)
Trees Initiative Sustainable Agriculture (TISA) is a local non-profit Community Based Organization established in 2019. Located in Indangalasia within Koyonzo Ward of Matungu Sub-County, Kakamega County, Western Kenya, TISA is dedicated to fostering eco-friendly practices and life skills development among community members and religious organizations.
Our Mission
Our mission is to assist impoverished individuals in accessing food, water, and essential life skills, while also promoting religious and environmental initiatives within Matungu Sub-County, Kakamega County and the entire Country at Large
Our Vision
To create a region where every individual, regardless of their socioeconomic status, has access to sufficient food, clean water, and essential life skills, while fostering a community deeply connected to its religious and environmental values, thereby ensuring sustainable well-being and prosperity for all
Our Objectives
- Holistic Support: Enhancing accessibility to food, water, and vital life skills for marginalized individuals in Matungu Sub-County and Kakamega County
- Environmental Advocacy: Championing environmental preservation and sustainable farming methods to bolster community resilience.
- Empowerment Through Education: Providing comprehensive education and training initiatives to empower individuals and communities.
- Interfaith Collaboration: Cultivating partnerships with religious groups to address communal needs and foster social unity.
- Poverty Alleviation: Implementing targeted projects to tackle the underlying causes of poverty and inequality within the region.
- Policy Advocacy: Advocating for policy reforms that promote sustainable development and community well-being.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Forming strategic alliances with local stakeholders, government bodies, and NGOs to amplify the impact of our endeavors.
- Program Evaluation: Rigorously monitoring and evaluating program effectiveness to ensure ongoing enhancement and accountability.
- Advocacy and Awareness: Engaging in advocacy efforts and awareness campaigns to garner support for our mission and goals.
- Inclusive Participation: Empowering marginalized demographics, such as women and youth, to actively engage in decision-making processes and community-building endeavors.
Core Values
- Sustainability: Dedicated to practices ensuring the enduring well-being of both communities and the environment.
- Equity: Firmly upholding fairness, justice, and equal access to opportunities for all members of society.
- Empowerment: Empowering individuals and communities to lead their own progress through education and capacity-building.
- Collaboration: Actively engaging with diverse stakeholders to maximize the impact and effectiveness of initiatives.
- Integrity: Operating with unwavering honesty, transparency, and accountability in all endeavors.
- Respect: Recognizing and valuing the inherent dignity, diversity, and rights of every individual.
- Environmental Stewardship: Championing sustainable practices to mitigate adverse environmental impacts and promote conservation.
- Innovation: Embracing creative solutions to tackle multifaceted challenges effectively.
- Community-Centered: Tailoring programs to address the specific needs and priorities of local communities.
- Continuous Learning: Committed to ongoing improvement and adaptation through rigorous feedback and evaluation processes.
Challenges
The region faces significant challenges, including climate change impacts, inadequate access to safe water and sanitation, and underdeveloped rural villages with unskilled farmers.
TISA Main Activities
Activity 1
Horticulture
TISA’s horticulture activities encompass crop cultivation of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamental plants through activities like land preparation, planting, and harvesting. They promote sustainable farming methods, provide training, and facilitate market access for farmers. TISA engages communities through events and workshops to raise awareness and encourages participation in gardening. Furthermore, TISA contributes to environmental conservation by promoting the planting of trees, indigenous plants, and pollinator-friendly flowers, thereby enhancing biodiversity and mitigating climate change.
Activity 2
Poultry Farming
TISA’s poultry farming activity encompasses breeding, rearing, and management of various poultry species for egg and meat production, as well as income generation. They ensure optimal care for birds, focusing on housing, feeding, and healthcare. Egg production involves maintaining conducive environments for laying hens, collecting eggs regularly, and ensuring proper storage. Similarly, meat production entails managing bird growth until market weight and processing for meat. This activity serves as an income source for TISA and community members, with revenue generated from egg, meat, and poultry product sales. Additionally, TISA provides training covering poultry management, disease prevention, and marketing strategies to interested farmers. They emphasize sustainability through practices like waste management, biosecurity, and organic feed use, aiming to minimize environmental impact and ensure long-term viability.
Activity 3
Livestock Farming
TISA engages in livestock farming, including breeding, rearing, and management of various species for meat, milk, and income generation. They prioritize proper housing, feeding, and healthcare for animals like cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs. Livestock farming encompasses meat and milk production, with a focus on quality and hygiene standards. It serves as a significant income source, and TISA offers training in husbandry and sustainability practices to interested farmers. They promote sustainable practices like waste management and animal welfare to minimize environmental impact while ensuring productivity and welfare.
Activity 4
Tailoring Services
TISA’s tailoring activity encompasses custom tailoring services, training and skill development, entrepreneurship support, income generation, community engagement, and sustainability practices. Through its tailoring workshop, TISA creates various garments and textile products while offering custom tailoring services tailored to individual preferences. They conduct training programs to empower community members with tailoring skills and provide entrepreneurship support to aspiring tailors. Tailoring serves as both an income-generating activity for TISA and individuals trained in the field and contributes to economic empowerment. TISA engages with the community to understand their tailoring needs and collaborates with local artisans and producers to promote creativity and innovation. Sustainability practices include the use of eco-friendly materials and ethical production methods, prioritizing quality craftsmanship and social responsibility.
Activity 5
Kitchen Gardening
TISA’s kitchen gardening initiative focuses on establishing small-scale home gardens or kitchen plots to cultivate a variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and edible plants. They provide assistance in garden setup, crop selection, and planting techniques, emphasizing organic practices and water conservation. The activity aims to enhance nutrition, food security, and income generation for households while promoting community engagement and education through workshops and events. Additionally, kitchen gardening contributes to health and well-being by encouraging physical activity and outdoor recreation, while also offering environmental benefits such as reduced carbon emissions and waste.
The Farmer’s Resource Centre
TISA’s Farmers Resource Centre collaborates with the Organic Farmer magazine to provide valuable resources, information, and support to farmers engaged in organic farming practices. Here’s an overview of their activity
Information Dissemination
The Farmers Resource Centre disseminates relevant information, articles, and research findings from the Organic Farmer magazine to farmers interested in organic farming. This includes practical tips, best practices, success stories, and updates on organic farming techniques, pest control methods, and soil management practices.
Training and Workshops
TISA organizes training sessions, workshops, and seminars in collaboration with the Organic Farmer magazine to educate farmers on organic farming principles and techniques. These training programs cover topics such as crop rotation, composting, natural pest management, and organic certification processes.
Technical Assistance
The Farmers Resource Centre offers technical assistance and advisory services to farmers seeking guidance on transitioning to organic farming or improving their existing organic farming practices. This includes on-site visits, consultations, and demonstrations of organic farming methods.
Networking and Community Building
TISA facilitates networking opportunities and community building among organic farmers through events, forums, and online platforms. Farmers can connect with peers, share experiences, and learn from each other’s successes and challenges in organic farming.
Research and Innovation
TISA and the Organic Farmer magazine collaborate on research projects and initiatives to explore innovative solutions and technologies for organic farming. This includes conducting field trials, testing new organic inputs, and documenting case studies to advance the field of organic agriculture.
Advocacy and Awareness
The Farmers Resource Centre advocates for policies and practices that support organic farming and sustainable agriculture. They raise awareness about the benefits of organic farming for environmental conservation, food security, and rural livelihoods through campaigns, publications, and outreach activities. summarize
Initiatives
To address these challenges, TISA-CBO actively engages in a variety of initiatives:
Initiative 1
Education and Awareness
We organize workshops, training sessions, and awareness campaigns to educate communities and religious organizations on nature conservation, water conservation, and sustainable agricultural practices.
Initiative 2
Tree Planting
TISA-CBO undertakes tree planting initiatives along rivers, streams, schools, and churches to combat soil erosion, restore watersheds, and increase access to nutritional fruit trees. Notable locations include River Nzoia and Lunabo streams.
Initiative 3
Waste Management
We emphasize the importance of waste management by collecting plastic and biodegradable waste for composting and recycling, thereby contributing to eco-friendly practices and environmental sustainability.
Initiative 4
Community Engagement
TISA-CBO collaborates closely with religious organizations, women’s groups, and youth associations to promote active participation in tree planting, agriculture, and water and sanitation management.
Media Gallery
Global Partnerships
- TISA-CBO proudly holds membership with PaRD International, demonstrating our commitment to global partnerships in promoting sustainable development. PaRD International Members
- Our collaboration with Institute for Development and Leadership in Africa (IDEA) focuses on sustainable agriculture and agroforestry initiatives. Together, we implement various programs such as tree nursery establishment, training on agroforestry techniques, and community-based reforestation projects. Through joint workshops, field demonstrations, and knowledge-sharing activities, we exchange expertise, resources, and best practices to maximize the impact of our interventions
- TISA’s partnership with The Organic Farmer Magazine is a strategic collaboration aimed at amplifying support for organic farming initiatives. Through this partnership, TISA leverages the extensive reach and expertise of the Organic Farmer magazine to disseminate valuable information, resources, and guidance to farmers involved in organic agriculture
- Lunabo Water Resources Users Association (Winnibald Wangombe: Chairman) In liaison with GIZ and USAID
- TISA engages in collaborative efforts with local church and mosque organizations, corporate societies, educational institutions, local administration authorities, and pertinent government ministries to advance its mission.
News & Updates
On Friday, May 10th, 2024, we observe National Tree Planting Day to honor Kenyans affected by floods. TISA’s Youth Lead, Samira, along with other members, contributed by donating and planting trees at Indangalasia Secondary School in Matungu Sub-County to commemorate recent losses in Kenya
