Farming for Community Affected by war in D.R.C

R.Y.C. Agricultural Program: Progress Report

Date: July 2026
Location: Mudja Farm, North Kivu, DRC
Project:  Youth Agricultural Reintegration & Food Sovereignty

1. Executive Summary:

Our agricultural program in Mudja continues to be a powerful engine for reintegration and community resilience. We are excited to report that our current cycle of *sweet potatoes* is growing beautifully. Our youth have worked tirelessly to cultivate the soil, and we are officially on track for a major harvest next month.

2. Current Status: The Sweet Potato Crop
We intentionally chose sweet potatoes for this planting cycle because they are a resilient, fast-growing, and highly nutritious crop. This is especially important as we currently operate on rented land; short-cycle crops allow us to maximize our yield while navigating the uncertainties of renting.

*Crop Health: The fields are green and thriving. Our youth teams are currently managing weed control and ensuring the soil remains healthy as the tubers reach full maturity.

*Harvest Timeline: We are preparing for a full harvest in August.

*Self-Sustainability: We are proud to report that the rent for this farming space continues to be covered entirely through our own local efforts and hard work, demonstrating the resourcefulness of our community.

3. Impact on the Youth:
This farming program is about much more than just food; it is about providing a clean slate and a sovereign future.

*Skill Building:Former child soldiers and vulnerable youth have traded weapons for agricultural tools, learning hands-on agronomy, teamwork, and project management.

*Therapeutic Value: Working with the soil and seeing the tangible results of their labor provides immense psychological grounding for youth recovering from trauma.

*Safety & Hygiene: Amidst the ongoing regional challenges and the Ebola health crisis, our farm provides a safe, structured, and supervised environment where we can enforce strict hygiene and infection prevention measures.

4. Next Steps & Look Ahead
As we approach harvest season next month, our immediate next steps are:

•  Harvest & Distribution: Organizing the youth into harvesting teams to safely extract, clean, and store the sweet potatoes.
• Community Nutrition: A portion of the yield will go directly to feeding the vulnerable families within the R.Y.C. network.
•  Market Sales: The surplus will be sold at local markets to generate income, which will be reinvested into our programs and help sustain our ongoing rent and operational costs.

5. Our Ultimate Goal:

While we are incredibly proud of this upcoming harvest, it serves as a reminder of our larger vision. By reaching our $35,000 goal to purchase our own land, we will eliminate the burden of rent entirely. Owning the soil will allow us to plant long-term, high-yield crops and build permanent infrastructure for our youth.