Thanks to the Haley McCready Outreach and Development Fund (HMODF), Hope Africa University’s Agriculture and Zootechny Program now includes practical, high production crop cultivation training. Yes, the HMODF arranged for Hope Africa University (the University) to be able use the nearby Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Market Gardening and Fruit Service’s land for the training. Likewise, the HMODF recruited Foundations for Farming; formerly called Farming God’s Way, to provide the critical practical, high production crop cultivation training. Accordingly, the current class of students in their internship are receiving supervised practical training and they will graduate in February and they will be the very first class to have received such practical training.
Most of the current 56 students were selected by the Free Methodist Church of Burundi (the Church) and, thereby, received a two-year full scholarship from Friends of Hope Africa University (Friends). The Church-selected, scholarship students are expected to return to their home communes and to utilize their training and new skills to assist local farmers to increase their crop cultivation production and improve their care of animals. Without the Friends scholarships, the Church-selected students would simply not have been able to afford the training.
Recently, Dr. Betty Overton, President of Friends of Hope Africa University was in Burundi and was able to visit the nearby fields where the training is taking place. The visit included Rector Servilien NITUNGA, Vice-Rector Edouard NIYONGABO, Cyprien NTUNZWENIMANA, Emmanuel MVUYEKURE, Liliane BUTOYI and students of the University and Murungwa IRAKOZE of Foundations for Farming. The practical, high production crop cultivation has only been made possible by the collaboration of Murungwa IRAKOZE of Foundations for Farming and the support of Rector Servilien NITUNGA of Hope Africa University.
👏 Dr. Betty Overton Visits HAU’s Agricultural Fields; Vanilla DUSHIME, Head of Communication for Hope Africa University Provided the Italicized Text and Photos Below:
Bujumbura, September 24, 2025. Dr. Betty Overton, President of Friends of Hope, visited the agricultural plantations of Hope Africa University’s Institute of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry (IAZ), where students showcased their practical skills in farming and animal husbandry.Â
Accompanied by the Rector and Deputy Vice-Rector ;Dr. Overton observed firsthand the hands-on training that complements academic instruction at HAU.Â
“I am truly impressed by the level of skill these students have demonstrated,” Dr. Overton said. “Hope Africa University is making an outstanding contribution to professional and practical education, preparing students to impact their communities in meaningful ways.”
Dr. Overton warmly thanked the university leadership for their commitment to academic excellence and practical training, noting that the initiative reflects HAU’s vision to empower students for service and development across Africa.
With practical, high production crop cultivation finally included in the internship training, continuing to provide the Friends of Hope Africa Scholarships to Church-selected students, is strategically critical to developing the missing Extension Program with national reach and national impact on African Realities; Burundian Realities. The Extension Program can develop accessible practical training, accessible practical demonstration and accessible practical ongoing support for community farmers in their own fields throughout Burundi. Increasing crop cultivation production will contribute to alleviating poverty, decreasing malnutrition, decreasing hunger and improving health and improving the quality of lives.
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