Atlanta, GEORGIA - by DaraMonifah Cooper
Social sustainability is one of the three pillars that Southern SARE encourages more research, education and outreach on. More commonly called quality of life, many aren’t always able to identify and include the specifically related area, but some are all about it as an integral part of their holistic approach.
Cashawn Myers of HABESHA, Inc., founded in 2002, shared the details of previously funded SSARE education grants and an agricultural leadership grant that HABESHA had received. The grants were used to fund practical experiences, cultural education, sustainable agriculture, entrepreneurship, holistic health, and technology for farmers and families. Myers was selected in the second class of leaders for the SSARE Sustainable Agriculture Leadership Program to add sustainable ag programming to a large annual event HABESHA holds each year on the last Saturday of June called Organic Fest.
When speaking about HABESHA Works, an urban agribusiness training program, Myers expressed gratitude for SSARE’s funding and support since the program's inception in 2011.
Fortunately for us, SARE has funded the HABESHA Works program and really helped us to expand our curriculum, expand our outreach and just overall build the program to where it is solid and strong. Cashawn Myers, HABESHA Executive Director
HABESHA shared that the organization has since trained 13 cohorts of trainees, many of whom have become thought leaders, farmers, and entrepreneurs. The program has expanded to include a graduate-level program called HALO, one of two HABESHA programs funded by a Southern SARE Education grant. HABESHA focused the goals of the HALO program on the concept of sustainability. The program’s intent is to assist the beginning farmer in achieving longevity in the farming industry by offering new opportunities to grow professionally. HABESHA takes a holistic approach to sustainability and incorporates three areas of impact which include environmental, economic, and social. The HALO Program incorporated in-class lectures paired with homework assignments, independent research, field trips and immersion experiences for practical application of learning concepts. The 7-month curriculum focused on advanced farm planning, business education and leadership skills as they relate and can be applied to participants' current businesses and initiatives. The project’s final report shared more impact details.
HABESHA also held a strategic planning retreat for building up alumni network support, announced an upcoming media day and mentioned a future program in KASI in Ghana. According to the HABESHA webpage, named in honor of world-renowned Ghanaian ethnobotanist A. Kweku Andoh, KASI is the marriage between an eco-resort and a training center, is a one-of-a-kind research and training institute which highlights instruction in sustainable and renewable eco-holistic practices from an indigenous African perspective.
Myers shared that the organization has expanded its work internationally, with a research and training institute in West Africa. They recently launched the Ghana portion of their Sankofa Black and Green Fellowship, a year-long apprenticeship for advanced training which aims to create cross-cultural learning opportunities and bridge opportunities with their graduates. The fellowship aims to bring a field fellow and an operations manager to the US and then to Ghana to undergo a month of training.
The future goals for HABESHA Works include providing funding and resources to other organizations and individuals in the agriculture space which may need training and technical support similar to how they were able to develop with the help of SSARE and any other agencies or organizations interested in partnering.
Myers explained the purpose of the Harvest Fest, an upcoming event happening in their Atlanta location on September 21, 2024, which celebrates their alumni and includes workshops, vendors, performances, and activities for youth.
To learn more about HABESHA’s projects and others funded by Southern SARE, visit https://projects.sare.org/search-projects/ to search all projects. EDS20-15 EDS18-07
Listen to the podcast here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1923120/15559160
View Related SARE Grants:
- HABESHA Agriculture Leadership Opportunity (HALO Program) (EDS20-15)
- HABESHA Works Program Expansion and Incubator Development (EDS18-07)