ABOUT US

Our Story

Even for those who lived through it, it is difficult to believe how much this small, unfunded NGO has accomplished in such a short period of time and with such limited financial resources.

Moringa Community was officially incorporated in September 2008, and by January 2009, we had broken ground on the first foundation for the Moringa Community School of Trades (MCST). Through private donations, an extraordinary spirit of volunteerism, and the full commitment of sweat equity from program participants, an ambitious vision began to take shape.

In just three years, a fully functioning trade school emerged from what had been dense rural bushland. Construction relied almost entirely on manual labor and locally available resources. The only machinery used was Mr. Jeffry's Third World Machine Shop—originally powered by a generator—which was used to build wooden brick-molding forms and cut lumber for door frames and roof rafters.

Every aspect of the project was carried out by community volunteers. Men, women, and children worked side by side to create opportunities for a better future. Children gathered stones by hand for concrete aggregate. Cement was mixed manually with hoes and trowels. Excavation was completed using only picks and shovels.

What was achieved stands as a remarkable testament to the power of community determination, shared purpose, and hope. The Moringa Community School of Trades was built not by machines or large budgets, but by the hands, hearts, and perseverance of people committed to improving the quality of life within their community.

For readers interested in learning more about the origins of this initiative, its development, and its future vision, we invite you to explore the in-depth article published by Works & Conversations in 2010. While the organization has made significant progress since the article was written, it offers valuable insight into the spark that ignited the Moringa Project and the principles upon which this unique NGO was founded.