Tswelopele Secular Community Farm Initiative

Francistown Humanist Collective

Tshesebe Village, near Francistown, North-East District, Botswana

Members: Lesedi Molefe, Neo Mokgosi, Amantle Seretse, Mpho Khama, Tebogo Ditlhokwe, Lorato Phane, Kagiso Sethoko, Kealeboga Tau, Thabo Nsingo, Bakang Sebina

Email: meninoalirio@gmail.com

Phone:  +267 77 922 742

What does humanism mean to you?

To us, humanism means recognizing that our well-being and progress rest firmly in our own hands. Having transitioned from relying on prayer during severe droughts to actively digging our own communal borehole, humanism is the practice of compassion, reason, and collective effort to solve real-world problems without waiting for supernatural intervention. It is the conviction that ethical action, empathy, and evidence-based solutions are all we need to build a resilient, supportive community.

Project Description

The Tswelopele Secular Community Farm Initiative aims to establish a resilient, quarter-acre communal vegetable farm in Tshesebe Village to fight food insecurity and demonstrate the practical power of humanist cooperation. Building on our existing gravity-fed borehole infrastructure, this $300 start-up grant will fund the purchase of drought-resistant seeds (spinach, tomatoes, onions, and rape greens), basic hand tools, organic soil conditioners, and a drip irrigation extension kit. Our 10 core members will manage land preparation, planting, and crop maintenance, yielding clean produce for vulnerable community members while generating sustainable income for local secular outreach programs.

Budget

Drought-Resistant Seed Packs: $75 — Choppies Superstore Agricultural Supplies

Drip Irrigation Extension Pipe Kit (50m): $110 — Agrichem Botswana Tools

Farm Hand Tools (3 Hoes, 2 Spades, 2 Rakes): $75 — Builders Warehouse Botswana

Organic Fertilizer & Soil Conditioner (50kg bags): $40 — Sebele Crop Products

Expected Income from Project, with Timeline

Months 1–2 (Planting & Growth Phase): $0 income (Focus on land prep, sowing, and irrigation setup).

Month 3 (First Harvest - Leafy Greens): Estimated $120 from selling spinach and rape greens to local households and vendor stalls at 15 BWP ($1.10 USD) per bundle.

Months 4–5 (Full Harvest - Tomatoes & Onions): Estimated $250 from produce sales to village markets and nearby school caterers.

Month 6 onwards (Ongoing Cycle): Projecting a steady $180–$220 per month in net revenue, creating a self-sustaining fund to purchase future seeds, expand farmland, and support our literacy drives.

Benefits to our Community

 Food Security & Nutrition: Provides fresh, affordable, locally grown produce to roughly 40 low-income households in our village.

Practical Secular Demonstration: Serves as a visible proof of concept to local youth that tangible progress and community care stem from human collaboration and rational action.

Economic Empowerment: Generates sustained revenue to fund local literacy initiatives and provide emergency support for individuals transitioning out of high-control religious groups.