BEYOND JEWISH CAMPS AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, GRACE ABIGAIL BUSINGE IS INVESTING IN PRACTICAL LIVELIHOOD DEVELOPMENT,ONE BANANA PLANT AND ONE COCOA SEEDLING AT A TIME.

Leadership is not only about what we teach others. Sometimes, it is about what we are willing to put our hands into and grow.

Much of my work has focused on community leadership, youth empowerment and pioneering Jewish camps in Uganda. But I have also come to believe that building stronger communities requires more than education and leadership development. It requires creating practical opportunities for families to become more self-reliant and economically resilient.

This belief inspired me to invest in agriculture on a three-acre piece of land in Kagadi District,in Uganda, where I am developing an integrated farming project combining Banana (matooke) growing and cocoa cultivation.

At the beginning of August 2026, we reached an important milestone: 1,350 banana plants were planted and intercropped with an equivalent 1,350 cocoa seedlings.

But the numbers tell only part of the story.

The real story is about the people who came together to make it happen and the hope they saw in the ground as the first plants went in.

Why Bananas and Cocoa?

Uganda has a strong agricultural tradition, with farming providing food, employment and income for millions of families. Bananas, commonly known as matooke, are an importantstaple food, particularly in central and western Uganda, while Banana production can also provide farmers with an important source of household income.

Cocoa, alongside established cash crops such as coffee and cotton, offers another opportunity for farmers to diversify their livelihoods. Cocoa requires patience, care and good management, but it is a long-term investment that can continue producing for many years once established. For this reason, I chose to combine bananas and cocoa on the same piece of land.

The bananas can contribute to food production and income opportunities, while the cocoa represents a longer-term investment. Intercropping the two crops also allows us to make productive use of the available land while developing an agricultural enterprise with both shorter- and longer-term potential.For women and young people especially, agriculture can be much more than subsistence farming. It can become a pathway to entrepreneurship, household resilience, skills development and financial independence.

A Community Came Together

This project was never intended to be a one-person effort.Women, men and young people from the area came together to help execute the planting.

What could have been simply a day of agricultural work became a day of community, teamwork and shared purpose.

We worked together, encouraged one another and, of course, shared a simple lunch. Yet the simplicity of the meal did not diminish the joy of the day. What stood out most was the happiness, enthusiasm and positive spirit among the participants.For some, this project represented something very personal.

Some participants spoke about the challenges of providing for their families and how difficult it can be to afford things they need when there is no reliable income. Seeing a new agricultural opportunity being established in their community gave them hope that, with patience and hard work, they could eventually have another source of income.That moment touched me deeply.

The value of this farm is not measured only by the number of plants in the ground. It is also measured by the hope those plants have planted in the hearts of the people around them. At the end of the planting activity, the participants made an important commitment: to work together to protect the plantation and support the proper growth of the crops. This is essential because planting is only the beginning.The Banana and Cocoa plants will require regular maintenance, monitoring, protection, weeding and proper management as they grow. Their commitment to participate in this process gives the project a stronger foundation.

The participants understood that this is not simply an investment belonging to one person. It is an opportunity that has been introduced into their area, an opportunity they can help protect and nurture for the benefit of their families and the wider community. In this sense, the farm is already becoming something bigger than a plantation.

A Message to Women: Start With What You Have

One of my strongest hopes is to encourage more women to explore agriculture and poultry farming as practical ways of strengthening their families.You do not always need a large farm or substantial capital to begin.You can start with: A small piece of land; A few chickens; A vegetable garden; A small banana plantation; Fruit trees; Poultry or livestock; or An agricultural skill that can gradually become a business. The important thing is to start, learn, improve and grow.

Agriculture can provide food for the household, create additional income, provide savings and investment opportunities, develop skills and, when managed as a business, create employment.

I also believe strongly in involving children and young people, particularly during school holidays. When young people are at home, they can spend some of their time learning practical skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. They can learn to plant and care for crops, understand environmental protection, keep simple records, explore agricultural business, work as a team and appreciate the value of producing food. These experiences teach much more than farming. They teach responsibility, patience, discipline, teamwork and entrepreneurship. Most importantly, young people can begin to see agriculture differently not as something that belongs only to their parents or grandparents, but as a profession, a business and a possible pathway to independence.

From Jewish Camps to the Farm: Investing in People

My agricultural journey may appear different from my work in Jewish community leadership and youth development, but for me, the connection is very clear.Whether I am organizing a Jewish camp, supporting women, encouraging young leaders or developing an agricultural project, my principle remains the same:Give people an opportunity to learn, volunteer and build something meaningful.The Jewish camps I have pioneered in Uganda create spaces where young people can learn, socialize, build confidence, explore their Jewish heritage and discover leadership.The farm creates a different kind of learning space, one where young people and families can discover the value of work, food production, entrepreneurship and self-reliance.

What Do You Already Have?

I encourage women, families and young people to look around them and ask a simple question:

“What do I already have that I can build upon?”

Perhaps it is a small piece of land.Perhaps it is a few chickens.Perhaps it is a garden.Perhaps it is knowledge that can be shared.Perhaps it is simply the willingness to learn and begin.We should never underestimate small beginnings.One local chicken can become a flock. One seed can become a plantation.
One small idea can become a family business.
And one woman who takes the first step can inspire many others to do the same. The Kagadi project is still young, and there is much more work ahead. The Banana plants and  Cocoa seedlings are only the beginning of a longer journey. But every plant represents a commitment to the future. This project is not simply about growing Bananas and Cocoa. It is about demonstrating what can happen when women, men and young people come together, take initiative and invest in productive opportunities.The enthusiasm of the people who participated has strengthened my belief that sustainable development becomes more meaningful when the community is involved from the beginning.

My hope is that, as the plantation grows, it will become not only a source of food and income, but also a lasting source of opportunity for families in the area. We cannot always predict what tomorrow will bring. But we can plant something today that gives tomorrow a better chance. And that is what we are doing in Kagadi:

Planting food. Building skills. Creating opportunity. Strengthening families. And growing hope.