Current Projects
Improving farm-based Income for small-scale farmers in the highlands of Ecuador with improved maize seeds and agronomic training
Improving farm-based Income for small-scale farmers in the highlands of Ecuador with improved maize seeds and agronomic training
Join Hands provides technical and material support to farmers near the village of Otavalo. Through this support the yield of maize and beans has increased substantially. This support has been directed at determining factors that limit production and in supporting the use of appropriate inputs. Join Hands is currently providing training to young farmers that attend a school for adult learners and is helping farmers in Otavalo develop an improved variety of maize that is more locally adapted.
Improving Livelihoods through Sustainable Macadamia Production in Western Kenya
Improving Livelihoods through Sustainable Macadamia Production in Western Kenya
In the fertile highlands of Mt. Elgon, Joseph and Gladys Sitati have spent more than two decades building a model of hope for smallholder farmers. Through their family‑owned company, Onja Uone Ltd., they have transformed macadamia nuts from a neglected crop into a pathway toward economic stability, climate resilience, and community empowerment.
Macadamia farming is uniquely suited to Western Kenya: the trees thrive in volcanic soils, require minimal chemical inputs, and provide long‑term income for families who traditionally rely on maize—a crop with declining profitability. The Sitatis recognized early that farmers were receiving very low prices for raw nuts while global markets demanded high‑quality processed macadamias. Their solution was bold: build the region’s first macadamia processing facility, train farmers in modern orchard management, and guarantee fair farm‑gate prices.
Today, hundreds of small-scale farmers—from Bungoma to Trans Nzoia—are planting macadamia orchards, receiving training, and selling their harvests through Onja Uone. The impact is profound: higher household incomes, new skilled jobs in rural communities, and a climate‑friendly crop that sequesters carbon and restores degraded soils.
Join Hands ND is partnering with the Sitati family to expand this work. Project funds are used to provide free or subsidized macadamia seedlings to low‑income farmers, strengthen farmer education programs, and increase processing capacity so more families can participate in this growing value chain. Every seedling planted is an investment in long‑term prosperity, environmental stewardship, and a future where rural families can thrive.
Essential Relief and Education Access for Displaced Families in Ecuador
Essential Relief and Education Access for Displaced Families in Ecuador
For thousands of Venezuelan and Colombian families fleeing violence and economic hardship, arriving in Ecuador represents a fresh start—yet immediate survival and integration remain steep hurdles. In the town of Ibarra, Join Hands ND partners with dedicated local volunteers to purchase and prepare weekly nutritious meals for roughly 100 displaced individuals and children.
In addition to vital food relief, Join Hands ND is breaking down barriers to education. While Ecuadorian public schools welcome migrant children, rigid enrollment rules require students to wear official uniforms—a cost many displaced parents simply cannot afford. By funding tailored school uniforms for young refugees, Join Hands ND ensures these boys and girls can step into the classroom, build friendships, and pursue a brighter future.
Advancing Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare in Kawangware, Kenya
Advancing Maternal and Neonatal Healthcare in Kawangware, Kenya
Access to safe, compassionate healthcare is a fundamental human right, yet urban informal settlements often face critical shortages of basic medical supplies and maternal care facilities. In Kawangware, Kenya, the FreMo Medical and Birth Center serves as a vital lifeline for expecting mothers and newborns in need of quality clinical support.
Join Hands ND partners with Voyage Direct Primary Care to strengthen FreMo’s operational capacity and direct patient care. By organizing and transporting essential donated medical supplies, diagnostic equipment, and clinical resources, Join Hands ND helps the center overcome local shortages, reduce infant and maternal mortality, and provide a dignified, safe environment for new life to enter the world.
Rapid-Response Support for Global Education and Emergency Healthcare
Rapid-Response Support for Global Education and Emergency Healthcare
Beyond our core long-term initiatives, Join Hands ND maintains a dedicated emergency response capacity to address urgent, high-impact needs as they arise in vulnerable communities worldwide. We actively identify critical gaps where targeted financial or material assistance can immediately transform lives, mobilizing donors to act quickly.
Past initiatives have funded vital physical infrastructure and classroom enhancements for primary schools in rural Kenya and Cambodia. Additionally, Join Hands ND has provided direct, life-saving financial assistance for individuals facing acute medical crises—covering complex cancer treatments and vision-restoring eye surgeries for patients in underserved regions of Cambodia who otherwise had no access to critical care.