This was presented at SANGONet's ICT4RD Conference in Johannesburg on Wednesday 2nd November 2011. It is a showcase of August Basson's Growing Nations project in Lesotho.

1. © 2011 GivenGain Foundation. Private and Confidential
Growing Nations
A Showcase for ICT & Agricultural Development
SANGONet ICT4RD Conference
Wanderers, Johannesburg
2nd November 2011

2. © 2011 GivenGain Foundation. Private and Confidential
Overview
1. Introduction
2. Communication
3. Information
4. Showcase
5. Outcomes
6. Impact

3. © 2011 GivenGain Foundation. Private and Confidential 3
Introduction

4. © 2011 GivenGain Foundation. Private and Confidential 4
Conservation Agriculture
• Growing Nations is based in Maphutseng, Lesotho
• August Basson aims to transform lives through the
practical teaching of Conservation Agriculture methods
and leadership skills also known as ‘Farming God’s Way’
• Helping to provide food security and hope for the future
for people throughout Lesotho and across Africa.
• Conservation Agriculture is method of no-till farming
that is being adopted by more and more farmers across
the world.
• Since the 1960s farmers and researchers in the Americas
have using a system of growing crops that conserves &
builds-up value organic matter in soils, improves soil
quality and fertility.
• Dramatically reduces negative environmental impacts of
modern-day agriculture such as air and water pollution
as well as wind and water erosion.

5. © 2011 GivenGain Foundation. Private and Confidential 5
Communication

6. © 2011 GivenGain Foundation. Private and Confidential 6
Challenges & Triumphs
• In 1997, it took a drive of 2 hours to get
a place with a cell phone signal
• In 2000, it was possible to pick up a
weak cell phone signal on the farm
• 2010, the farm got access to broadband
“This one event had a significant impact on all
sectors of our internet work and connectivity”
• Skype changed the way to communicate
• It was impossible to to phone people
overseas now they have meetings and
teleconferences online!

7. © 2011 GivenGain Foundation. Private and Confidential 7
Information

8. © 2011 GivenGain Foundation. Private and Confidential 8
Access to ICT
Significant Events:
• Team Members
• International Influence
• Video Production
• Professional Photographer
• Donors
Influence:
• Helped us to tell the World the stories
of farmers, the struggles and the joys.
• Helped us to influence people’s
thinking on development.

9. © 2011 GivenGain Foundation. Private and Confidential 9
Showcase: ICT for Fundraising

10. © 2011 GivenGain Foundation. Private and Confidential 10
Fundraising: GivenGain

11. © 2011 GivenGain Foundation. Private and Confidential 11
Fundraising: Website Integration

12. © 2011 GivenGain Foundation. Private and Confidential 12
Fundraising: ‘Activists’

13. © 2011 GivenGain Foundation. Private and Confidential 13
Showcase: Outcomes

14. © 2011 GivenGain Foundation. Private and Confidential 14
Impact
August Basson:
• I am very glad we live in this
(digitally networked) era
• I think we would have been a
very small organization with
local impact
• Today we have impact
throughout Lesotho and
around the World
• Although technology has
helped us a lot it can never
replace the personal
relationship with donors
and people involved.

15. © 2011 GivenGain Foundation. Private and Confidential
Colin Habberton
CEO, GivenGain Foundation South Africa
c: +27 71 401 2434
e: colin@givengain.com
t: @relatomics
or find me on LinkedIn
Growing Nations
A Showcase for ICT & Agricultural Development