Rev. Chantell Fortuin and Project Restore – Church and Ecological Farming

Project Project Restore – Church and Ecological Farming

The Lorwana Fundraising Project - The Global Justice Institute has partnered with Rev Chantell Fortuin and the congregation at Lorwana African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), in the eastern corner of the Southern District of Botswana, to assist with several projects to better their community through the efforts of their church.

Appointed to lead her congregation, Rev Fortuin, an out lesbian, and ordained, is unusual. And, she is becoming well-accepted and respected by her congregation while taking the lead to promote community engagement and ecological farming.

Rev. Fortuin, and her congregation, vision for this project, is that their church will further become a center for all people to commune, share and celebrate their diversity. They feel called to serve as a catalyst for positive change, empowerment, and transformation within their community and beyond (inspired in part by the 18th Century movement of the Free Africa Society).

There are 3 parts those fundraising project:

1. The first is installing electricity and water access by being able to connect to government sources and installing water tanks for storage.

2. The second is the development of an environmentally friendly and sustainable eco-system farming on a significant portion of their .6-acre site.

3. The congregation also wish to finish work on their church building in order to be a functional site for the implementation of various intergenerational engagement programs as well as a Lorwana Learning Hub.

These projects reflect the reality of their village, where there are no outlets where residents can access online learning programs, as well as a lack of communal meeting space. They believe this will also help the church grow.

This is a small congregation (less than 50 members) in a small village (approximately 2,000 residents) but a highly active and engaged one.

Rev. Chantell Fortuin, who graduated from the Kgolagalo Theological College, vision for this project is already making a name for her congregation through her leadership.

We believe supporting these projects will not only strengthen the congregation but also their village and indeed Botswana. It can become a model of congregational and community engagement.

To help make this project a reality, we need your help to raise $7,000.00 to fully fund Project Restore – Church and Ecological Farming. Whatever amount you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Please, help make this a reality.

Any amount is greatly appreciated, and donations can be given here.

In your generosity and giving, please indicate your donation as a gift to Project Restore.

Thank you –

The Rev. Dr. Robin Hawley Gorsline – Project Lead

Bishop Robert Griffin – Liaison to Africa