Volume 44 Issue 4 Stories
Feature

Reaching Virtually

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Clockwise from top left: ECHO team members host a breakout session; ECHO East Africa Staff present an Appropriate Technology Keynote; The ICT Team prepares for live conference sessions; Valuable knowledge was shared by ECHO Conference plenary session speakers; A new studio constructed at ECHO Florida helps to increase the efficiency and quality of live and recorded trainings.

Live-Online Trainings

The global resourcing of missionaries and development workers is key to ECHO‘s   mission. In 2020, we offered our first Virtual Appropriate Technology Fair and held the International Agriculture Conference in a new online format. Participants from 75 countries came together, learning valuable skills to help families and communities overcome the challenges they face on a daily basis.

The virtual trainings included breakout  sessions and panel discussions, allowing attendees to choose topics relevant to the challenges they experience in the communities where they serve. 

ECHOcommunity Growth

During COVID lockdowns, usage of the platform has increased dramatically. In March of 2020, use of ECHOcommunity had increased 100% over the previous year. By April 30th, usage had increased 270% over the previous year. This means more development workers and missionaries than ever before are finding the resources they need to improve their agricultural practices whereever they serve.

Launched Mobile App

The ECHOcommunity mobile app, launched in November 2020, is helping to deliver valuable resources to farmers in their fields even without internet access. In the app, users can curate which resources to save and share with offline access, create seed trial reports, and explore plants. 

Clockwise from top left: ECHO team members host a breakout session; ECHO East Africa Staff present an Appropriate Technology Keynote; The ICT Team prepares for live conference sessions; Valuable knowledge was shared by ECHO Conference plenary session speakers; A new studio constructed at ECHO Florida helps to increase the efficiency and quality of live and recorded trainings. 
Feature

Equipping to Multiply

ECHO‘s East Africa trainers connect with family farmers through community group and school trainings, radio broadcasts, agricultural fairs, and farmer field schools.

From David Erickson, President/CEO

This is a special edition of ECHO News featuring content from our 2021 Annual Report. Given the ongoing challenges of extending our work and witness in these difficult times, it seemed most helpful to “step back” and take a big-picture look at the past year. As you look through this issue, I hope that you will see clearly the evidence of God’s great faithfulness …and celebrate with us!
Feature

Planting Seeds of Hope

Assembling a growing body of knowledge related to appropriate seed storage practices and techniques over the years, ECHO is inspiring and equipping local seed banks to multiply and provide seeds to their communities.
Feature

Hands-On Outreach

Terrorism, extreme weather, poverty, and historically poor land management leave West African farmers at a constant disadvantage.
Feature

Serving our Local Community

Like the rest of ECHO‘s teams around the world, ECHO Florida made some strategic “pivots“ to extend its services and impacts during 2021.
Feature

Reaching Virtually

During COVID lockdowns, usage of the platform has increased dramatically. In March of 2020, use of ECHOcommunity had increased 100% over the previous year. By April 30th, usage had increased 270% over the previous year.