"The Melbourne and Michael Folkes Foundation has helped me to gain confidence. It will help me to be more outstanding. But first of all I need to find God. With the MMFF I will achieve my goals. The MMFF will help me to be obedient, honest and independent. The MMFF will create a brighter tomorrow for me. The MMFF will help me to excel and have the potential to maximize in what I do. I believe it will help me to do Godly good. The Foundation will help me to know God and it means I will succeed in my work."
As a child Michael Folkes worked on his grandfather's farm. Melbourne Folkes used the produce to feed his extended family and sold surplus to the local college.
As farming is clearly important in Friendship, and in remembrance of his grandfather, Michael wishes to continue and develop this tradition with the Foundation's Sustenance Farming Initiative.
Involving local people and students this initiative will be a community-wide project initially providing produce to local colleges, hotels and restaurants in Phase One. With the Foundation's support it is intended that with greater scale, equipment and organization the Farming Initiative will extend to international exports.
The proceeds from this program will fund the Foundation's educational and humanitarian long-term efforts, thereby creating self-sustainability instead of relying solely on financial donations.