Planting Hope: How a Banana Plantation in Zambia Is Growing the Future for Orphans

In a remote region of Kawambwa, Zambia, tucked beneath the African sun and surrounded by red soil and trees, something powerful is happening — not in a boardroom or a skyscraper, but in the rows of banana plants carefully watered by hand. It’s not just fruit that’s growing here. It’s hope. Purpose. A legacy.

This is the agricultural heart of the Rabbecca Onassis Foundation (ROF) — a grassroots, faith-driven nonprofit built from a mother’s love, a caregiver’s earnings, and a family’s vision. Founded by Judith Kalumba Onassis, ROF began with nothing more than conviction and sacrifice. Judith, a Zambian woman who immigrated to the United States, has worked for over 25 years as a caregiver in Bellevue, Washington, sending much of her income back home to support the vulnerable and orphaned children of her community.

But Judith didn’t just want to feed children. She wanted to teach them how to feed themselves, their families, and their future. And so, she began to invest not only in food—but in farming.

🍌 Why Bananas?

Bananas are more than just a crop in Zambia — they are a nutritional staple, a source of local income, and one of the few fruits that thrive in ROF’s climate. With limited access to imported food or external funding, bananas offer:

• Sustainable harvests with multiple yields per year

• Job training in planting, irrigation, pest control, and harvesting

• Local consumption + sales at community markets to fund school supplies and meals

At ROF, every banana tree is planted by hand. The children take part in the process — from digging the soil to watching the new leaves sprout. It’s not just science. It’s self-worth in action.

🌾 Farming as Education

In a world where millions of children grow up never learning how to provide for themselves, ROF sees agriculture as a classroom.

Children here learn:

• How to water crops, manage irrigation during dry seasons, and read the signs of healthy growth

• The basics of crop rotation, composting, and soil conservation

• How to work together, take responsibility, and witness the long-term rewards of their effort

It's hands-on learning — far beyond what a textbook can teach. And it builds resilience, both in the land and in the hearts of the children.

🏡 From Orphanage to Opportunity

ROF is more than a banana farm. It’s a home, a school, a community, and a training ground for future leaders.

On over 10 acres of land, we’ve developed:

• A growing banana plantation

• A modest poultry initiative (with future plans for eggs and meat)

• Classrooms for primary education

• A faith-centered environment that fosters values and self-confidence

And it’s all run with local talent, community knowledge, and a commitment to giving children roots and wings.

🌍 Official Recognition, Real Impact

In 2024, the Rabbecca Onassis Foundation received official recognition as a U.S. public charity by the IRS. This means our donors can now make tax-deductible contributions, and our organization is held to the same transparency and reporting standards as other nationally registered nonprofits.

This designation affirms what our community has always known: ROF is doing real work with real outcomes, stewarded with integrity, and committed to long-term transformation. Our status as a public charity reflects both our mission and our compliance with the highest standards of nonprofit governance.

🎤 Powered by Family, Amplified by Influence

Our work is carried not just by faith and farming — but by family.

Judith’s son, Michael Patrick Hoyle, serves as ROF’s program manager in downtown Seattle, working just blocks from the Gates Foundation. Her daughter, Frilancy Hoyle, was born in Zambia and has since become one of the most influential voices in Seattle, with a combined platform reach of over 950,000 followers. Frilancy now uses her voice to amplify African emerging fashion, mental health, philanthropy, and cultural heritage into a new kind of global storytelling.

Together, this family is uniting resources from Seattle to Zambia to change lives from the ground up.

🤝 Join Us in Planting a Legacy

One banana tree can feed a child for a day. But teaching a child to farm can feed an entire generation.

If you believe in sustainable development, faith in action, and Africa’s untold potential, we invite you to join our mission.

Support. Share. Partner. Pray. Together, we can grow more than food — we can grow a future.

📍 Rabbecca Onassis Foundation Seattle, WA | Kawambwa, Zambia 🌱 U.S. Public Charity | IRS Determined 🌐 facebook.com/rabbeccaonassisfoundation 📧 rabbeccaonassisfoundation@gmail.com