José didn’t know what else he could do. 

He spent long days on rented land growing basic grains and scavenging for valuable metals, but at the end of the day he was not able to make ends meet for his three beautiful children and wife of twenty-one years.  

Both he and his wife Sara were losing hope for a sustainable future full of opportunity to pass on to their sons and daughters.

Agros’ mission is to restore hope and opportunity to the world’s poor. We strive to see rural poor families own agricultural land, attain economic self-sufficiency, realize their God-given potential, and pass on to future generations the values and resources that enable them to flourish.

In Nicaragua, as well as most other communities in Central and South America, productive land is extremely scarce.  It is almost impossible to farm on your own land because it comes at such a premium, and land ownership laws can be prohibitive.

When talking with a close friend, José heard about an opportunity to attain land that he could actually own. His friend mentioned that there was a team in Luz de Mañana called Agros International, who worked with farmers to actually help them gain land. 

What do you think José did?  He did what any of us would have done.  Right away he traveled to Luz de Mañana, Nicaragua, to meet our field staff and learn how he might be able to become part of a future land project.

Agros was happy to partner with José and provide an abundant plot of land that he could use to feed his family and eventually call his own.

“With God’s help, I look forward to the day when I can rejoice because I have paid off my land and my children have a place to live and work.”

José scraped together $150 to get a head start on his land payments. He was provided with 8 acres of rich land by Agros, which he is using to grow plantains, basic grains, beans, and watermelon. For José, this means that for the first time in his life, he has the ability to grow enough food for his family.  

Full of hope for the future, José is currently working to setup a more efficient irrigation system for his crops so that he can produce year-round. If all goes as planned, José’s land will produce enough that his family will have plenty of food, and with the extras he can sell his nutrient rich cash crops for income.

“With God’s help, I look forward to the day when I can rejoice because I have paid off my land and my children have a place to live and work.” Sara remarked, “I look forward to owning our land and home. The trust that Agros has placed in us by providing us this opportunity is wonderful."

Because of your partnership with Agros, José is able to do what he needs to do—take care of his family. Soon, José is on his way to becoming a landowner, something he never dreamed would be possible.

With your continued support, others like Jose and Sarah can build a life of hope and success. Please join with us to support these remarkable people.

Links:

• Visit Our Website at Agros.org
• Nueva, Esperanza Project Information
• Stay In Touch by Liking our Facebook Page

"I met a little girl named Ashley, who held our hands and guided us through her family’s pepper fields, and smiled a beautiful, shy, sunshine smile, and taught me to say ‘pollito’ when referencing baby chickens."

In May, I took my first trip to Nicaragua to get to know some of our communities better, and to learn how to tell their stories more effectively. While there, I met a little girl named Ashley, who held our hands and guided us through her family’s pepper fields, and smiled a beautiful, shy, sunshine smile, and taught me to say ‘pollito’ when referencing baby chickens. She is 9 years old, and lives in a remote rural village called El Eden in Nicaragua.

We learned from her father that she has a heart condition that required a medical procedure, and doctor visits, and recovery. And sacrifices by her parents to make these things possible—hard choices between making loan payments and medical care; between tending their crops to make a living and caring for Ashley’s needs.

Like many families around the world who make difficult choices to manage daily needs with few resources, Ashley’s family faced a difficult situation. It was exciting to see how they were able to navigate each issue, afford the unexpected costs, and work with Agros staff to make necessary adjustments to their partnership with us. On my last visit, Ashley was feeling much better. I am hopeful, with Ashley’s family, that she will continue to thrive, and grateful to walk alongside them as they continue to meet life’s challenges equipped with the tools they need to craft a life of dignity and hope.

Learn more about the impact Agros is making in El Edén, Nicaragua by visiting www.agros.org.  

You can follow Agros on Twitter @AgrosIntl or "like" our Facebook page by going to Facebook.com/AgrosIntl to get day-to-day updates from the field.

Photography by: Christa Countryman and Editing by: Simon Villeneuve

Links:

• Learn More about El Eden, Nicaragua
• "Like" Our Facebook Page for Updates From the Field
• Follow @AgrosIntl on Twitter