By Christa Countryman | Grants Manger, Agros International
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
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