Fill the Bowl | Stories of Hope

Comfort Zones. Madi, like any father and husband, is happiest when he is able to provide for the needs of his family.  All of his adult life, this farmer from Burkina Faso has worked in pursuit of that goal—but the journey has never been easy.  Read More.

Peaceful Exchanges. Elmer Abdul is a farmer in a small village in the Philippine island of Mindanao.  In the past, to able to plant crops, Elmer would have to borrow seeds and supplies from a seed trader.  If the harvest was good, he made enough money to repay his loans from the traders, including the 40-60% in interest charges.  If the harvest was not good, he was forced to borrow again, driving himself further into a cycle of debt from which it is perilously difficult to escape.  Read More.

Valle de Esperanza means “Valley of Hope.”  There was once a time when life for struggling farmers in this rural area of El Salvador didn’t leave much room for hope.  They were dependent on a lone crop—corn—and its harvest success determined every aspect of how they lived: if they could provide healthcare for their families, send their children to school, even if they could afford to put food on their tables.  In partnership with LWR, however, these farmers were able to make changes to the way they farm, bringing improvements that brought a more reliable food supply, income, and hope for the future.  Read More.

Crisis and Caring . LWR walks with communities in their time of need.  Often our relationship with a community grows and, as a result, life begins to improve.  Other times, because we are walking with communities, observing first-hand their joys and struggles, we are blessed to be in the unique position to be first-responders when disaster strikes.  Such was the case in Niger, where food shortages are ever present and hunger is all too familiar.  Read More.

Harvesting Hope. For farmer Renato a Tiruray and his wife Lilian, sending their children to school is a top priority.  However, with a monthly income of about $33, there was barely enough money to feed the family let alone continue to send their children to school.   When LWR and its Philippine partners began to work with farmers in Renato’s area to teach sustainable farming techniques, Renato decided it was time to make a change.  Read More.