Fill the Bowl | Stories of Hope | Hope in the Valley

Hope in the Valley

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 have much reason 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 food, supply, income, and hope for the future.

In partnership with Association for Communities' Health Care and Social Services (APSIES), and with funding through the Foods Resource Bank, Lutheran World Relief was able to initiate the “Protection and Recuperation of the Jalapa River Watershed” project. The goal of the project is to improve food security and rural livelihoods of 50 farmers in the Valle de la Esperanza region of through environmentally-sound agricultural practices and crop diversification.

For Godofredo Martínez González, a local farmer involved in the program, the changes in farming practices were an adjustment. “It’s been a big change,” says Godofredo, who lives in the community of Concepción with his wife and two children. “Before we didn’t plant vegetables, just corn, and this project has really changed our way of life.” When his livelihood was solely dependent on corn, his family had to buy other food items, taking sorely needed funds that could be used for health care and education. Now, he says, “we’ve learned how to grow crops, and we’ve learned how to plant trees, how to take care of them, and we’ve learned about the importance of the environment. And with the poultry pens, there are advantages as well.”

Farmers like Godofredo benefit directly from your gifts to Lutheran World Relief. The food growing programs supported by Foods Resource Bank and through individual contributions teach people in rural areas—often the most vulnerable to food shortages—how to plant crops that sustain them through food shortages. They also learn to plant in a way that is better for the environment and their own health, which will leave a legacy of hope for years to come.

Click here to fill the bowl for farmers like Godofredo who struggle every day to maintain families.