Irene

With the help of our faithful partners, the Seeds of Hope program has helped so many people during the COVID-19 pandemic. People who were stuck in poverty with no food, no hope, and no ideas are now on their way to crushing poverty! Irene is an example of a life that was transformed because you took a chance and helped support this program.

Irene lost her husband when she was 6 months pregnant with their third child. She was lost and scared. An unemployed, pregnant widow with two kids under the age of 10—what was she going to do? She held tight to her faith and stayed hopeful that something would come along to help get her through this.

Thankfully, two incredible things happened one after the other that completely transformed Irene’s life! First, there was talk in her village about ELI’s Sustainable Agriculture and Community Development Program, where people could go to learn all kinds of important skills for starting their own small agricultural businesses. She decided this was an answer from God, and with her baby in her arms she attended a training that changed her life.

She learned how to care for chickens and other farm animals, how to plant seeds and start a kitchen garden, and how to “start with what you have” so you can make money and slowly build your business. She also learned how important it is to share this knowledge with others to help them crush poverty as well. She was so excited to go home and get started.

Shortly after attending this training the COVID-19 lockdown happened, and Irene experienced another amazing gift from God: she was chosen as a beneficiary of the Seeds of Hope program. She received vegetable seeds and, using what she learned at the training, started a garden. She now sells her vegetables at a nearby market and is providing for her family as a single mother! Irene said, “I am so grateful to ELI for teaching me life skills and providing me with seeds that have enabled me to earn an income that helped me provide for my children. I was stuck between a rock and a hard place after the death of my husband, but you showed me love and the way. God bless you so much!”

Because of Irene’s clear passion to pass her transformation on to others, she has been identified as one of the emerging leaders in her village. She and about 15 others from her village will soon be going through a training, coaching, and mentoring process to be equipped to reach 300 local families. Because of the hope she has received, she is excited to have this new platform that will give others hope as well! It is a blessing to walk alongside incredible people like Irene.