Belise in Burundi: Improving My Families Life

“I am so happy to be a member of a Purpose Group!” exclaims Belise.

“Before I joined Plant With Purpose, I was a poor woman. I was so poor; I could not see how to support my family. I had to feed them every day, and my husband was unemployed.”

Belise lives in Burundi, where rural communities face some of the highest severe poverty rates in the world. She recalls the desperation of her family’s situation all too well.

“The worst part was seeing no way out of this critical situation. There was no way to escape this vicious cycle. I couldn’t imagine myself having success with any project that could bring our family out of hunger and poverty. I came up with the idea of making some manure to at least increase the fertility of my land, which seemed like my only hope.”

Part of the challenge was the condition of her family’s farmland. Over a decade of conflict had separated many families from their land. Because of this, vital knowledge surrounding agriculture that could adapt to climate change and other environmental stressors was lost.

“I didn’t know the farming techniques I needed that would sustainably increase my agricultural yield.

“My wishes were to send my children to school, build a better house, and have a large production of crops. We had little agricultural knowledge, however, so we produced very little. That dream did not come true. Without agricultural income or manure, I didn’t know how I would pay for the school fees, and the beautiful house of my dreams felt like a financial impossibility.”

These dreams felt distant, for Belise.

“In this difficult situation, I kept thinking about how to improve my family’s life, even though the solutions felt like a product of my imagination. The path forward was invisible. With only unproductive farming techniques, my husband was unable to support the family by himself.

“Then, a few years ago, I met a Plant With Purpose agent who invited me to join the program. I learned how to have courage and save money. So for six months, I saved little by little. I had an opportunity to take out a loan, which helped my husband go to Tanzania to look for a job. I was then able to buy a sheep and a goat and to pay for the children’s school fees.

“Now, with my animals, I’m starting to solve the problem of organic manure by supplementing it.”

Plant With Purpose community agents help our in-country partners network with rural communities to establish Purpose Groups, like the one Belise joined.

“My husband was lucky enough to find his job in Tanzania, so he came back home with enough money to build a house. I kept saving my money so I could contribute to the construction, and then meet basic needs such as feeding the family and healthcare for our children.”    

Belise’s membership in a Purpose Group allowed her to access financial services, along with training in climate resilient agriculture.

“After being trained, I’ve gained enough knowledge to become a facilitator in the program. I continue to manage and fertilize my land. My production has significantly grown, and I started a few kitchen gardens close to my house, which can give me a good yield of vegetables to improve our nutrition.

“The main techniques that have supported our progress include: contour canals, composting, agroforestry, minimum tillage, and mulching. I also planted soil-fixing grasses and agroforestry trees on the contour lines, as well as fruit trees. I then set up kitchen gardens with all kinds of vegetables for eating and selling, including cabbages and amaranths.

“I have taken part in a training about the Theology of Work, organized by Plant With Purpose. This gives me motivation to work hard and cast a long vision. With hope and determination, I’ve put my faith into action.”

The connection to spiritual renewal made Belise’s experience of transformation complete: one that changed her outlook from the inside-out. As she continues her work with Plant With Purpose, she looks forward to continued transformation for her family and her community.