Stories
Discover real-world stories of communities overcoming poverty and deforestation! Plant With Purpose, a Christian non-profit, shares examples of environmental sustainability and stewardship from all around the world. These stories show us how faith, resilience, and sustainable practices transform people’s lives as well as their environment. As rural families overcome poverty and heal the planet, embrace empowerment, renewal, and hope.
Dominican Republic
Roberto, Dominican Republic: "I see God in everything around me"
In the lush, mountainous landscape of the Nizao watershed in the Dominican Republic, life for farmers like Roberto has always been shaped by the land. The soil provides, but it also demands—demanding hard work, resilience, and the wisdom to navigate the challenges of an ever-changing climate. For years, Roberto’s biggest challenge wasn’t just making ends […]
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Haiti
Natacha, Haiti: "I always have hope, even if I am going through hard times"
Natacha’s life as a farmer in rural Haiti has never been easy. At 26 years old, she shoulders immense responsibility—not only as a farmer struggling against the challenges of climate change but also as a mother raising two young children on her own. In a region where poverty and environmental degradation have long cast a […]
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Dominican Republic
Franklin, Dominican Republic: "Nature has taught me about God"
In the rolling hills of the Dominican Republic, where fertile soil meets the challenges of an unpredictable climate, Franklin’s story stands as a beacon of transformation. Before joining a Purpose Group through Plant With Purpose, he wrestled with deep uncertainty about his future. "The biggest concern I had before joining the Purpose Group was that […]
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Climate Change, Climate Solutions, Environmental Restoration
Success Stories: Environmental Restoration Through Community Tree Planting Projects
Trees are vital to the health of our planet. They clean our air, provide shade, prevent soil erosion, and support biodiversity. Unfortunately, deforestation and environmental degradation have taken a toll on tree populations worldwide. But there's hope! Communities around the globe are taking action, proving that community tree planting efforts can revitalize ecosystems and create […]
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Malawi
Leswika, Malawi: “It was a revelation”
In the heart of rural Malawi, where the rhythms of life are intertwined with the land, stories of resilience and change unfold. Land, often inherited, is a precious resource, yet the pressures of rural poverty can lead to practices that, while providing immediate relief, ultimately harm the environment. For Leswika, a mother of four from […]
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Climate Solutions, Environmental Restoration
The Future of Farming: Regenerative Agriculture and Tree Planting
Before partnering with Plant With Purpose, Fredilin's life was defined by vulnerability. Dependent on farming and livestock, his livelihood was precarious, subject to the whims of unpredictable harvests. This instability forced him into a cycle of debt, relying on "dangerous, untrustworthy loans" to survive. His situation reflects the reality for many smallholder farmers in developing […]
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Climate Solutions, Environmental Restoration, Sustainability
Women’s Cooperatives in Tree Planting: A Model for Success
Women’s cooperatives are using tree planting as a model for economic success and community development. These cooperatives are creating financial independence, fostering community collaboration, and restoring degraded lands through sustainable tree farming. Plant With Purpose’s program, designed to help communities restore their lands and overcome poverty, has helped a number of these women’s cooperatives establish […]
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Burundi
Kagabo, Burundi: "We know our priorities."
Plant With Purpose believes that transforming lives is a process that happens within and around a person. Lasting change comes from the inside out, and the stories of our partners exemplify this.. We celebrate healthier farms, restored ecosystems, and new businesses, recognizing that these are often outward manifestations of an inner transformation. This is why […]
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Climate Solutions, Dominican Republic, Environmental Restoration, Ethiopia, Mexico
How Tree Planting Helps Rebuild Natural Habitats
Forests are the lungs of our planet, as they provide vital oxygen, clean the air, and support life. Unfortunately, deforestation and habitat destruction have led to a dramatic decline in forest cover worldwide, threatening countless species with extinction. Tree planting initiatives offer a crucial solution, not only mitigating climate change but also playing a vital […]
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All, Climate Solutions
Tree Planting as a Tool for Economic Empowerment in Developing Nations
In many nations, poverty and environmental degradation are intertwined. Deforestation is driven by factors like charcoal production and unsustainable logging, which stem from economic desperation. This leads to soil erosion, decreased biodiversity, and climate change. However, a growing movement recognizes the potential of tree planting as a powerful tool to address these challenges while simultaneously […]
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Climate Solutions, Environmental Restoration, Ethiopia
Restoring Degraded Lands with Community-Led Tree Planting in Ethiopia
Ethiopia is blessed with diverse landscapes, however, faces significant environmental challenges and degraded lands, including deforestation, soil erosion, and desertification. These issues not only threaten the country's biodiversity and ecological balance but also have a profound impact on the livelihoods of those who rely on agriculture. However, a growing movement of community-led tree-planting initiatives is […]
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Environmental Restoration, Haiti
Pierre, Haiti: "I have a really good relationship with God because I am a steward of creation.”
“Without the partnership of Plant With Purpose, life would be impossible for me,” starts Pierre. Pierre, who lives in Haiti, is a prime example of how much progress a person can make when they receive the right training and opportunities. For Pierre, the motivation to take care of the land around him was always there, […]
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Thailand
Chad, Thailand: " The trees will produce fruit and it will give my family some income"
Chad lives in Northern Thailand, where he makes a living by farming rice and maize. He has also recently introduced longan, lychee and pineapple to his plot. As a farmer, he and his family struggle with the threats introduced by climate change. “Since my family makes a living through farm cultivation every year, we are […]
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Mexico
Elias, Mexico: "We want to change our philosophy"
Elias lives in Peñoles, Mexico with his wife and one daughter. He has been a member of a Purpose Group for over five years. “There was a time when the work in my farm was slow and the processes to earn income took a long time,” he recalls. It made him feel discouraged and stuck. […]
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Sustainability
The Role of Faith-Based Organizations in Environmental Stewardship
While some may think that faith and environmental stewardship have little to do with one another, others may also believe that Christians aren’t interested in protecting the planet, or that environmental causes have little to benefit from the Christian faith. But what if Christians have something unique and powerful to offer the environment? And what […]
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