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.
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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Tanzania
Giftiana, Tanzania: "After tragedy, I was left with four children to care for"
Giftiana has been a member of a Purpose Group in the Wona watershed since 2008. Before joining the group, her biggest challenge was lacking access to financial services. Her husband’s unexpected death left her alone with young children to care for. “My husband used to be the one taking care of the family. I was […]
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About Our Work, Dominican Republic, Haiti
Building Roads, Building Futures
The deeper meaning behind road building initiatives in rural Haiti Plant With Purpose focuses its efforts on rural communities. This is because rural communities are at the crossroads of poverty and climate change, but also because they have tremendous potential to drive change. These communities often face significant challenges such as poverty, food insecurity, and […]
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Haiti
What leadership looks like: Examples from Haiti
What does leadership look like? According to Peterson in Haiti, it is this: “I believe leadership is the ability to listen and understand others in order to help them make progress. As a businessman, I consider myself as a leader because I always do what is right and moral in the community. In my community, […]
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Burundi
Manisha, Burundi: "Hope came my way"
Manisha lives in the Nyakazu watershed where wildfires are just one of many environmental concerns. Poverty is rampant in rural Burundi, and for smallholder farmers like Manisha, climate conditions and soil erosion lead to insufficient crop yields regularly. This impacts his families’ incomes and nutrition. “Before I joined Plant With Purpose Burundi, I had so […]
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About Our Work, blog, Environmental Restoration, Sustainability
Combating Desertification Through Strategic Tree Planting
Desertification, the degradation of fertile land into unproductive desert, is a pressing global challenge. It's driven by factors like overgrazing, deforestation, climate change, and unsustainable agricultural practices. However, strategic tree planting is a powerful tool to combat this crisis. By understanding the science behind desertification and implementing well-planned tree-planting initiatives, we can restore arid lands, […]
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All, blog, Photo Essays
A Vision Trip Journey
You arrive in a quiet watershed, tucked between green hills. The air is rich with the scent of fresh earth, and as you step out, you're welcomed by warm smiles and outstretched hands. Here, change is happening in real-time in front of your eyes. This is the beginning of a Vision Trip with Plant With […]
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All, blog, Dominican Republic, Environmental Restoration
How Vision Trips Empower the Next Generation
As the San Diego Regional Representative, I have the pleasure of sharing Plant With Purpose’s story and partnering with local communities as we advocate for rural farming families. Little did I know that this journey would send me tumbling head-over-heels down the remote slopes of rural Dominican Republic (DR)! Before we get into that story, […]
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About Our Work, Environmental Restoration, Haiti
The Connection Between Tree Planting and Food Security
Take a look at Haiti, for example. For years, Haiti has been caught in the crosshairs of political instability and environmental degradation–two massive threats to food security. The landscape in Haiti is also often hilly and barren, making it difficult to grow crops on a farm. In many parts of the country, the lack of […]
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About Our Work, Tanzania
Partnering with schools in Tanzania for a greener, brighter future
In the Tanzanian watershed of Shengena West sits a secondary school. It is one of several schools in Tanzania that have begun to partner with Plant With Purpose to further the environmental improvement of the area. Under the leadership of its headmaster, the Vudee Secondary School began its collaboration a few years ago and currently […]
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All, DR Congo, Haiti, Mexico
Vision Trips: Bringing our Work from Head to Heart
The sense of unity in one of my first mission trips was amazing. In the evening our group would gather with our
host families and church members in a tiny Costa Rican village. We would share experiences from the day, learn
worship songs in Spanish and become acutely aware of all that we had in common. That connection and
fellowship, over 30 years ago, was life changing and became one of the key events which led me to work with
Plant With Purpose.
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All, Mexico
How Vision Trips Impact Local Teams and Families
First of all, I would like to emphasize that when we receive visits from donors or Plant With Purpose staff in
Mexico, both the local program team and the participating families feel grateful for the support they’ve given for
more than twenty years. Not only are they funding the program and projects, but they are collaborating and
praying for the development of our shared vision. These contributions improve the quality of life of groups and
communities living in conditions of poverty.
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