Many of Plant With Purpose's longest standing partnerships in Haiti are in the area of Grande Colline. We recently had a chance to talk with two farmers in Haiti who are also members of Purpose Groups in the area and hear about their experience. Here's what we've learned from Justine and Alexandre.

Justine

What was the biggest challenge you faced before your participation in the group?

My biggest problem was the lack of good techniques to farm my lands in the aim to have better yields.

Did you anytime feel discouraged, hopeless, and stuck in life?

Yes, I did feel that way many times, mostly after my husband died. I was alone to take care of my children. It was very difficult for me. 

How do tree planting and farming impact your life? 

I am very excited when I look at the trees I have planted. I usually eat and sell the products. More sustainable crops also grow on my farms thanks to soil conservation.

How does your work with Plant With Purpose help you change your understanding about the way you were living with others in the community?

It helps me to live in unity and peace with people in my community and surroundings. So we can promote a lot of changes together as successful farmers in Haiti.

How does your work with Plant With Purpose help you change the way you were living and your economic situation?

My work economically helps me in many ways. Thanks to the best farming practices, I harvest more from my farms. With my Purpose Group, I am able to save and borrow money easily to farm, raise animals, and respond to other needs.

By considering all you do with Plant With Purpose, what are you most proud of?

I am particularly proud of my trees and the way people get together to make changes in the community.

Since you started working with Plant With Purpose, do you see yourself differently? Do you treat yourself differently?

Yes, I could say I become a new person because I have technical knowledge and significant means to live.

How does your work with Plant With Purpose impact the way you were living with your family? How does it change your relationships with the members of your household?

After the death of my husband, I did not hope to take care of my family. My children are very grateful to me for my efforts.

How does your partnership with Plant With Purpose help you make peace with God? How does it change your relationship with God?

The partnership with Plant With Purpose helps me strengthen my faith in God. Thanks to the Biblical Reflection, I study and understand the word of God. I feel very close to other people.

What is the biggest accomplishment you completed together with the community?

The biggest accomplishments with the community are the tree nursery and soil conservation at the watershed level.

Since you started working with Plant With Purpose, what is your role in the community?

My main role is to motivate people to get together in many ways to respond to various needs of fellow farmers in Haiti.

What objectives did you have before partnering with Plant With Purpose? Have you achieved them? What new objectives do you have for the future?

My greatest objective was to conserve and reforest my eroded hillsides. Yes, it is getting better. My new objective is to continue the same activities.

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Alexandre

What was the biggest challenge you faced before your participation in the group?

My biggest challenge was that I was not able to save money.

Among all the techniques taught, which did you learn and apply? Which do you prefer?

I learn and apply all the techniques taught by Plant With Purpose, mostly tree nursery and planting, soil conservation, and composting. My favorite activity is tree planting.

How do tree planting and farming impact your life? 

Tree planting and farming are essential for me. I get food and wood for building a house. My lands are really protected by trees and diversified crops.

How does working with Plant With Purpose help you change your understanding about the way you were living with others in the community?

The work with Plant With Purpose lets me understand better how to live in good brotherhood and friendship with people in my community.

How does your work with Plant With Purpose help you change the way you were living and your economic situation?

In the past, I used to borrow money at a very high interest rate. Sometimes, I felt ashamed. Currently, with my Purpose Group, I do not have any problem having access to money needed for my family. So, my economic life has systematically changed.

Considering all you do with Plant With Purpose, what are you most proud of?

Above all, I am very proud of the trees planted from which I get the promise to have a lot of fruit and other useful products.

Since you started working with Plant With Purpose, do you see yourself differently? Do you treat yourself differently?

Yes, I see and I treat myself differently because I have really become a key person for my community of farmers in Haiti.

How does your work with Plant With Purpose impact the way you were living with your family? How does it change your relationship with the members of your household?

Thanks to my work with Plant With Purpose, my relationship with my family is closer. We strengthen our unity, and I am more empowered to manage my responsibilities.

How does your partnership with Plant With Purpose help you make peace with God? How does it change your relationship with God?

Plant With Purpose is a Christian organization. We are trained to share the love of God. Personally, I feel I am growing in faith, and I still keep the target, as it is says in the Bible (Acts 2:40-46)

What is the biggest accomplishment you completed together with the community?

My biggest accomplishment with the community is reforestation at the watershed level.

Since you started work with Plant With Purpose, what is your role in the community?

Since my participation with Plant With Purpose, my role is to help people be aware about their obligation to protect the environment and develop their community through organized groups.

What objectives did you have before partnering with Plant With Purpose? Have you achieved them? What new objectives do you have for the future?

My objective was to plant a lot of trees. I have not fully achieved it. The new objective I have is to convince many people to do the same, so that the most vulnerable lands in the community could be reforested.

What makes you afraid that you would like us to help you pray for?

I would like you to help me pray for the global situation of the country. At the same time, I would praise God for the protection He provides to my family.