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 meet. It was finding a place to call home. “Before I joined the Purpose Group, I was homeless,” he recalls. “I realized that I needed to build a house to live with my family.”
At 32 years old, with a wife and two children depending on him, he knew something had to change. The uncertainty of not having a stable home weighed on him. The Dominican Republic’s rural communities face significant economic struggles, and the environmental threats of deforestation and climate change only make survival harder. But Roberto found hope in a Purpose Group.
Plant With Purpose’s Purpose Groups aren’t just about saving money; they’re about transformation. While bonding spiritually and learning sustainable agriculture skills, members gain access to loans, training, and financial security that can change the course of their lives.
For Roberto, it was exactly what he needed.
“I started saving in the group, I made several loans, and with my savings, I was able to build my house,” he says, pride in his voice. “That was the big change I needed.”
The impact of that change goes far beyond bricks and mortar. Having a home meant stability for his family. It meant his children had a safe place to grow, and he had the peace of mind to focus on something more than just surviving—he could now build for the future.
With his home secured, Roberto turned his attention to his land. Like many smallholder farmers in the Dominican Republic, his livelihood depends on the crops he grows. With the knowledge and support from his Purpose Group, he began transforming his plot into a thriving agroforestry farm.
“Now, I have my plot planted with coffee, lemon, avocado, banana, plantain, and chinola (passionfruit),” he shares. “Seeing my plantations growing and bearing fruit fills me with hope because I see a better future.”
This kind of diversified farming is critical in the fight against poverty and environmental degradation. By planting a mix of crops and trees, Roberto is not only securing food and income for his family but also restoring the land. The roots of his trees prevent soil erosion, retain moisture, and provide nutrients to the soil—essential for long-term sustainability.
While farmers like Roberto are working hard to restore their land, they still face significant challenges. In his community, waste management and deforestation have become major threats.
“The biggest environmental challenges we have here are garbage and non-degradable waste,” he explains. “If these problems are not controlled in time, the effects of climate change will be more aggressive for all agricultural production.”
Deforestation has long been an issue in the Dominican Republic. For years, forests have been cut down for timber, charcoal production, or to clear land for agriculture. The loss of trees disrupts water cycles, dries out the soil, and makes it harder for farmers to grow crops.
But Roberto and his community are taking action.
“To overcome the existing environmental problems, people need to take care of trees, protect soils, avoid using chemicals, and keep garbage and non-degradable waste in bins meant for those purposes,” he says.
Through the Purpose Group, they’ve learned the value of reforestation and soil conservation. More farmers are planting trees, using organic fertilizers, and adopting environmentally friendly techniques. The shift is small but significant, a step toward restoring the land that provides for them.
One of the most remarkable changes Roberto has seen isn’t just in the land—it’s in the people around him.
“The relationships and behavior of people in the community have changed a lot since we’ve been in the group,” he reflects. “Now we live more calmly and in harmony.”
Before, life in his community was more fragmented. Everyone focused on their own struggles, their own survival. But through the Purpose Group, something changed. They began working together—saving money, identifying community needs, and supporting one another.
“I see that we treat each other as best friends,” he says. “Before, that great friendship wasn’t there. Now, we serve each other and share together. Every eight days, we meet to save and identify the needs of the community. It’s a big change for us.”
This sense of unity and cooperation is at the heart of Plant With Purpose’s mission. Poverty isolates, but community restores. When people come together with shared purpose and mutual support, they create lasting change—not just for themselves but for future generations.
For Roberto, the journey of transformation isn’t just physical or financial—it’s spiritual. Through his work with the Purpose Group and his connection to the land, his faith has deepened.
“Without God, there is nothing,” he says. “God is the one who gives us the strength to move and make life more enjoyable. I see God in everything around me, from the time I wake up until I go to bed.”
His gratitude is evident in his daily life. Every morning, as he tends to his crops, he thanks God for the opportunity to work the land, to provide for his family, and to see growth—both in his fields and in his heart.
“I always put God first because without God I cannot move,” he says. “I thank God every day for my family and all the things I have.”
Roberto’s story is one of transformation—from homelessness to stability, from uncertainty to hope, from struggling alone to thriving in community. His farm is flourishing, his home is secure, and his faith is strong.
But the story isn’t just his—it’s the story of an entire community reclaiming their future. It’s the story of farmers planting seeds of change, of neighbors working together, of faith moving mountains.
With each tree planted, each Purpose Group meeting, and each harvest gathered, the future of the Nizao watershed looks brighter.
And Roberto? He looks at his land, his home, and his growing crops, and he knows—hope is taking root.
Join the Movement
Plant With Purpose is helping farmers like Roberto break the cycle of poverty, restore the land, and build stronger communities.
By supporting this work, you can be part of the solution—helping plant trees, provide sustainable farming training, and empower families with financial stability.
Together, we can create a future where farmers don’t just survive, but thrive.
👉 Join us. Be part of the change. Support a Purpose Group today.
