“We ask for God to keep bringing peace and tranquility to my family. We want to be even more united,” starts Santiago.
Plant With Purpose's holistic approach to addressing environmental and social challenges is uniquely effective because it integrates spiritual, environmental, and economic dimensions. By working on these three aspects concurrently, the organization fosters a more sustainable and transformative impact on communities.
A few years ago, Santiago joined a Purpose Group when Plant With Purpose began working in the Majosik watershed in Mexico where he lives.
“I have been a member of this Purpose Group for several years. It has helped me establish my coffee nursery and my poultry project. I’ve also been able to build an eco-friendly toilet thanks to the support of the group. I use the knowledge from the workshops Plant With Purpose hosts to help me in my role with the community,” he shares.
“I have participated in some of Plant With Purpose’s workshops, and what I have learned is that the most important thing is to respect my neighbor. To love them and to try to have peaceful relationships with others. All of these lessons are useful in life and even more so if it is the Word of God. This helps us to go on the right path.”
Plant With Purpose recognizes the profound connection between faith, community, and environmental stewardship. By incorporating spiritual values and practices into their programs, they create a sense of purpose and motivation among participants. This spiritual dimension provides a strong foundation for long-term commitment and engagement.
“As a community, we’ve done cleaning activities on the roads and across the community landscape. There have been a lot of changes across the landscape. We have areas with more trees, and when we harvest wood, we are confident that we won’t run out of trees, because we keep planting them,” Santiago adds.
Plant With Purpose focuses on restoring ecosystems that have been degraded through reforestation, agroforestry, and sustainable land management practices. By addressing environmental challenges, the organization helps to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and mitigate the impacts of climate change. This creates a healthier and more resilient environment for future generations.
“I’ve realized that we need trees on our land in order to keep the soil more fertile. We’ve received trees through Plant With Purpose, and we’ve bought others on our own so we can keep reforesting and improving our land,” shares Santiago.
Plant With Purpose works to improve the livelihoods of communities by promoting sustainable agricultural practices, providing access to markets, and supporting small businesses. By addressing economic needs, the organization helps to reduce poverty, create jobs, and empower individuals and communities.
“All of the projects I’ve participated in have been beneficial to my family, especially the savings programs. Before, I used to spend all the money I earned instantly. I would buy things that were not very important, but now I make the effort to save,” Santiago shares.
“After a few years, I even saved enough to purchase a nahua weaving machine so I could start a business. I like how easy it is to borrow money within my Purpose Group without having to worry about paying too much interest. I sometimes take loans to support my business or to buy crops.
“The income I get from our sales, including chickens and eggs, has helped my family a lot. I also harvest and sell coffee throughout the year, which helps to bring in some basic needs for our family.”
Working on one of the three dimensions (economic, environmental, and spiritual) alone is less effective and less sustainable. For example, focusing solely on restoring ecosystems without addressing the economic needs of communities may lead to short-term gains but ultimately fail to create lasting change. Similarly, prioritizing economic development without considering environmental sustainability can exacerbate environmental problems and undermine long-term economic prosperity.
When these three dimensions are integrated, they create a powerful synergy that leads to more sustainable and transformative outcomes. For example, spiritual values can motivate individuals to adopt environmentally friendly practices, while economic empowerment can provide the resources needed to implement sustainable solutions.
“Our most important dream is to keep the Purpose Group growing so we can continue moving forward as a family and a community as well as restoring ecosystems here” concludes Santiago.
