economic
All, Thailand
Why is Bok Chee smiling so much?
Bok Chee radiates joy and contentment In his village of Huay Lu Luang, Bok Chee stands out for his easygoing nature and warm smile. It isn’t uncommon to find him joking with his neighbors or playing with his granddaughter in between taking care of the family farm. For most people in Bok Chee’s village, life […]
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All, Thailand
Keep making small improvements
For Jing, the road to a better life seemed daunting. Jing lived with her husband, Tan, in the hills of Northern Thailand. They endured much together, and cared for one another, even at times when this was very difficult. “Our family had no money in savings,” she said to describe their earlier situation. “We had […]
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About Our Work, All
Step into a savings group meeting
What is a savings group? Sometimes called savings groups, sometimes called Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs), these are savings-led microfinance groups that work to combat poverty. For those unable to benefit from a formal financial institution, these groups offer participants an opportunity to save, grow their money, and take out loans. Across the eight […]
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All, Mexico
Not Condemned to be Poor
A changed heart is the first step towards renewal One of the biggest things that determines what we can accomplish is the story we tell ourselves about ourselves. A big part of Plant With Purpose’s program is to replace false narratives that our participants have come to believe with the reality of how God sees […]
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All, Mexico, Updates
She won’t be kept down
Twelve years ago, the village of San Isidro Trementina was devastated The small, rural community in Mexico was made up of farmers. When the land was well, the crops grew and the people were well. When the land suffered, so did the crops and the people in the village. Then, the community faced one of […]
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All, Thailand, Updates
The wisdom of Jah Cho
Jah Cho’s smile is contagious If you catch Jah Cho among his neighbors in Northern Thailand, you won’t have to wait very long before he offers up some jokes. His many stories, told in his Lahu dialect, are always accompanied with a big smile and belly laugh. Jah Cho is a happy soul, and he […]
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All, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Living Sustainably, Meditations, Thailand, Updates
This is what gratitude looks like
At the end of each year, many of us try to turn our focus towards gratitude. We reflect on what really matters in our lives. We take inventory of blessings. We go around the table at Thanksgiving to share what we are thankful for, then reinforce our gratitude in family newsletters shortly afterwards. We are […]
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All, Resources, Updates
What is silvopasture and why does it matter?
What is silvopasture? Silvopasture is a farming method that has the potential to relieve some of the planet’s biggest environmental problems. Estimates suggest that has the capacity to reduce carbon dioxide by 31.19 gigatons of and the potential for over $650 billion in economic savings. Millions of rural farmers around the world can use this […]
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All, Why I Support
Nurserymen understand the need for trees
We don’t do anything alone. Plant With Purpose has been blessed by the generosity of so many different kinds of supporters, from churches across different denominations to innovative companies and startups to passionate individuals. Each month, we love to feature a new partner who has made our work possible. This month, we’re looking at a […]
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All, Haiti
"You have a beautiful home"
Recently, some members of our team paid a visit to Haiti to meet participants from our program. The trip was meaningful and brought to life many aspects of Plant With Purpose’s program. Our Creative Director, Philippe, shares about an encounter meeting our friend Gernita. The community of Fonds Verrettes is one that has experienced so […]
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All, Living Sustainably, Meditations
Sustainability is compassion
When we live sustainably, we live compassionately. Sustainability is both and act of selflessness and humility. When we choose to practice sustainability, we do so realizing that the things we do affect far more people than ourselves. It invites us to consider our own interests less than the interests of others, which is a great […]
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All, Thailand, Updates
Statelessness, Status, and Solutions: A unique challenge in Thailand
Statelessness is a serious issue for many populations in Northern Thailand. Last month, the world’s attention turned to Northern Thailand, as a difficult and bold rescue operation sought to free a boy’s soccer team that had been trapped in the Tham Luang Cave for over two weeks. After surviving for weeks on a diminishing supply […]
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All, Thailand
From Myanmar to her own backyard, Na Kuh creates change
Conflict drove her family from Myanmar into Thailand. “We walked from our village into a border area, then into Thailand,” Na Kuh recounted to us. “There were two or three families together, with our children. It took us about a week to enter into that border area. While we were walking on the Burmese side, […]
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All, Meditations, Updates
There's a reason God placed us right where we are.
Our homes are no mere coincidence. How often do you think about the reasons God has placed us in the physical locations where we live? Some of us might think about this quite a bit, especially if we’ve undergone a major transition or if we felt led to our current homes to work with the […]
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All, Updates
How a healthy environment can keep fathers with their families
Fatherhood is extremely important. This Father’s Day, we’re taking the time to remember the importance of dads. Studies make it pretty clear that the presence of a father or father figure plays a big role in a child’s eventual success. Children with involved fathers, stepfathers, or father figures are far less likely to engage in […]
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