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rural development

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How layered agroforestry can help millions

In order to help people, Plant With Purpose plants trees! That’s the short version of why we exist. The longer version of that is, well, much more nuanced. The way we plant trees is just as important as the fact that we plant them. We encourage and empower locals to participate in reforestation, for starters. […]
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To the ones who keep showing up

Trying to make an impact on the world isn’t an easy task. While change is possible, the process isn’t linear. There are ups and downs, setbacks, and moments of discouragement that every person who tries to make an impact faces. That’s why a key trait of people who make a big difference is resilience and […]
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We can't forget to celebrate hope

The communities where Plant With Purpose works are some of the most difficult places on the Earth to live. As much as our stories focus on change and how a better world is possible, they are also incomplete without a reminder that our group members live very difficult lives. In villages across rural Latin America, […]
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Hope in a Weary Land

Where is the most difficult place on the planet to survive? You could certainly make a case for a few of the countries where Plant With Purpose works. Experts frequently mention the Democratic Republic of the Congo among the most difficult countries for someone to live. Frequent episodes of violent conflict, rampant hunger and poverty, […]
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Why a better floor indicates a better future

A typical decision made by rural families: Imagine this scenario: You are a parent living in rural Burundi. For years you’ve struggled to earn an income of about 80 cents a day. With five children to feed, things have never been easy. Lately, however, things have started to look a little bit better. Last year, […]
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Harambe! Harambe!

What does it look like to come together as one? Picture a stone church on the top of a small mountain.  In front of the church are garden beds, and just outside its entryway is a large patio. On the patio are a couple dozen chairs arranged in a circle. One by one, Tanzanian farmers […]
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Rising up to face the three big threats

Plant With Purpose exists to respond to three of the biggest threats that face our planet right now. Environmental degradation. Poverty. Spiritual despair. These three crises aren’t just concepts, but active threats to the lives and well-being of people all around the world. These three issues are so deeply connected. Environmental issues contribute to poverty […]
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This community in Haiti is a hub of entrepreneurs

When you think of hubs where entrepreneurs and start-ups are birthed, places like Silicon Valley, Austin, or Manhattan may come to mind. In rural Haiti, however, is a village where new economic opportunities, innovation, and empowerment have enabled a community of entrepreneurs to create better lives for themselves and their families. In Fonds-Verrettes, village savings […]
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DRC: The urgency of unity

Right now is a volatile time for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In February, The Economist issued a magazine cover picturing a Congolese soldier with the headline Heading back to hell: Congo in Peril. This is a headline nobody wants to see. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has endured a history of […]
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The world's poorest communities dispel a major myth about the environment

Environmental conversations aren't only about major players. In most ongoing conversations about the planet’s environmental issues, you’ll frequently hear the names of major actors: The United States Government, the Vatican, the oil industry, and the United Nations. These usually-controversial entities often stir up the debate of what should be given priority– economic growth or environmental […]
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Let the locals lead

One of the things that sets apart Plant With Purpose’s work is a commitment to building and developing leaders among locals. Visit any of our international offices and you won’t find any expat staff members. Instead each partnering country has its own autonomous office staffed by nationals. These offices work to develop even more local […]
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Address root causes

There is no shortage of causes around the world to care about. Every year, thousands of new nonprofit organizations file paperwork to start programs. For people wanting to make an impact, often the problem isn’t finding opportunities to make a difference but choosing one! The Plant With Purpose team has experience working on a number […]
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There is no us versus them

When we see people strictly in terms of us-and-them, it becomes extremely easy to turn people into projects. Thinking in terms of "the needy" versus "the rich" is a very common tendency among charitable organizations. We must not think in terms of haves and have-nots. Some communities have been recipients of aid for so long […]
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Why we work in rural areas

In order to truly help the vulnerable, we must know and understand what their situation is like. These beliefs have led us right into rural locations in developing countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America. These are the places where poverty overwhelmingly exists.  85 percent of the world’s poor live in rural areas. While the […]
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What would people think of me if they knew I was in an armed group?

Sometimes people go to war. But in some cases, war comes for people. Africa’s Great Lakes Region is no stranger to conflict. Its past few decades have seen attempts at ethnic cleansing, the conscription of child soldiers, and tribes turning against tribes. The natural beauty of the area contrasts alarmingly with moments of brutality. When […]
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