Growth Amidst Crisis—How Juna’s Family Started a Farm

Juna is a smiling, 11-year-old girl who enjoys helping her mother at home. She lives with her parents and two sisters in Pueblecito, an indigenous community in Colombia.

Her father worked as a motorcycle driver providing transportation services. Despite his long hours, his earnings were insufficient to provide food for his family, and they faced many needs.

Juna and her sister often had to go to school without eating.

With the Global Food Crisis, Scarcity Grows

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, parents like Juna’s in the community were suddenly unemployed. Many worked informal jobs that relied on freedom of movement. The pandemic and related restrictions only escalated the challenges for families like Juna’s.

In addition to the pandemic, the collision of war, inflation and extreme weather has created the largest food crisis in history — a global food crisis. Food, fuel and fertilizer costs have all risen, making it harder and harder for hungry families to put food on the table.

Right now, projections indicate that nearly 670 million people — 8 percent of the world population — will still be facing hunger in 2030.

A Compassion Center Intervenes

Watching this crisis unfold, Compassion center director Arnaldo, from the Manantial de Vida child development center, knew an intervention was needed. He and center staff members wanted to not just provide food for the families but also create a sustainable path forward for them to generate their own income.

Because of donations from generous supporters, the center provided more than 50 families with chickens, seeds and, in some cases, pigs to start their farms.

“It is good to teach the families to generate income because this knowledge endures and allows them to improve their quality of life,” says Arnaldo.

Juna and her family were grateful to take part in the program. They received 30 chickens, some vegetable seeds and help installing an irrigation system. They hoped for a big crop!

Juna’s mother, Katerine, attended training at the center for six months to learn how to care for chickens, pigs and crops. Through hard work and perseverance, she received certification and can now care for the family’s farm. For a year after, the center continued to provide extra support and guidance by helping Katerine and the other participants manage their businesses, sell products and buy new seeds and chickens.

Helping on Her Family’s Farm

Juna enjoys helping her parents care for the chickens and plants. She feeds the animals, waters the small plants, sows and helps harvest the crops. Juna even wakes up early before school to prepare the chickens for market.

Her family represents a significant success story in these efforts. Although it was hard to start the farm with their lack of experience, Juna and her family have done their best to run the family business. And they‘re beginning to see the fruits of their labor.

“When we received the chickens, we lost some because they needed care that we didn’t know how to provide. So we started with 30 chickens, but that number grew to 50, then 100, and now we have 200. We also have different fruits and vegetables, like eggplants, chili pepper, cucumber, onions, plantain and passionfruit to cook and sell to the neighbors,” says Katerine.

Arnaldo is pleased to see the idea of income generation taking hold in the community. He’s proud to see Katerine and others growing their skills and succeeding through hard work.

“I am glad that Juna’s family has succeeded in their business. Katerine is a woman with plans and dreams; her family’s quality of life has improved. Katerine got a freezer with the farm’s earnings so she can sell the chickens directly and receive more than when she sells them to the local stores,” says Arnaldo.

Katerine dreams of expanding their farm to 400 chickens, pigs and more vegetables. She dreams of having a big farm where her family and community can work together.

“Without the center’s support, we could not have grown this farm. We can dream many things, but without the resources and knowledge they’ve given us, we wouldn’t have accomplished our goals. Thanks to the center and donors’ support, we can provide for our families and grow our businesses. I feel like an entrepreneur!” says Katerine.

As for Juna, she is always glad to help around the farm before or after class. She runs out to spend time with her chicks and loves watching them grow.

“The center has been a great blessing for my family and community,” she shares. “They have given us many opportunities. May God bless them!”

Communities like Juna’s across the globe need the support of vocational training and resources to begin providing for their families. Our 1:1 sponsorship model not only equips a child to thrive but empowers families to break the cycle of poverty together. When you sponsor a child in a country impacted by the global food crisis, you play a role in transforming a community.