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A Fish Tale

Meisy’s family creates a sustainable food source

“Every morning and afternoon, I sit by the pond to feed the fish and talk to them,” says 9-year-old Meisy, a proud catfish farmer. Her new enterprise began when her Compassion center launched an income-generation intervention for families suffering income loss because of COVID-19.

Before the pandemic, Meisy’s parents made their living selling vegetables in the local market. But since March of last year, their income has dropped by two-thirds because of quarantine restrictions. Although Meisy’s Compassion center was providing monthly food supplies to affected families, the staff realized what families really needed was a sustainable solution for food security.

Through funding made possible by gifts like yours to Partners of Compassion, the center launched two sustainability initiatives: growing vegetables and raising catfish. Receiving seeds from the center, Meisy’s family started with vegetable gardening, an enterprise they were already familiar with. Then they decided to try something brand new: catfish farming. Along with 100 other parents, Meisy’s family received 20 catfish eggs, a supply of fish food, and tarpaulin to create a pond.

A family stands outside with a net

Meisy, her mom and younger sister show off a catfish netted in their pond.

Caption

Her family’s new farming activities keep Meisy busy and entertained while she studies at home during the pandemic. “When I am done feeding the fish, I help my mother by watering the vegetables,” she says.

By August the catfish were ready for harvesting for food and for sale in the market. Besides the fish, the vegetable farming initiative means Meisy’s family now has a variety of nutritious foods to eat.

With your help, in 2020 ....



241,297 unsponsored children received care



637 families recieved income-generation training and support



285 disaster were responded to with help for affected families