Sowing Opportunities, Inc.
Fundraising for self-sustainability and education for remote villages in Central America
Story Title
Providing Tools for Sustainable Income
With Phases 1 and 2 having been funded by crowdfunding, our first project as a nonprofit organization is to seek capacity-building for Phase 3 of our pilot project, working with the NGO CorGuate (Corazones en Acción por Guatemala, or Actions of the Heart for Guatemala) to aid the remote village of Chajmaic, in the Department of Alta Verapaz. The mission for this pilot project is to develop an agricultural self-sustainability project for a village to bring itself out of poverty and have a steady source of income.
This will be achieved through development of a Tabasco chili pepper farm where the village inhabitants will become employed year-round and the chili peppers will have a steady market in the U.S. According to the eminent Torah scholar Maimonides, the highest form of charity is helping someone to help him- or herself, in that the person no longer lives by relying upon others. Therefore, the work of Sowing Opportunities, fulfills that promise.
Services
Sowing Opportunities provides funding for organizations to "teach the disenfranchised to fish":
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Researching the best options for self-sustainability
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What can be grown on the soil
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What are culturally appropriate options
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Meeting village chiefs to work collaboratively
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Developing collaborations for steady markets
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Training and employing local workers See more >>
Phase 3
will develop capital towards:
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leasing and preparing land in Chajmaic
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hiring local managers, farm workers, and staff
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purchasing equipment for working the land
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renting and furnishing office space
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renting a vehicle for use in local terrain
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And many other points See more >>
Testimonials
"We feel blessed to have the possibility for work, which is dignified and just, in which everyone can learn new skills and have professional development in a positive atmosphere, without exploitation or oppression."
"Primero la bendicion de poder optar a un trabajo digno y justo, en donde todos podran aprender cosas nuevas y desarrollar su trabajo con alegria, sin ser explotados u oprimidos.”
Resident of Chajmaic
"We are grateful to have the blessing of a just salary that can help us to put bread on the table, and can help us combat the hunger of our children."
“Luego tener la bendicion de un salario justo que los ayudara a llevar el pan a la mesa, y que podran combatir el hambre de sus hijos.”
Resident of Chajmaic
"Something wonderful about this work is that it is located close to home and the laborers don't have to leave their families for long periods of time and live far away in order to support them."
"Tambien la alegria que podran ir y venir todos los dias a sus trabajos desde sus casas, ya que por estar accesible el lugar de trabajo no tendran que ir a vivir a otro lugar lejos de sus familias."
Resident of Chajmaic
"This work provides a great blessing for the people of Chajmaic, as it gives [this village of 1,600] hope and determination to come together as one big family."
“Para ellos es una gran bendicion ya que este proyecto les da esperanza y deseo de salir adelante todos juntos como una gran familia.”
Hector Ricardo San José