Perspectivas / Perspectives

A Catholic Relief Services (CRS) project in Lakes State, South Sudan, is uplifting farmers in the area with seeds, farming tools and training. The support is designed to bring resilience to people facing ongoing conflict and food insecurity.

Monica Ajak Meen, a mother of three and a member of a farming group, says: "Before the support, we had a lot of challenges. CRS helped us. They gave us knowledge. We didn't practice proper cultivation methods, but CRS taught us. They gave us ox-ploughs, which have given us freedom tu cultivate on a large scale. One person can cultivate 20 acres. When we cultivate enough, we can sell produce to generate income and have some for our own consumption. Life is easier."

The group also faced storage issues. "We used to have problems storing our produce, but CRS helped with storage facilities," and she added: "We received tarps and used them to make storage and sacks to store peanuts, which we didn't have before, and we love it.

The project provided seeds and tools to 400 farmers in 16 farming groups like Monica's and linked them to better markets where they can sell their produce at higher prices for increased profits.

Kenya suffers from a water shortage in many impoverished communities, and Rebeka Asekon recalls the struggles she faced before water became accessible in her village. "I used to fetch water very far from home. I vividly recall when I was so stressed about the water shortage, I woke up as early as 1 am to get water. I was on my way home one morning with the water on my back, and I was met with a wild animal. Being dark, I didn't know what it was, but I was very scared. I managed to make it safely home. I continuously asked God to send us a well-wisher who would get us water."

Through the support of CRS and partners, Rebeka's and other communities now enjoy faster and easier access to water. This availability means that individuals, especially women and children who traditionally spent hours collecting water, can dedicate their time to activities such as farming, small businesses and education. This shift not only boosts household incomes but also enhances the overall economic resilience of these communities.

With help from the project, Rebeka installed a water tap in her home. She says, "With the close access to water, I now have a kitchen garden. When I wake up, I water my garden. I now have water to bathe. I harvest my vegetables, and I'm able to cook fresh vegetables. I also have enough water for household chores, for bathing my children, and for drinking. I'm so happy and grateful. I have time to do other things."

Having accessible water for her garden not only provides food for her family, but also means Rebeka can sell what she grows, providing an income for her and her family's needs.

Editors Note: Story by Tina Siatkowski, CRS content writer.