Only two years ago Maria Rodriguez was experiencing devastating and extreme poverty. Her son suffered chronic malnutrition due to their food insecurity. Maria was depending on the little income she would receive from her husband. A husband, who spends most of the year away from their home doing day labor on far away farms and ranches. Maria was trying to raise her family on less than $1 per day. For a mom like Maria, there was so little hope for a better future, or a better life. For Maria, the hardest step to take was the first step, changing her mindset.  

  But Maria did take that first step, the hardest step and said, “Yes! I can do this.” With encouragement from Agros, and the support of our technical experts, Maria started to participate in Healthy Start. The first change was her son’s health. Maria’s son started to gain weight, had more energy, and was enjoying all the meals in the community kitchen. As Maria saw the changes, she knew a different future was possible. She had HOPE, and she BELIEVED in herself to build that future.  

  The next step Maria took was to learn how to farm. Maria had never done any work outside the home, so this was a new challenge. She saw other women in her village of Asich starting income-producing backyard gardens, she slowly gained skills through practice, and this is where a crucial step takes place – entrepreneurship. Maria began to earn money; she saw that she too had skills to build a business. This is how Maria flipped the script of her own life. For Maria, this is only the beginning because she understands something that Agros does too: Transformation takes time.

  Little by little, with hope and encouragement, change happens. It takes hard work, but the goals are attainable. For Maria, it started with the health of her child, then growing a profitable and sustainable backyard garden, and now she is the highest-producing snap pea farmer in her community!  

 In Guatemala, there are thousands of women just like Maria. Women who need hope, encouragement, and just a little know how. Agros is that encouragement, providing pathways for women like Maria to lift themselves from poverty. This is not an overnight fix or a temporary bandage, this is an investment in the long game, in people’s futures, and one that we need your support to make happen. Help us to continue the transformation for many more women just like Maria.