Agros is a charitable organization that takes a long-range perspective on how to address deep-seated poverty through empowerment, education, and entrepreneurship for farmers and weavers. Agros transforms lives and entire communities. I witnessed firsthand that handouts are not the solution—they provide only temporary relief without lifting people out of soul-crushing poverty.
Through a faith-based perspective grounded in love for others, the staff of Agros works tirelessly and patiently with local communities and authorities to radically transform lives. This is achieved by speaking the indigenous languages of the regions where they work, understanding both macro and micro aspects of the local culture, and engaging communities with respect and care—so that campesinos can find their way to land ownership and, eventually, to collective and intelligent farming and marketing. In doing so, they move from day laborers to land-owning, crop-producing entrepreneurs.
Agros also empowers women weavers to improve their traditional crafts by providing access to modern looms, new techniques, and collaborative processes. This transformation is fueled through education, micro-lending, and organizational training.
Furthermore, Agros helps communities improve health standards with clinics regularly staffed by local medical professionals—not temporary missions—and through health education, family planning, prenatal care, vaccinations, clean water practices, sanitary improvements, sustainable latrines, efficient wood-burning stoves, cement floors, and more. Their work also addresses severe childhood and community malnutrition through sustained educational efforts and the provision of essential foods and resources.
Agros’ collaboration with the Nicolás School was deeply impactful and inspiring. Young men and women are given a broader education and a new perspective on life and their potential through hands-on learning, access to knowledge, and vocational training. It was moving to hear incredibly articulate, excited, and engaged students talk about their classes, their dreams, and their vision for the world.
What is Agros to me?
In short, what Agros is, is the embodiment of radical love putting into action the words of Christ: “Love your neighbor.” For Agros, this love is not paternalistic, temporary, or performative. It is patient and kind, in the spirit of 1 Corinthians 13:
Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Agros is radical love in action. This love is exceedingly patient and quiet. The results are not immediate, but they are enduring and long-lasting in ways that “quick fix” solutions are not.
Regardless of your faith tradition (or even if you have none), Agros embodies the best of humanist and Christian philosophy, living out the Spanish proverb: “Haz bien y no mires a quién” do good, without regard for whom.
Agros is hard work, but the long-term payoff is everlasting. It transforms the lives of clients, staff, collaborators, and supporters alike.
Richard Reitsma
Professor at Canisius University (Buffalo)