GROWING HOPE

How one leading nonprofit uses agriculture to change lives

Convoy of Hope was founded more than 25 years ago with the goal of bringing help and hope to those who are impoverished, hungry, and hurting. To date, the faith-based not-for-profit has served more than 167 million people in more than 120 countries through children’s feeding initiatives, community outreach, and disaster response.

Convoy of Hope’s global network strengthens their ability to respond quickly to disasters, extreme poverty, and hunger. Convoy currently partners with communities in an integrated way that includes empowering women, feeding kids, and helping farmer’s yield larger crops.

Farmers and agronomists know that the pride and empowerment of bringing in a harvest is life-changing. That’s why Convoy of Hope’s agriculture specialists teach production methods that encourage long-term sustainable practices. In order to break the cycle of poverty so many families find themselves in, Convoy uses the power of agriculture as part of our multifaceted approach to building thriving, resilient communities. 

FANOR’S STORY

Fanor is one example of this in action. Growing up poor in Nicaragua, his childhood wasn’t carefree. He spent every spare moment cooking and selling food with his mother so they could earn an income. In Fanor’s community, the vast majority of people work in a quarry or lumber yard to earn enough to pay for their daily food.

“There was no time for playing with other children, because I had to help support my family,” he said. “I never wanted to be an adult. My dreams were to not grow up … I didn’t want to have a birthday. I always wanted to be a child because I saw the problems that my mother had, and the way we lived, and I didn’t want that to happen to me.”

Now married with a daughter, Fanor recalls how he used to provide for his family by selling milkshakes and tacos on the street. But everything changed when he and his wife, Yanira, met Convoy of Hope’s Agriculture director in Nicaragua.

“He showed us how to grow melons, corn, and squash, but in a new way,” said Fanor. “It is called ‘high tunneling’ and it can withstand the storms we get here. It also uses drip irrigation so that the crops will survive the dry season.”

In November 2020, a hurricane swept through the country and brought 12 days of rain and flooding with it. Fanor’s family was left in a state of uncertainty, not knowing what survived the devastation. But as they learned, their crops were still producing as a result of the high-tunnel method they’d implemented; their hopes soared.

“Our produce is healthy and fresh,” Fanor said. “Convoy of Hope provided us with the seeds and the materials for the tunnels. And they are advising us. They come constantly to monitor our crop and give us technical advice. Now I no longer need to sell tacos. We get daily harvests, which allow us to actually save money to buy our own land.”

Garson, one of Convoy of Hope’s in-country agricultural specialists, says that Fanor’s project has taken a leap from purely producing for food security to producing for agribusiness. “It is creating income for his family, and they are no longer living day to day. Now he is a well-known producer in the area.”

IN FOR THE LONG HAUL

Agriculture is a vital part of Convoy of Hope’s integrated plan to transform communities. By pairing agriculture training with feeding children and equipping small business owners, Convoy seeks to make lasting change in vulnerable communities around the world.

Educating people about agricultural best-practices is a key factor in families lifting themselves out of poverty. That’s why Convoy of hope is committed to working alongside communities to increase food security and create sustainable sources of nutrition.