Salma, a 50-year-old woman from South Sudan, has witnessed firsthand the hardships that life can bring. Living in a region plagued by conflict and extreme poverty, Salma and her community have faced significant challenges. However, the area, despite its struggles, benefits from good rainfall, making it suitable for farming — a blessing that Salma has recently begun to fully embrace.
For many years, Salma and her husband, Joseph, struggled to provide for their family, which includes three children and her elderly grandmother. Their primary source of income came from selling firewood and grass, a labor-intensive task that required long hours in the forest and even longer treks to the market. Despite their efforts, they often found themselves on the brink of hunger, with limited meals and a constant worry about the future.
Everything changed for Salma when she joined LUV’s Farmer Field School (FFS) program supported by Rise Against Hunger. Becoming one of the 30 participants recruited to work at the Hope for South Sudan (HFSS) farm marked a turning point in her life. Through this program, Salma received not only an employment opportunity but also extensive training in agriculture and nutrition. She learned modern farming techniques, such as pit planting, composting, and crop rotation, and received seeds to cultivate her own land.
The impact of this support has been profound. “Before, we used to have only one meal a day, and sometimes none at all,” Salma recalls. “But now, we can have at least two meals a day, and everyone in the family eats both lunch and dinner.”
With her new skills and resources, Salma’s farm has flourished, allowing her to grow a variety of crops, including groundnuts, cowpeas, and sorghum. The majority of the produce is used to feed her family, but she also sells a portion to generate additional income.
Salma’s newfound success has not gone unnoticed in her community. “My neighbors used to underestimate me,” she says. “They didn’t see me as important. But now, they come to me for advice and ask how they can join the FFS. They respect me because they see I can make my own living, save money, and even cover medical expenses.”
This transformation has also affected Salma’s household dynamics. “My relationship with my husband has always been fine, but now I feel equal,” she explains. “I have my own financial resources, and I decide what to do with them. This makes me feel that I am on the same level as my husband. I can plan better and rely on my own work. It gives me more control over my life.“
Through her participation in the FFS program, Salma has not only improved her family’s well-being but also gained a sense of empowerment and self-worth. Her journey from struggling to provide basic necessities to becoming a respected and self-reliant member of her community is a testament to the life-changing impact of agricultural education and support.
Salma now looks forward to a future where food insecurity is no longer a worry for her family and where she continues to share her knowledge with others, helping to strengthen her community one harvest at a time.
None of this would be possible without the incredible generosity of our donors. You are helping turn dreams into reality and empowering individuals to build better futures for themselves and their communities. Together, we are making a lasting difference, one life at a time.