Switzerland
Bringing hope through training
07.07.2010- Mercy Ships is more than just medicine. We are also involved in training in farming techniques to help break the cycle of poverty in developing nations — one family at a time!
Pascal stands in front of corn he has grown while participating in the “Food for Life” agriculture training programme.
Pascal’s family work the land together. Before Pascal attended the “Food for Life” programme, his family did not like to help him because the land produced very little. "I am very happy that we are farming together now. Our vegetables are growing strongly. Thank you!" said Pascal's wife
Pascal Gbaglo is a farmer in Hévié, Benin. For him and his family, life has always been a struggle. For years, Pascal has farmed using traditional West-African methods of planting, slashing, and burning the land. His harvests have always been small — barely enough to feed his family of seven.
One day, he was standing outside of his home when he saw a line of Mercy Ships vehicles driving through Hévié. When inquiring why they had come, he discovered Mercy Ships and a local NGO, Bethesda, were starting an agricultural training programme in Hévié. Wanting to learn more about farming, he asked to join the programme, going by the name of "Food for Life".
Excited, he began attending every class and learned basic organic farming principles. Pascal began incorporating these principles into his farming practices at home. Quickly he noticed something: his crops were growing. They were growing faster, fuller, and much more abundantly. Before long not only was he producing enough food to feed his family but had a surplus of crops to sell at the local market.
For the first time, using the money from the surplus crops, Pascal is able to send his eldest four children to school. Already, he is passing down his farming knowledge to the next generation. His entire family is working the land with him, including his 2-year-old son, Gédéon!
