Published
October 20, 2022

FARM STEW Close to Home

Karissa Ziegler

Although the poorest and most vulnerable in the world most often live in places such as sub-Saharan Africa Asia and Latin America, where FARM STEW is focused, there are those that are very much in need all around us wherever we are. In Colorado, our FARM STEW team recently identified a poor community in the area: a low-income, dilapidated, trailer park. Since the community’s primary language is Spanish, we partnered with the local Seventh Day-Adventist Spanish church members. Our goal was not only to bring more FARM STEW to this neighborhood, but also to mobilize the small spanish church for more outreach. 

Steven instructing on microgreens planting.

The project began with a group of church members going into the community, to survey and connect with each household, and to see what part of FARM STEW would be the most helpful to them. A few weeks later the same group visited the community, this time with invitations to three different evening classes on FARM STEW topics. 

During the week of October 10-14, our FARM STEW team met with the church members to “train the trainers,” as FARM STEW does wherever we go. Then we began going into the community for the next three days. Each night we would set up a handful of chairs, two tables, a projector screen, and a projector on the only grassy lawn in the community. People would come trickling in, 8-10 people from the community, and 10-15 church members attended each night. We held classes on the very topics they had expressed most interest in: Farming, Meals, and Rest.

At the end of the week, everyone went home with a tray full of microgreens ready to grow, a handful of healthy, nutritious recipes, and inspiration to live a more healthy lifestyle. 

We were surprised to see previously inactive church members getting excited to do more outreach in the future, and the local pastor can’t wait to follow up with several new contacts we made during the week.

You may not be living in a little village in Uganda, and you may never visit South Sudan with the message of abundant life, but chances are that the poor and vulnerable are not that far away from you, check out our e-learning course at https://www.farmstew.org/e-learning and start helping those in need today. 

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Karissa Ziegler
Naki's Story
Uganda, Africa
Quotes
"I am 14 years old, and I started my period this year. My first day I felt shy and I missed school... It is not easy to find pads in my village and the few here are very expensive to buy. These new pads are going to protect me when I am having my period. Since they are reusable, I am not going to worry anymore when my periods come!"
Pads

Freedom from Shame

Everyday thousands of African girls drop out of school. WHY? Their monthly cycle, period.  You can help these girls stay in school with washable cloth pads, panties and confidence for 15$ per girl.
Our goal is 5000 girls in 2020!

Irene
Uganda, Africa
Quotes
Irene's life will be transformed when your gifts bring clean water to her community
Info Icon
Every $2 given to FARM STEW will be matched by $1 by Water4, up to $84,000.
Water

Freedom from Disease and Drudgery

2,300 people die each day due to water-borne diseases. Your gift can provide clean Water for $15 per person.  Safe water not only improves health; it provides an opportunity for FARM STEW, in partnership with local churches, to quench the spiritual thirst of those in need.

Naki's Story
Uganda, Africa
Quotes
"I am 14 years old, and I started my period this year. My first day I felt shy and I missed school... It is not easy to find pads in my village and the few here are very expensive to buy. These new pads are going to protect me when I am having my period. Since they are reusable, I am not going to worry anymore when my periods come!"
Pads

Freedom from Shame

Everyday thousands of African girls drop out of school. WHY? Their monthly cycle, period.  You can help these girls stay in school with washable cloth pads, panties and confidence for 15$ per girl.
Our goal is 5000 girls in 2020!

Irene
Uganda, Africa
Quotes
Irene's life will be transformed when your gifts bring clean water to her community
Info Icon
Every $2 given to FARM STEW will be matched by $1 by Water4, up to $84,000.
Water

Freedom from Disease and Drudgery

2,300 people die each day due to water-borne diseases. Your gift can provide clean Water for $15 per person.  Safe water not only improves health; it provides an opportunity for FARM STEW, in partnership with local churches, to quench the spiritual thirst of those in need.