‘This is my vision' (John's map to a way out of poverty)

‘On 23 September 2020, TEDDO, Tearfund’s partner, came to my village. I heard from the local authorities that they were looking for people to get involved because an NGO had come in. They wanted to train us, particularly in capacity building* [what Tearfund calls Transforming Communities]. I decided to attend the meeting. I told my wife, and she agreed to go with me.

‘We went, and as I attended those meetings, I started realising that if I could take in this information and use it, I might change my situation.

‘There was a reverend named Mr. Odele who taught us Bible study, specifically referring to Genesis and Proverbs. Genesis spoke of the creation of the earth and man, showing God's love for mankind and his desire for us not to live in poverty. That's when I started to pick up on something!

‘In Proverbs chapter 6 verse 6, I was inspired by how even a small insect like an ant can work hard, collect food, and even bury their dead. I thought, why shouldn't I work hard too? I started thinking about my life and my family's future.

‘Back then, I used to drink a lot, but I started to question my actions. I thought, why should I continue drinking and remain poor?

‘So, the first thing I did was quit drinking because I realised that plans made while drunk are never implemented. You plan well, but when the alcohol wears off, the plans disappear too. You remain stuck and continue the cycle of drinking.

‘I decided instead to follow what Tearfund’s partner was advising – changing my mindset to focus on activities that generate income for my family.

‘Mr. Odele told us that even the ant hills we see can be a source of income. If we start making bricks from the mud, we can earn money. That struck me hard.

‘I started making bricks and got my children involved, telling them that we had no other way to make money for their education. We didn’t have cows, but God had blessed us with this land and selling it was not an option as it was our source of livelihood.

‘So, we started making bricks.

‘Following TEDDO's guidance on action plans, I created a plan for brick-making. I set a target to make 7,000 bricks, and I worked hard to achieve it. Then, I sold all the bricks, which helped me earn money.

‘With that money, my children went to school happily. All their school fees and requirements were covered.

‘But I still wasn't satisfied; I wanted to keep improving our situation.

‘I started digging a shallow well and using a watering can to irrigate my small vegetable garden. I planted cowpeas and other vegetables for our family to eat during the dry season.

I also planted tomatoes and onions in small plots. This helped us earn some more money, which kept the family going and the children in school.

‘Through God's love and blessings, my efforts started bearing fruit.

‘The TEDDO team asked how I was managing and I told them about all the hard work I was doing, like fetching water with a jug from down at the well and carrying it to the garden for irrigation. It was a tough job, and they asked how they could help me. I said I didn’t know, but if they could provide something to pump water and help me cultivate a larger portion of land, I could grow more vegetables to sell. They said we should pray, hoping God would hear my request. I agreed. I kept thinking positively and working hard.

‘TEDDO has a branch called TBI, which stands for TEDDO Business Initiative. They gave me a pump as a loan, which I repay in installments. They also made it possible for me to build a charcoal-lined cool house to help me keep vegetables fresh when I produce them.

‘Now, things have started to improve. I can simply switch on a pump to bring water up to my crops, making irrigation much easier. I feel my life is changing.

‘Previously, getting money was a struggle, but nowadays, I can earn money daily. My wife has also changed; she is now also a Christian and has stopped brewing alcohol.

‘In the past, that was her work—brewing and selling alcohol, which was hard work. Now she has a small business at the trading center, where she plays music for her customers  through the megaphone that we bought as they drink tea and enjoy food that she prepares for them.

‘She has changed, and I am happy for what God is doing in my life and family.

‘Our joint efforts have paid off. One of our sons has completed a diploma in pharmacy and is currently employed. Another has finished secondary school and joined the police. One of our daughters is taking a craft course at a technical college. We are working hard to lift our family by ensuring our children get an education.

‘We are also part of a village savings group. I act as the secretary for the group. That cooperative has helped us a lot in terms of loans and being able to get improved seeds.

‘I have definitely changed.

‘Now, I am someone who can ride a motorcycle, which I bought with TEDDO's support. I grow tomatoes, pack them, and sell them at schools and centers. Then, I return home to share the work with my wife.

‘The biggest change I am proud of is that my overall living situation has improved and in terms of transportation and paying school fees. My children are no longer sent home from school as they were before, because now I can pay their fees on time.

‘Also, I love the Bible so much. And I never miss church on Sundays. The Bible is what helps me to improve.

John explains his vision map

‘This is my plan.

‘I've put it on the chart now. I've indicated the roads. You can see the key here. Trees, water, everything. I want this place to look like that.

‘When I started with TEDDO, I started with this vision here.

‘I put a symbol pointing to my head, because God created man in a pure way, a beautiful way, and loved him and the brain is the one to think, so I'm pointing to the brain.

‘And then, what I wrote on my map was Genesis 1:26, that God created the universe as beautiful as it is, including hills, animals, everything. That’s where I started gaining interest.

That's when I started making progress from that.

‘Right now, I've planted the trees. I've planted about 150. Grevillea, teak, papaya, cassia, miti.

‘In my plan, I need to get at least one more acre of land to add to this. Also, the children should be drinking milk daily, so I need to buy a milk cow.

‘And while I'm doing all those activities, I must be aware that there is a loan I need to pay back to TBI in installments.

‘Then, I had a plan to change my mode of transportation. Instead of moving by bicycle, which is very difficult, I needed to buy a motorcycle.

‘As you can see, this one is now done. I bought it. I succeeded in that.

‘The activities that need to be carried out in order to achieve this mostly include rearing chickens, keeping pigs and goats, and cultivating my crops – like simsim, groundnuts and cowpeas.

‘And this is a saving box you see here. I must be saving with the savings group every week so that the money accumulates and at the end of the year, we can divide it, and that can help me to complete that vision.

‘In my vision, I’ve planned to construct a house so that when my children are studying – going to school, as you see, boys and girls, because I don't discriminate – they have a good house. The grass-thatched houses that we have now are a problem because rats often get in. So, I'm praying that, if God wills, I can change that and make the home look like this one in my vision map.

‘So, that is the way this farm is going to be. And I'm praying that all my prayers are answered!

‘I have had some good achievements here. There is rain, there is enough sunshine, I have six acres of land, I have an ox plow, I have the tools I need for tending my land, and one of my sons has graduated. And there is a market for the produce.

‘This is my vision. But when you have a vision, it doesn't mean you can achieve it without challenges.

‘There was a challenge I faced when my boy got sick. He was admitted to the hospital. Then, all my plants were destroyed by hailstones, and the water tank also fell down. I couldn't do anything but pray to God, just as Job did. All his animals were taken, all his donkeys were killed, all his children were killed, but Job remained faithful. So, when all those things happened to me, I remained brave, continuing to serve my God.

‘Definitely, I would ask you to pray for me to continue surviving in this world. And to keep providing support for my family. In every family, challenges are there. And you have to endure. You have to fight through them as well.

‘I mean, I used to cry. When you carry two heavy basins of cassava such a long way to the market, what happens is you get tired, then you end up eating the cassava. Then you start crying. Now, it is simple. I just load the cassava on the motorcycle, go to market, sell the produce, and come back.

‘I would like to thank God for this year. I worked hard and my efforts produced fruit.’

If you would like to give more people like John and Helen the tools to transform their lives and the futures of their children, please give here.

*What is capacity building?

Capacity building involves identifying, developing and strengthening the skills, knowledge, resources and abilities of individuals, groups, and organisations within a community so that they can find effective solutions to the issues they are facing. It helps communities become more self-reliant and it promotes greater participation of community members in decision-making processes.

What is Transforming Communities training?

Tearfund works, often through local church partners, to help provide people with the skills and tools they need to find solutions to the challenges they face and to transform their circumstances. In this way, people can start to access the essential things they need: things like enough food and education for their children. Read more about this kind of work, why we love the church and how it’s the answer to poverty here.