Earlier this year, Catherine S. received a water pump from her Business Grant. Catherine wanted this gas-powered pump to supply water to her vegetable farm to maximize yield and grow healthier vegetables. We expected to see a slight increase in quality during our first Entrepreneur Visit after she received the pump. But we expected there to be a learning curve as she figured out this new piece of machinery.

We definitely didn’t expect what we saw at the first Entrepreneur Visit at Catherine’s vegetable farm...

Catherine’s vegetable farm is HUGE and thriving and healthy and ready to be harvested already. And because of this water pump, she’s able to continue the planting and harvesting cycle even in the upcoming months of dry season, a time when she and her family have previously struggled to make an adequate income. This year-round irrigation system means year-round income and the ability to grow her business even more with the increased capital.

Catherine’s community is already benefitting with year-round access to healthy vegetables at an affordable price, especially during a time of rising food insecurity and economic hardship.

Catherine shared with us and her Business Grant donor, “We are saying thank you for what you have done for us by giving us this water pump. Recently we used to hire (rent) a water pump which was costly to us. We are saying thank you. Now we can do farming throughout the year. Things will be well with us this year.”

We love it! A relatively small investment is having a huge impact on Catherine’s life, on her family, and on her entire community. We are inspired and encouraged by Catherine’s hard work and vision for her growing business!

Click below to see a video of Elina, our Zambia Director, visiting just ONE of Catherine’s vegetable farms...