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For many of us, a job is more than just a way to earn an income. Work provides purpose and shapes who you are. It’s where you invest most of your time. And it’s where you can best utilize your talents, skills and abilities.
But decent work still isn’t a guarantee for many people. Millions around the globe struggle to find decent work let alone work that provides enough income to get by. Many resort to taking on dangerous jobs – jobs which take a toll on physical and mental health and which, too often, offer few benefits and provide barely enough money to cover necessities.
By investing in decent work, we can make a difference for people in the Global South – partnering with them to create opportunities for individuals, families, and entire communities.
In his community, there weren’t many job options for him. He grew up watching his fellow villagers do many physically demanding jobs, including latrine digging or charcoal burning, to make a living and provide for their families.
But then Wilfred learned there was another way to earn a living through MEDA’s M-SAWA project. Working with a local lead firm, Equator Kenya Limited, the M-SAWA project provides farmers like Wilfred with the know-how and basic resources, such as seedlings and irrigation technology, to start their own chili farms.
Wilfred was inspired. In a short time, the project equipped him with what he needed to get started, including, training, and quality seeds. Now, Wilfred has the skills and resources he needs to grow and sell his high-quality chilis and thrive in business. Most importantly, Wilfred can provide his family with a sense of security that he never could before.
For Equator Kenya Limited, participation in the M-SAWA project meant that they could not only build a stronger business but also strengthen the market system so that they could invest in their community. Meaning farmers, just like Wilfrid, could find decent work and thrive. Stronger markets mean a more stable income for farmers, reliability of product and product quality for processors – and a better quality of life for everyone involved.
Wilfred
With your support, we can transform agri-food markets in the global south, building sustainable systems that support entrepreneurs long after MEDA’s projects close.
Your gift ensures that small business owners and farm entrepreneurs have what they need to not just survive, but to find decent work, thrive in business, and uplift their communities. Please give today.
MEDA – Mennonite Economic Development Associates – is an international economic development organization that creates business solutions to poverty.
MEDA International is a Canadian non-share capital not-for-profit corporation incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act.
Mennonite Economic Development Associates is a 501(c)(3) status non-profit organization in the United States: EIN 23-7398678. Mennonite Economic Development Associates of Canada is a registered charity in Canada: No. 107 691 057 RR0001.
© 2023 Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA). All Rights Reserved.
