Harvesting Hope: Women Today and Women in the Bible

Empowered through World Hope programs, women in hard places are harvesting hope.  They stand on the shoulders of women over the centuries, including women in the Bible, like Ruth, who in the midst of difficult circumstances, chose to persevere.

A Harvest of Hope in Cambodia 

An indigenous Bunong community located near the border of Vietnam, has experienced food insecurity, natural disasters, and disrupted farming traditions. These conditions have increased high-risk migration over the years, making children more vulnerable to exploitation, and families at risk of losing their land; a precious commodity. In 2023, World Hope began working alongside the community and local church, to support them in producing their own food. The church established a small farm but faced barriers to their success including limited resources, pest management issues, and a lack of market connections.  

World Hope provided training in seedling production, pest control, and linked them to markets for their produce. The community adopted a sustainable income model: 30% for the church, 30% for community activities, and 40% for reinvestment into the farm.

Today, the farm produces a diverse range of vegetables.  Their produce is highly sought after in local markets, and the farm has even joined an export program for shallots, successfully planting its second crop this year.  Plans for a greenhouse and solar irrigation are underway to continue improving the farm’s sustainability and production capacity.    

In addition, the skills learned at the community farm are now being applied to personal gardens.  There is improved food security across the village, risky migration has decreased, and children are staying in school.  By reclaiming their agricultural roots, the community is creating a sustainable future for the next generation.