What Strength Looks Like
Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 10:40AM 
Praise, manager of local non-profit organization BEST (Business and Entrepreneurship Support Tanzania) and her team introduced us to several of their clients during our visit with them in Arusha. She explained to us that the poorest of the poor are eager to cultivate the land if they are supported with farm inputs, seed capital and farm acquisition.
This is Agness, a wife and young mother. She welcomed us into her modest home in Magadini Village to show us her baby and share her life with us. Thanks to BEST's seed capital and business services' support, Agness is able to support her family with the money she earns cultivating her rice paddy. Quietly, she moved with ease out to the center of the muddy field for me to make her portrait. Patient and proud. This woman's strength humbles me.
Update 01/28/10:
I just received an email from Praise at BEST. She writes, "Agness has just harvested her rice. She harvested 14 bags and all are stored in her single room. By next week I will send you her amazing pictures. Others are doing fine too with a lot of demand and expectations from BEST. They want to copy from Agness." If you want to offer support for people like Agness in Arusha, let me know and I'll connect you with my friends at BEST.
BEST, arusha, tanzania in People, Picture Hope
Reader Comments (3)
Your experiences continue to inspire me. What a soulful looking woman.
I would add "grace" to her description as well as strength. You are doing amazing work bringing the stories of these people to the world. Keep it up!!
Ron
You're right. Strength looks just like that.