There is no simple solution to poverty.

If a farmer has the training to improve crop yield, but their children are unable to go to school, long term change is not possible.

If a child has an education, but not enough to eat and no access to light, they will struggle to learn.

If there are no trees to provide shelter or fuel, families will not survive.

If a child, caregiver or even livestock become ill from drinking dirty water, the entire family’s stability is placed in jeopardy.

And if a farmer has the resources necessary to increase their crop yield but not the mindset to optimise their wealth, they will not become self-sufficient.

How it works

From Dependence to Dignity

Every year, we start ten new Farming Groups, with 30-40 rural farmers in each group. These farmers will be supported by Amigos for a period of three years, after which they will be self-sufficient.
This 3-year programme focuses on the key building blocks required to help a community to flourish – forever:
• Education
- the carers identified as most in need join our child sponsorship programme, which means that we send one of their children to school for three years.
• Microfinancing and Infrastructure
- in order to be sustainable in the long-term, we need to lay good foundations. We install boreholes, conduct community-wide sanitation and hygiene training, provide micro-financing for eco-friendly solutions such as solar power packs and bikes, and teach sustainable technologies such as energy saving stoves.
• Conservation Farming
- Conservation farming teaches farmers how to farm sustainably, replenishing the soil year by year. From crop rotation to planting, mulching to harvest, this precise farming method yields incredible results.
• Business Skills
- Having a bumper crop isn’t worth much if you don’t know how to optimise your profits.

When combined, these practices offer the most robust, sustainable route out of poverty for entire communities.