FAITH means: Food Always In The Home!
FAITH arose from the many projects realized with the support of Wilde Ganzen, including the learning and working farm and the vegetable garden projects. The goal of those projects was to enable the many (war) widows in our project area to provide for themselves.
As a result of the corona pandemic and the sharp rise in food prices, more and more people were getting into trouble. At first Havonos supported with much-needed emergency aid, alleviating the worst needs. However, it was soon clear this could not continue. A solution was needed to provide these people without any resources with proper meals on a long-term basis. Father Ramesh saw the problems and his answer was FAITH.
What about FAITH?
Father Ramesh started by forming groups of about ten women within the communities in our project area. At the time or more recently, several of these women have been given the opportunity to grow their own food, with support from Havonos and Wild Geese. These women often get together on Sundays and take the vegetables, etc, they have grown with them. From this they cook a healthy nutritious meal, and not just for themselves. The elderly, the sick and the poorest of the community also eat with them. This way of working creates connection and a sense of community, or, as we call it here in Salland: 'Noaberschap'.
FAITH leads to more, including effectively earning an income. The women are very proactive. For example, they have set up sewing projects and formed groups creating all kinds of art pieces from the leaves of the Palmyra palm tree, such as bags, baskets, hats, etc.
The women are also asked to cook at weddings and parties for a fee. And they cultivate land belonging to landowners. The collectively earned money goes into a pot, from which 'wages' are paid monthly. The women ensure that enough money remains to keep the project going.
Currently (2024) about 700 women are already participating in FAITH and the number is growing. There is also interest from other parts of Sri Lanka in this wonderful, successful project. Can you imagine how proud we are of the women and certainly of Father Ramesh? We think it is a fantastic idea that Havonos has been at the forefront of this FAITH project.
Will you help us further develop this wonderful sustainable project?