Stories
Learn more about the people we serve, the challenges they face and see our work in action.
Stories
Growing Resilience: Farmers Lead the Way in Kenya and Rwanda
Picture a farmer in Kenya sowing seeds of managu, an indigenous leafy green packed with nutrients her children need to thrive. Or a farmer in Rwanda planting cover crops to enrich her soil and protect against erosion. These small acts of resilience are happening against a backdrop of enormous challenges: climate change, degraded soils, and rising food insecurity.
It Takes a Village to empower communities: Alphonsine Musanabera’s story of entrepreneurship
At just 24 years old, Alphonsine Musanabera is redefining what it means to be a young farmer. In Rwamagana District, Rwanda, she’s not only breaking the cycle of intergenerational farming challenges but also creating opportunities for her community.
Protecting the financial future of farmers: Mbonihankuye Wilo's Journey
Mbonihankuye Wilo is a 34-year-old farmer from Kibungo Hill in Gitega province. Like many farmers in his community, Mbonihankuye faced many challenges.
It Takes a Village to feed a community: The story of Talatu and Alhaji Ibrahim Umar
In Pyata, a rural community in Niger State, Nigeria, farming is more than just a livelihood—it’s the central activity that connects the village. For Alhaji Ibrahim Umar, the Village Head, and his wife Talatu Ibrahim, farming has become a means to not only secure their family’s future but also assist their neighbors when the need arises.
How the science of soil testing translates into farmer impact
Oliver Shibonje, a retired geography and music teacher from Kenya's Kakamega County, has traded in his chalk and classroom for the open fields, embracing full-time farming with a focus on maize, vegetables, and sugarcane.
A friendship that sparked change: Febronie and Vestine's story
In the heart of Bugesera District, Rwanda, Febronie Mukashyaka, a young mother of three, grappled with the daily challenge of providing for her family while staying close to her children. Her journey took a turn when she visited Vestine Mukashyaka, a 52-year-old neighbor and fellow local savings group member.
It Takes a Village to empower Farmers: Asterie’s journey of growth and giving back
Asterie Ntahonvukiye is a trained teacher and passionate volunteer in rural Burundi, but her classroom extends far beyond the school walls. As the leader of a local farming group, she’s committed to ensuring that every member has the skills they need to thrive.
Why empowering women farmers is crucial for Africa’s agricultural growth
Female farmers like Alphonsine are essential to Africa's food production, yet they often lack the same access to resources as their male counterparts. If women had equal access to these resources, they could increase their farm harvest by 20–30 percent.
Gabriel Alkali: Building a family legacy, financial stability and environmental impact
For many farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, planting trees through our farmer-led tree planting initiative has had many, varied and obvious benefits.
Branching out: How One Acre Fund is helping mushroom farmers access new markets
Mushroom farming is a new agricultural endeavour for many of Burundi's smallholders. However those trying their hands at farming fungi are seeing remarkable results.
Why climate-smart agriculture is important for Burundi's new generation of farmers
Younger farmers like Asterie are inheriting the mantle of farming from their parents at a time when the impacts of climate change are accelerating. It is crucial for them to acquire climate-smart farming skills to ensure that they are still able to harvest well and support their families.
How profitable farming is nurturing a generation of women entrepreneurs
Eugine’s Asubila story is a testament to how smallholder agriculture is empowering women across Kenya – and sub-Saharan Africa – to become entrepreneurs by creating the means for them to set up new businesses.
Our impact in Burundi doubled last year - here's how
2023 marked a second year of 50% growth in Burundi as we expanded to meet high demand for our program.
More Than A Tree: How trees are changing Esther’s future
On most days, you will find Esther Wangari tending to her farm, located deep in the heart of Kirinyaga County, in Kenya’s central highlands. Bordering her maize and beans fields, Esther’s latest passion – tree planting – thrives. For this Kenyan smallholder farmer, her new venture is more than just about planting trees; it is also about her livelihood and securing her family’s future.
1 farmer, 61,000 tree seedlings
Meet Yeshiwas Ayehu, an innovative farmer from Ethiopia whose commitment to growing and distributing trees in his community is changing their lives and the landscape around them.
Why tree planting on farms is a win for farmers and nature
Discover how agroforestry - the practice of planting trees among crops - offers smallholder farmers like Baraka, Dunstan and Claudine a variety of benefits.
How tree nurseries are changing fortunes in Kenya and Burundi
In Kenya and Burundi, farmers like Wycliffe Nzaga, Eunice Nguu, and Sylvie Nahimana have witnessed first-hand the detrimental effects of climate change on farming.
More Than A Tree
We do tree planting differently. Our initiative to plant 1 billion trees is led by smallholder farmers and every seedling planted is an opportunity for them and their families to prosper.
Friday Ndashe: Planting trees and growing futures in Zambia
For Friday Ndashe, who manages a tree nursery close to Kabwe in Zambia, running a tree nursery is a “joyful endeavor” with many benefits - for him and his local community.
The power of women smallholder farmers
Investing in women smallholder farmers like Jeanne D'Arc Mbanira is critical to significantly increasing agricultural productivity, food security, and household prosperity.
Why investing in women farmers catalyzes community development
Women smallholder farmers like Hilder Ongeri typically invest more of what they earn back into their families and communities than their male counterparts. This has knock-on effects for the generations that follow.
Farming futures: How youth are cultivating prosperity
In Africa, young people like Taifa represent a significant demographic, with 70% of Sub-Saharan Africa under the age of 30. As this new wave of farmers like Taifa steps up to inherit the mantle from their predecessors, there is a compelling need to encourage even more young people to embrace farming.
How crop diversification drives climate resilience and boosts farmer income
Crop diversification isn't just a farming strategy; it's a catalyst for change. It propels farmers towards economic self-sufficiency, safeguards the environment, and fosters thriving communities.
Organizational update: Appointment of new CFO
Our CEO, Andrew Youn, shares an update on the recruitment of our new Chief Financial Officer.
