Wawam was one of several villagers who were instructed and trained on how to farm using the areas around their homes. OBI supplied chili seeds, fertilizer and pesticides to combat insects.

NIAS, Indonesia – For Wawan, hope is buried beneath the ground.

In a matter of weeks, a promise of a better future will sprout and life for Wawan and his family will change forever.

Sometimes hot and sometimes sweet, chili peppers are more than just ingredients and decorations for the people of Nias, Indonesia, especially for Wawan.

"I never imagined that learning how to plant chili would be easy and really fun," Wawan said. "Almost every day I am in the chili field."

Thanks to Operation Blessing's community development program, the Saewe Village in Nias has a new way of producing income. Villagers were instructed and trained on how to farm using the areas around their homes. OBI supplied seeds, fertilizer and pesticides to combat insects.

Wawan cultivated 130 square feet of his land to plant the chilies. Today, he harvests the chili peppers twice a week and sells them at a local market.

"Chili was chosen because this plant is suited to the soil conditions at that village," said Noldy Laurens with OB Indonesia. "They also have a stable selling price."

Above, Wawan cultivated 130 square feet of his land to plant the chilies. Today, he harvests the chili peppers twice a week and sells them at a local market.

OBI adopted the small Nias village in 2006 as part of ongoing relief and recovery efforts from the 2004 Tsunami. So far, they have built roads, a clinic, provided a water tank and now have helped create a community development program.

Before the chili fields, Wawan, a father of two, would breed livestock and trade rubber for cash.

"We were used to living like that and following the lifestyle of our parents," Wawan said about his life before farming. "But I realized I needed to increase my family's finances because I could not live like that forever.

Today, it's a different story.

"The chili field can increase my family's income," Wawan said. "OBI helped me to find (a new life)."

HOW YOU CAN HELP

This microenterprise venture is one of many Operation Blessing projects touching lives around the world. You can be a part of improving the quality of life for impoverished communities by supporting these and other life-changing programs.

 

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