I was born in a small village in rural Lebanon, on the border with Syria. This is where I still live, with my wife and our four children. We live off farming, like most people in this area.
Hard to make ends meet
Our house I built mostly by myself. It is very simple, with two rooms and very few amenities. I built it mostly by myself. That took me a long time, because we didn't have enough money to build quickly. It is not well insulated, making it very hot in summer and too cold in winter. I need to do some repair work on the roof, so that water no longer leaks in and the moisture causes mould. I also need to repair the cracks in the walls, which were caused by an earthquake not long ago.
Life is getting more and more expensive and that scares me. Healthy food, heating in winter, education for the children, transport and healthcare are already almost impossible for me to afford. Any extra job I can find, I have to take, to supplement my small income from farming. My wife helps on the land, as I cannot hire labourers.
Hopeful agricultural project
At church, I heard about a sustainable agriculture project. I wanted to participate in that and have already benefited a lot. Through various trainings on fruit trees, biological pest control and irrigation, I gained more technical and agricultural knowledge. I was given fertiliser and the project paid for various works such as tillage, weeding and planting the new fruit trees. As a result, my costs were a lot lower than usual and I have significantly more area that I can cultivate this year and in the future. Hopefully, it will yield a higher yield, and a higher income for my family. Without this project, I would not have been able to cultivate my land because we don't have money for farm machinery, fertiliser, seeds or labour.
The next generation
The children feel that we are happier and more hopeful and they are also doing better at school. Thanks to the project, our whole family is doing better. Everything I learn about sustainable agriculture, I try to pass on to my children. That way they gain experience and a love for agriculture.
I am happy not only to learn myself, but also to pass on this new knowledge to my children. This will give them a head start in life. I hope it will help them succeed in their jobs later on.
The project team follows our work with attention. We appreciate the respectful and loving way they interact with us. It is also nice to meet the other project participants at trainings and seminars. This makes for good social contacts and connection in our community.
Future dreams
I would like to continue using sustainable methods to cultivate my fields and take care of my fruit trees. I would like to modernise the irrigation system. To reduce my costs, I want to install solar panels on the well. And I can use agricultural residues as fodder, so I can raise cows or sheep. I can use the manure again, bringing down costs even further and increasing my income. My biggest dream is for my children to finish their education and achieve something in life. Everything I do, I do for them. I pray that the Lord helps and protects them.
We are very grateful to the Christian Reformed churches and all donors to this project for all their support!
