VisionFund International’s Post

 From Soil to Soul: The Universal Bond We Share I enjoy gardening. I've been growing food for about two decades and love it. Each season provides lessons and #food. I watched the video of women in Sierra Leone working the soil and planting thoughts of #inspiration that connect to the germination process of fruits and vegetables.  It awakens a deep sense of gratitude within me. We all have more in common than we realize, and simple activities like #gardening connect us to the universal stream of likeness. Wishing the best for those who share this planet with us feels good. We share the #topsoil. We need the topsoil. We eat from the topsoil. We are connected through the desires we manifest from the topsoil. Topsoil is like an ancient archive, holding the wisdom of countless life cycles. Every interaction with the soil unearths #stories of #resilience and renewal, empowering us to draw strength and inspiration from the earth's timeless knowledge. When we cultivate food, we tap into this reservoir of wisdom, creating a cycle of #wellness that nourishes both body and soul.    Cultivating food in rich, #healthy soil boosts our physical health and energizes our spirit, highlighting the link between soil, food, and overall wellness.

How our choices as consumers can directly help preserve traditional crafts and empower rural economies? When we choose to buy from local artisans, our impact goes beyond the mere transaction. We support the livelihoods of creators and their families. For rural communities, this kind of support can sustain their way of life and ensure the continuation of cultural heritage through their crafts. It's very heartwarming to see someone take a genuine interest in the lives of the artisans and the stories behind their creations. In today's fast-paced world, where mass-produced goods are the norm, handcrafted items carry a unique charm and a personal touch that brings us closer to the human aspect of production. It is a powerful reminder for all of us to be mindful of where we spend our money. Whether it's supporting women in crafts, local farmers, small businesses, or anyone in between, these actions create ripples that can turn into waves of positive change. When sharing our experiences , we’re spreading awareness about the importance of community support and possibly inspiring others to do the same. Let's keep the #CommunitySpirit alive and continue to champion #SupportLocal and #RuralSupport, not just in our words but in our everyday actions.

What am I reading? Defining rural America: The consequences of how we count, Center on Rural Innovation https://lnkd.in/dpmK8smE Women of color are starting new businesses faster than anyone else https://lnkd.in/dVn52htM What’s in it for rural? Analyzing the opportunities for rural America in IIJA, CHIPS, and IRA https://lnkd.in/dt3EqujV They Didn’t Plan to Be at the Center of a Civil Rights Battle. Then the Fearless Fund Was Sued https://lnkd.in/djPfuQHt Investing in Enterprises That Work for Everyone https://lnkd.in/dfPRJUM9 Building the Ship to Sail: Now Is the Time for Rural Philanthropy to Collaborate to Win https://lnkd.in/dWyW27wC Beyond the Ladder of Participation: A Trellis For Community Power By: Laura Zabel, Executive Director of Springboard for the Arts https://lnkd.in/dnn6Pupp “Exploring the cooperative economy” 2023 report from the International Cooperative Alliance and the World Cooperative Monitor is now available  https://lnkd.in/dVqzuFVw 

*UPDATE* on the flood at the Siafu Home weaving studio: We raised over $12K to build 12 looms, with support continuing to pour in. I was fortunate to be involved in rallying so many of you (friends, retailers and customers) who wanted to help to get the handloomed textile company’s looms back into production. Thank you so much to everyone who supported Siafu Home and Gladys Macharia. Siafu Home sells home goods, a great way to keep supporting them is to purchase Siafu Home. You can find them at West Elm; https://lnkd.in/eAuZ35DF or at the ArtCaffe Market in Nairobi, Kenya, among other locations. In my visit to Siafu Home last week, I was proud of what had been achieved in the 2 months since the flood in their former workshop. This is what hard work looks like. The rhythmic sound of looms working again is truly a very visceral reminder of the heartbeat of production and the lifeline of this community of weavers. It was heartening to see them back up and working, building back even better than before. Moments like this remind me of why I started PBP. Powered by People (PBP) is my way of supporting the ecosystem of other independent brands around the world. It's also my own way of transforming retail to look more like our customers: more diverse, more female, and values-driven. PBP is by women, for women. If we can launch a handful of women-led brands to be resilient and grow, then I would call it a success.

"Disaster strikes, and before overwhelm and despair takes hold, friends step forward to provide support." This narrative is familiar to many who have been helped by their friends and family during difficult times, but it is too often unavailable when disaster strikes a small businesses community in a developing country. There is no insurance and there is no support, just just a wave of hopelessness. Conversely, this particular case, the focused action of the leadership team at Powered by People (PBP) and CEO, Ella Peinovich, not only showed the power of humanity to support their partners, but also revealed in this case, it did not take massive resources to get Gladys Macharia and her company, Siafu Home, back on their collective feet. A few months later livelihoods are restored salaries are being paid and communities healed. Stonger now..This action by all of the employees at Powered by People (PBP) and it's community, serves to restore one sense of our collective humanity, perhaps a good blueprint for others. Once again, the African verse, "It takes a Village" ,in this case restore a business, applies. #Africa #Kenya #Community #Entrepreneurship #eCommerce

For as long as we are not addressing the elephant in the room—crime—all efforts and investments geared towards entrepreneurship development, particularly in our Townships and Rural communities, are in vain. Crime undermines progress and drains the potential that these initiatives seek to unlock. AmaXhosa would say, “Sikha amanzi nge emere evuzayo,” meaning we are fetching water with a leaking bucket. Until we tackle crime head-on, the impact of development efforts will remain limited. It’s time to face the real issues to create sustainable change. #EntrepreneurshipDevelopment #TownshipEconomy #RuralDevelopment #CrimePrevention #SustainableDevelopment

📍 Chikomba Community Upliftment Project Tracy Hokonya, a 38-year-old mother of three from ward 16 in Chikomba District, faced significant financial difficulties. These challenges included affording decent meals for her family and paying school fees for her children. In March 2023, Tracy joined the Tiritose Self Help Group under the Community Upliftment Project, which provided her with technical skills and business training necessary for starting her own enterprise. Initially, Tracy began her poultry farming venture with 25 birds. However, she quickly realized that this number was insufficient to generate a sustainable profit. However, she increased her capacity to 100 birds per batch every two weeks which significantly improved her production output. Tracy strategic decision reflected an understanding of market demand and operational scalability. As of now, Tracy manages to sell a total of 200 birds per month. She has established market linkages with butcheries and restaurants in Chivhu town, which often purchase large quantities—sometimes up to 25 birds at a time. This ability to create strong market connections is crucial for any small business as it ensures consistent sales and revenue flow. Each bird is sold at US$6, leading to an average net profit ranging between US$450 and US$550 per month. This income has allowed Tracy not only to meet her family’s basic needs but also to pay school fees for all her children, including one who attends boarding school. The financial stability gained from this venture illustrates the potential impact of entrepreneurship on improving quality of life. Her vision is to build another fowl run that can accommodate 500 to 1000 birds. #hihzim #communitydevelopment

Incase you missed it, you can view the Mutu Seven Sharp story with our amazing customers, Hick Bros Civil Construction Ltd and Kalmar Construction Limited, below. This gives a really good insight into how easy Mutu makes it for organisations to share resources between sites, and the positive financial and environmental impact our platform has! https://lnkd.in/gfxWGCDR #circulareconomy #mutu #sustainability #resourcesharing

Simple, cost effective, circularity. Wow! Mutu The #1 resource sharing tool in Australasia! Every multisite organisastion needs to be using Mutu! Why buy resources you already own! Well done Ben Redwood and the Mutu team! #circulareconomy #resourcesharing #zerowaste

In response to alarming #deforestation in the region, our partner AHDESA (Asociación Hondureña para el Desarrollo) initiated a search for technologies to reduce the use of firewood for cooking. This endeavor ultimately led to the inception of the #cleancookstoves development and distribution program, currently facilitated with the participation and training of stove builders: Maestros and Maestras Fogoneras. Traditionally, stove building has been perceived as a “man’s job,” but many women in Honduras are challenging this stereotype by becoming stove builders and earning income to support their families. Read the full blog! #genderequity #entrepreneurship https://lnkd.in/gQ9xsFV4