FAITH is a program started by the Oikos Sisters to help poor people not only feed their families, but also support them financially. It is an organic fruit and vegetable growing program in which beneficiaries are taught how to make their own fertilizer, grow food and sell it in the market after feeding their families. The Sisters and their team are involved with the people for one year, first teaching them, then monitoring and awarding their progress throughout the year. In each quarter of the year, beneficiaries are awarded for their progress with gifts of food and rice. Today we gave out prizes for the first quarter.
About a week ago, the Oikos Livelihood Team went to Surok to see the progress of the people involved and tally up the winners. Each participant is given paperwork to fill out regarding the various foods they are growing, what they are selling and how much money they made at the market. With no pun intended, this part is largely done in good faith, but you can see for yourself how big the gardens are (or how small) and that completes the picture. Here are a few of the gardens:
The plants are on risers because of flooding issues and are grown in biodegradable plastic bags. Sister Clarissa told me that the bell peppers in the last photo are sold for a high price at the market.
We gathered today in the chapel in Surok and Tom Palada and Jeffrey Mata, two of the Livelihood Team members, began the meeting. Two professors also came with us today from the Eastern Samar State University School of Agriculture. They are our expert helpers and donate their time and talents to help make this program succeed.
Pictured above, Jeffery and Tom are calling out the names of the winners. To help keep up the motivation, every participant is given a prize. The top prize is a bag of rice, the next two prizes are an assortment of food and household products, and the remaining prizes are bags of 2 kilos of rice, coffee and brown sugar. Here are the top three winners...
Helping to hand out the prizes is Sister Clarissa, Sister Minerva, Dr. Judith, one of the university professors, and the barrio captain of Surok. By the end of the event, everyone leaves happy and energized!! It is great to see!
So, the next time the team goes to monitor the gardens and figure out the winners, I'll be able to go with them and see hoe it's all done, and check out all of the FAITH gardens in Surok. There are 53 participants, by the way!!
Lastly, something totally cute...as we were waiting for the ceremony to begin, some children were playing in the street and I realized they were playing a game I was familiar with...London Bridges Falling Down! They were even singing the song in English! So sweet!!
Well, that's all for today, folks! I'm tired and ready for supper. It was a fun day though. I know there will be many more like it!! Good night and God bless!! xxoo Sarah
