Agros One Village Multi Village Main Site
We are a Seattle-based, non-profit organization that works with poor, landless farmers in Central America and Mexico. Agros extends loans to purchase farmland and then partners and trains farmers for 7-10 years in applying sustainable agricultural practices, all in the goal of enabling these families to create, develop, and eventually own a sustainable village. Since 1982, Agros has helped thousands of people build new lives for themselves and our efforts have been applauded not only by those we serve, but by the likes of the World Bank as evidenced by their generous 2008 World Bank Development Marketplace Competition grant to support increased village development. We currently have 40 village projects across five countries. To learn more about our work, visit Agros’ website at www.agros.org.
Rural, poor families throughout the world depend on land for their very survival, and yet far too many do not have a secure stake in the land needed to grow food, raise a family, or build a home. Throughout Central America and Mexico, many rural families work at the mercy of elite landowners, and families are often broken apart as individuals must walk several hours a day to find work wherever it exists just to subsist. Unable to afford their own land, and paying high and variable rents for poor quality micro-plots to cultivate, families are caught in extreme poverty that lasts for generations.
Agros’ One Village is a monthly giving program that allows you, the donor, to provide consistent support to an Agros village as it develops over time. This steady stream of reliable support helps ensure we can meet the development goals of the village, lessening the exposure to risk of changing economies, fluctuating currencies, etc. In turn, you are granted unique access into the lives of the people who make up that village (their history, their hopes and dreams, and the projects they are working on) as they work their way out of poverty and toward building a sustainable, thriving community! As you partner with them, you will receive a quarterly progress report detailing development in your village’s five component areas, as well as a personal letter once a year from someone (an individual, a family, or a special group) in your village. As these villages are expected to reach sustainability somewhere between year 7 and 10, the reality is your support extends beyond just the financial — we hope you will come to build an ongoing relationship with your village and serve as a valued community of emotional support as well.
When you make your tax-deductible gift to One Village, you are directly funding programs that empower rural, poor families to work their way out of poverty. Your contribution is pooled in the Agros Village Development Fund to support the development of those villages featured in the One Village program (including the village you’ve sponsored). Each village in the One Village program receives support commensurate with their developmental level as determined by program staff. When those respective funding needs are met for the year, any additional funds are directed for use where most needed.
The goal of One Village sponsorship is to equip a village with all the skills and tools necessary to break the cycle of poverty and confidently move ahead into the future. That means that your support (both as an empowering emotional lifeline as much as a financial supporter) may last for many years, if you so choose. When the village you are sponsoring reaches this goal, effectively attaining sustainability, Agros International can move on with confidence and serve another community in need, thereby passing on the blessing and introducing another village into the One Village program.
It’s important to Agros that you really come to know the amazing people who are building these thriving communities. Short of traveling to the villages, the most effective way to help you learn about the day-to-day life of the people who live in Agros villages is through the means of compelling digital content. Fortunately, digital technology is relatively easy to produce–we can use photos, video and storytelling and story sharing to really take you there, into the heart of your One Village.
We believe in supporting communities, and have the good fortune of several other communities in turn supporting us. While there are many people to thank, we want to say a special ‘mil gracias’ to the following:
For all their combined generosity (in time, low-cost and genuine care) we are truly grateful.
And finally, we give our heartfelt thanks to…the inspiring, beautiful people who live in the Agros One Villages … for sharing your story so freely and teaching us so much in the process, we are humbled and proud to be a part of your community.
To protect the privacy of the people living and working in Agros One Villages, we do not facilitate direct communications between supporters and Agros villagers.
We want to hear what you think! Contact us directly by emailing us at onevillage@agros.org, or phone at (206) 528-1066.