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In a world where migration is often viewed as the most promising path to overcome economic, political or environmental challenges, many rural families grapple with the tough choice of whether to stay together at home or seek work elsewhere. Economic hardships, in particular, compel people — especially men — to pursue opportunities in cities or abroad.
With the support of Heifer International and our local partners, smallholder farmers across Central and South America, Africa and Asia are expanding their choices at home through sustainable agricultural practices and community-driven livelihood development. Through the images that follow, we celebrate their steadfast commitment to planting the seeds of possibility in their own backyards.
After her son, Carlos, migrated to the U.S. for work, Rosa Elvira Castro took on the responsibility of raising his children and, later, leading a youth beekeeping initiative in her rural community in partnership with Heifer Honduras. Armed with business skills and sustainable farming, Rosa is now helping both her family and local youth secure steady earnings, improve agricultural practices and create a future of economic security, so leaving home in search of work is no longer the only option.
In a community where the allure of migration captures the hopes of many, Rudy Sagastume chose to stay. Supported by Heifer Guatemala’s Green Business Belt Signature Program, he converted his family’s cattle pasture into a promising agroforestry system filled with coffee, cinnamon and cardamom. Today, he shares his knowledge with other families to prove that a dignified life can be cultivated on Guatemalan soil, even as many others feel driven to seek it elsewhere.
In Ethiopia, where poverty, food insecurity, drought and limited job opportunities drive migration, many pastoralists like Fatuma face considerable obstacles in selling their livestock. Through the Lowlands Livelihood Resilience Project, a government initiative backed by Heifer Ethiopia, Fatuma Sahle and her community gained access to larger, more reliable markets and received resources to elevate the health and productivity of their goats. This assistance led to a remarkable surge in family income and stability, empowering them to provide for their families at home.
In central Senegal, where climate change threatens livelihoods, Ismaila Gning faced pressure to migrate like many other young people in the country. However, a desire to contribute to his community and a commitment to his land and his family changed his mind. Thanks to Heifer Senegal’s Climate Services for Increased Productivity and Resilience project, he adopted climate-smart practices and gained access to better weather information to cultivate peppers, melons and hibiscus. These days, his once-struggling plot is a model of potential that encourages other youth in his community to stay rather than leave.
When her husband Bijay migrated abroad to work as a cook, Til Kumari Nepali, center, became the primary caretaker of their family and farmland. With training from Heifer Nepal, access to turmeric processing machinery — such as machines to wash, dry, chop and powder the turmeric — and improved market reach, Til was able to build a business, earn sustainable profits and give her children a chance to soar. As a result, she is less reliant on her husband’s income and can provide for her family through local resources.
In a region where opportunities are slim, Sushmita Chidi returned home to build her future, one goat at a time.
