Better To Own Something Than Be Owned By Someone. Family #8: Mama Victor

A brief recap:
One of the largest factors of trafficking in persons--especially in the developing world--is poverty. A lack of means to provide for their families leads people to accept "too good to pass up" employment offers, often at the expense of freedom and dignity.

If only 2% of trafficking victims are ever rescued (and 80% of those rescued will go on to be trafficked again), if a true count of victims is unknown (and seemingly unknowable) because the crime is so well-hidden, then the most promising solution must be prevention.

With a stable source of income, families and their children will never need to search for employment in places that may take advantage of them. And so, I've launched a program to provide business opportunities to local families. I believe it's better to own something than be owned by someone.

So far, I've introduced you to seven families {here and here} and, over the course of this week, I'd like you to meet four or five more. {This afternoon, we're trying to make it to see two or three...and I can't wait!}

Since long recaps are overwhelming {for me to write and for you to read} I thought I'd break it up and introduce you to one family at a time.

First, here's the beginnings of seven farms. How fun is that?!

Each time we load up the car with items like these, I am giddy with excitement to bring them to the families. Imagine someone handing you a gift that will generate income to both sustain your child's health and development AND relieve that stressful "where will I get the money to...?" feeling that, for many families all over the world, is a constant.

What a joy it is to be able to give these types of gifts thanks to your generosity and support!

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We have found that Sunday afternoons seem to be the best time to visit, since nearly everyone is home resting and preparing for another busy week. So, last Sunday, after church, we headed out to see six families: three first visits and three follow-ups.

Mama Victor // seeds



Victor {in the red and blue beanie} is 8-years old and was born with Schizencephaly, which, essentially, means one side of his brain never developed. {His brain scans are completely dark on one side.} His mother, Phoebe, had him at fifteen and, though she loves Victor very much, she struggled to provide him with the level of care he needs.

She and Victor live with her mother and younger siblings, but with the adults at work and the kids at school, Victor was often left alone in the house all day. And so, a few months ago, he came to live at the Precious Kids Center. {Read more of Victor's story here.}

Phoebe visits often and even brings his younger sisters and grandmother {seen above, on the left, holding Victor's youngest sister, Faith} along when possible.

Victor knows his mom's voice and will instantly smile and laugh as soon as he hears her walk in. One afternoon, as she and I sat in the living room and she held Victor {then Julius and Isaac, two boys who, like Victor, can not sit on their own and need to be fed} and I held Faith {because, look at how cute she is and excuse the fly on my head!} we tried our hardest to make conversation through my beginner's Swahili.

This young mother has done her best to care for her son. That afternoon, I saw the depth of her love and compassion as she held her son, and other children whose stories she does not know, but whose struggles she can identify with. When she left, I knew I wanted to help her family begin a small business.

During our visit on Sunday, Phoebe and her mother explained to us {well, to Sammy, who translated for me...I'm getting there, but still have trouble translating at the speed of excited chatter} about the crops that grow best in their village. {Since they are far from the river, they prefer plants that don't need much water.} Her mother even ran outside and brought back samples of the crops to show us.

So, this week, we'll be picking up the seeds and delivering them to this sweet and loving family! I am really excited to show you their progress and follow along as both the farm, and Victor, grow.

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If you would like to be part of changing the trajectory of the lives of families like these--with a one-time gift of $30--you can do so in one of two ways:

// Tax-deductible giving //

Checks made payable to Reaching Beyond Ourselves can be mailed to:

Allison Hibbard

c/o Reaching Beyond Ourselves

39 Donatello

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

// Online giving (non tax-deductible) //

You can give via Paypal: allihibb@gmail.com

Or online: gofundme.com/allihibb

Small Business Updates, Launches, And Goals

In the two weeks since I announced the launch of this new small-business project with the hope of offering sustainable sources of income to families who may otherwise seek employment in places or from people that may take advantage of them, so many great things have happened:

• Many have asked how to support these small businesses. Thank you so much for your belief in this program and for your excitement to join in! {Donation information can be found at the end of this post or on the right-hand side of the page.}

• A few donations have come in so far! which means...

• We've been able to identify more families who could benefit from this program and begin plans for their start-ups! 

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First, an update on those whose start-ups have begun:

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Mama Rispah // shop

(I wish I had a better photo, but the lighting was terrible and I had walked there and the route finishes with a huge, steep, rocky hill, so I was awfully sweaty and out-of-breath when we arrived. Next time we visit, I'll go by car so I can make sure to pay more attention to the documentation process.)

What was once a shop filled with buckets of charcoal--which is a big seller!--now carries even more necessities for day-to-day life in that neighborhood: laundry soap, bath soap, tea, salt, sugar and matches. Many of the items had almost run out due to popular demand and Mama Rispah was telling me, with excitement, of her plan to restock.

Yesterday, her youngest grandson came to school in a new-to-him pair of high tops (as opposed to his old crocs or worn flip flops) which he was SO excited to show me. I love the small, tangible ways this extra income is already improving the lives of Mama Rispah's family. I'm hoping to make another visit sometime this week to see how the inventory is holding up.

Baba Boniface // farm


Each time I meet Baba Boniface--Steve--I like him more and more. One afternoon last week, we went to pick out the types of crops he would like to grow and he, excitedly, talked about the various types of each vegetable and how they vary in price, cultivation, and even taste. He went home with two different tomato plants and one package of cabbage. {He'd also, very helpfully, chosen the kale seeds for Jackson, Allan, and Paul's farm.}

As we were waiting to take this picture, (with his son Boniface) he told me that he would be heading home to prepare the soil and would let me know when he was ready to plant so I could come and take more photos of the process.

Looking at the prices on these seeds, I was (again) shocked by how helpful this relatively small gift can be. This man, who knows quite a bit about planting and tending crops from his years of working the farms of others--who makes the equivalent of a few dollars a week--would have to save for years (barring any unforeseen expenses or emergencies) to have a spare 750 shillings (about $7) to purchase just this packet of cabbage seeds. And now, thanks to your generosity, he and his family will have an entire acre of vegetables to harvest and sell come January!

A quick update on Mama Rose. I received a donation specifically for Mama Rose's chicken business (thank you so much!) and wanted to share that it is also in the works! We have plans to begin construction of the chicken coop this week, but are awaiting the end of the rainy season to purchase the chickens themselves in hopes of longer life-spans once the cold (and chicken-disease-ridden) weather passes.

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And now for a few of the new families!

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Eve // hair salon

Eve is a single mother with two children. A few years ago, she participated in a women's Bible study run by Sammy and a few other American college students who spent several back-to-back summers serving here. She's been a dear friend to Sammy ever since.

We visited her house, where we met her son Barack and heard a bit about her dream to open a hair salon. She had no idea why we'd come to see her...she thought we were just stopping by for a visit. What a fun surprise it was, at the end of her story, to tell her we'd like to help make her dream a reality!

Kenyan women (of all ages) have their hair done in various styles (weaves, plates, braids) about once a month. Eve knows how to do hair, but could not afford the salon-quality blow dryer required to get the business up-and-running. Customers bring most of their own items, (combs, rubber bands, beads, or hair extensions) so all the stylist needs is a blow dryer, but this is still quite an investment for a single mother of two.

Eve is warm and welcoming. We walked to a few nearby homes to meet her landlady (and a man who wanted to say thank you for the treatment he received from a recent medical clinic provided by a team from Texas!) and drew quite the crowd--she knew them all by name. When we arrived back at her house and I asked to take her picture, she invited all of the neighborhood kids to join.

The next day, Sammy and I brought her her very own blow dryer. When she opened the bag and saw the box and said, "Oh! I'm so happy I could jump up and down! God bless you! God bless you so much!" before hugging both of us. Even though it was nearly dinnertime, she quickly said, "Oh! I'm going to look for work today!" I am really, really looking forward to watching how this small tool will help shape her family's future.

Lea // seeds


As we talked with Eve, her landlady came by to say hello. She had heard that there was a car on their narrow, bumpy roads and came to check it out. When she saw that I was taking pictures, she invited us to her house to photograph her kitchen. (I'm not sure why, but we obliged.) Once we arrived, we found a small one-room house with a mattress on the floor and a few belongings. (I have to imagine that being the landlord of a home or two in a slum is not a lucrative business. I'm willing to bet it's more wandering back and forth, reminding people that the rent is overdue than actually collecting any money.)

Just outside of her home was a small dirt box that she called her farm. As we drove away from the neighborhood, Sammy and I talked it over and decided to surprise Lea with a packet of seeds to grow kale in her little farm in hopes of giving her income a small, but ongoing, boost.

Mama Lavender // seeds


Mama Lavender has four children: three girls and one boy. Her third child, Lavender, has cerebral palsy and has been part of the Precious Kids Center for over two years. On school breaks and holidays, Lavender goes to stay with her mother (and her come-and-go father.) Mama Lavender has tried to find work here and there, but with four children--and one that requires a little extra care, (for example: being carried to and from the toilet several times each day) it's difficult to find a steady income.

Outside of their home is a large piece of land that is ready for planting. Mama Lavender told us that she had planted there before, but the neighbor's chickens got in and ate all of the sprouts, so there was nothing left to harvest. Next week, we will bring her new seeds--she's asked for two very popular and easy-to-tend vegetables--plus netting to keep the crops safe.

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A few details...

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My birthday is coming up. I will be thirty-three on October 24th. My goal is to help 33 families begin their 33 new businesses for my 33rd Birthday. I have a running list of families who would benefit from this project...and I am so excited to see all of those businesses up-and-running by December 1st.

If you would like to be part of changing the trajectory of the lives of these families--with a one-time gift of $30--you can do so in one of two ways:

// Tax-deductible giving //

Checks made payable to Reaching Beyond Ourselves can be mailed to:

Allison Hibbard

c/o Reaching Beyond Ourselves

39 Donatello

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

// Online giving (non tax-deductible) //

You can give via Paypal: allihibb@gmail.com

Or online: gofundme.com/allihibb

I am really looking forward to sharing more updates on these businesses. And introducing you to more of the incredible families we've chosen to partner with.

It's So Much Better To Own Something Than Be Owned. The Launch Of A New Project.

In the last three months, as I have read and researched more and more about trafficking in persons, I have found proof of what I have suspected to be true: one of the largest factors of trafficking in persons--especially in the developing world--is poverty. A lack of means to provide for their families leads people to accept "too good to pass up" employment offers, often at the expense of freedom and dignity.

If only 2% of trafficking victims are ever rescued (and 80% of those rescued will go on to be trafficked again), if a true count of victims is unknown (and seemingly unknowable) because the crime is so well-hidden, then the most promising solution must be prevention.

And so, as I've shared before, I'm working on a conference to help educate the local community; to give them the tools to identify and avoid trafficking situations.

But I'm not stopping there! 

With a stable source of income, families and their children will never need to search for employment in places that may take advantage of them. And so, I am launching a program to provide business opportunities to local families. I believe it's better to own something than be owned by someone.

We have chosen four families of various size, location, and skill--several families of students from Precious Kids Center School--all families we know and trust--to be our test-pilots.

We've also identified SO MANY MORE families who will benefit from this program. (And know that there are so many more we have yet to meet!) Just think: for $30 (a one-time gift of $30!) we can alter the trajectory of a family's life!

Each of these families are given the choice of three business options: chicken, seeds, or a shop. They have been given the starting block for their business under one condition: they are to return a small portion of their earnings to the program to go toward helping jump-start another family's business.

Let's meet these families, shall we?!

Mama and Baba Boniface (Steve and Jenny) // seeds

Steve and Jenny were the first stop on our tour. And, my, was it beneficial! They have three boys, the oldest, Boniface, attends Precious Kids Center School for an education suited to his needs. These two look-after a small piece of land for a local family, and with their knowledge of farming, will thrive with a small plot of their own. They gave us a tour of the grounds they keep and estimates on cost of seed, the length of time from planting to harvest, and an educated guess on how much profit various crops could yield daily, weekly, and monthly. To say it was the right first-stop would be an understatement.

We will set him up with the seeds for a few of the most popular-selling vegetables. Not only will he be able to grow these vegetables to both sell and feed his family, but he will also have the opportunity to teach a tangible skill to his sons. (He's also agreed to help train those who are interested, but not yet proficient in farming!)

Mama Rose // chicken

Mama Rose and her husband (not pictured) have four children, three boys and one girl. The oldest (Rose, seen here) and youngest (Collins) attend Precious Kids Center School to receive a specialized education suited to their developmental needs. The middle two boys attend local secondary schools. Her husband is a teacher, but due to a nation-wide teacher's strike, there has not been a paycheck in that house for about two months. With four sets of mouths to feed, school fees to pay, uniforms and supplies to purchase, not to mention all of the costs of keeping a home running, this family is in need of income that will help meet their financial needs without taking away from the physical and emotional needs of her children.

She's chosen to raise chickens. We will provide her with four hens and one rooster, a coop, and a small bag of feed. She can collect and sell eggs, (also using some to feed her family!) while also breeding additional chickens to sell. The first four will be returned to the program to help another family, but the rest are hers to keep or sell as she sees fit.

Mama Rispah // shop

Mama Rispah is a single mother of five daughters (several that I have known since I worked with Oasis of Hope.) Over the years, her children have returned home only to drop-off a grandchild before heading off again. Two of her grandsons, Chris and Steve, attend Precious Kids Center school.

Mama Rispah recently used a small amount of money to begin a shop outside of her home. She has a great location in her neighborhood--just around the corner from the local water source--so there is a lot of foot-traffic along her road. She was selling charcoal when we visited, so when we offered to purchase some other commonly-used items for this community, she made a short list: soap, laundry detergent, matches, salt, and tea.



When I visited a week after dropping off these items, she excitedly told me how well things were selling. She also mentioned that, with some of the profits she made last week, she was going to purchase a few other items to sell. We have agreed upon a small amount of money to be returned each week for the first month of this shop, once again, to go back to the project and begin a business for another family.

Allan, Paul, and Jackson // seeds

These three boys have been living alone for the last few years, scraping by to finish their education. This November, they will sit for the National Exam that marks the end of secondary school and, officially, enter adulthood. To give them a sustainable source of income as they make the leap from student to grown-up, we (with some much needed coaching from Baba Boniface) are going to set up a small (1-2 crop) farm.

They will be able to plant and tend to the crops while they finish school and, by the time school closes for the year, the crops should be fully grown and ready to eat and sell in local markets to pay for the items they will need to run their home while they await exam results and, potentially, begin University. Like the other families, we've agreed upon a small amount to be returned to the program each week for the first month of sales, in order to help launch a new business for another family.

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Please be praying for these families. For wise business choices, for generous spirits as they give back to help additional families, for protection over the plants and animals. Pray that they would be surprised by the abundant blessings that come in the first few months of these businesses. Please also be praying that I would have wisdom as to the next guiding steps for these existing families (savings, business growth, etc.) and discernment going forward as we choose the next set of families to partner with.

If you are interested in being part of this new project--interested in giving $30 to change the life of a family--there are donation options on your right or you can email me: allihibb{at}gmail.com for more ways to give.