To help small-scale farmers in the country of Georgia, IOCC recently started teaching sustainable techniques—especially to women, youth, and those displaced—to help them increase their skills.
Funded by the IOCC Foundation, this project reaches those in especially rural and underserved communities.
A recent workshop trained over 30 participants, mostly women, in drying and processing local produce, including persimmons, kiwis, oranges, and sweet and chili peppers.
Dried goods fetch a much higher price than fresh produce does and can be sold year-round. So to help increase sales, groups of four households also each receive solar-powered driers (like the one above) to help dry their harvests.
“Someone in heaven decided to help me and my family,” said one participant, Mariam.
Mariam’s husband takes short-term construction jobs whenever he can, but his income is unreliable, so providing for their four children can be difficult.
Thanks to this IOCC Foundation-funded project, Mariam is able to dream of having her own home and is excited about being able to earn additional income.
Can we count on you to make a gift this Lenten season so we can continue to provide opportunity to people like Mariam and her family?
