In the highlands of La Nueva Independencia, lives Doña Everarda Carrillo Velasquez, a 67-year-old woman whose life has been shaped by hard work, unshakable faith, and a deep love for the land. For thirty-five years, she stood faithfully by her husband, who lived with Alzheimer’s for fourteen of them. Today, with her feet rooted in the soil and her heart lifted to God, Everarda keeps moving forward. “God gives me strength,” she says with a conviction that comes from deep within. Last year, Doña Florinda Jimenez, a member of the Leadership Council, encouraged Everarda and her son to join a Foundations for Farming course. At first, she hesitated “Me? In an agriculture course?” but something stirred in her heart, and she decided to try. During the training, she visited a farm focused on animal husbandry, and something clicked. She was especially drawn to rabbit farming, and from that moment, she felt called to raise animals herself.

Kiu, Kenya is one of the first communities The 410 Bridge began working in. “Kiu” means “thirsty” in Swahili, and the area is semiarid. When we first began working in Kiu, sustainable clean water was a top priority. The community of Kiu now has access to clean water, allowing the Leadership Council to look at other ways to empower the poor within the community.