Ojok

“Poverty makes one lose respect and self esteem. I feel I am different. I never thought I could accomplish this much within the shortest time.” - Ojok Wilson

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Wilson is a member of Orua Capable Farmers group. He’s a recent graduate who simultaneously celebrated his exit from the Capable Graduation Program and extreme poverty. Prior to joining the program, Wilson was a volunteer at his church relying on subsistence agriculture. Because he was using traditional tools, his yield from farming was low and his income was not sufficient to meet his family’s basic needs. 

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Through his participation in the program, Wilson began applying modern farming and livelihood skills. He was able to steadily increase his acreage from one to 40 acres! He no longer uses traditional tools but invested his income to acquire oxen and plow which increased his efficiency. It used to take him seven days to prepare an acre, now he can prepare an acre each day. 

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Wilson now sends two of his children to college and the rest are in the best schools because he can afford to pay. Besides farming, he owns a farm produce store where he buys produce from other farmers at the national price, holds and sells once the price goes up. Wilson just started construction on a permanent residence to fulfill his dream of having a decent home for his family. 

In further conversation Wilson explained that he now is respected in his community. He has become a counselor and provides mentorship to people in his village so they exit poverty as he did. The change Wilson experienced is why we exist as an organization. We are proud to say that Wilson is now a change agent for many in his community, it’s been an honor to partner with him over the last two years.