Envisioning: Turning dreams into reality
By Paul Stuart, Ripple Effect CEO
In November 2018, I visited Milicent and Matthew’s family in Kenya. When the family first joined a Ripple Effect project, they lived in cramped conditions in a small house, their children were out of school and the family lacked access to clean running water and washing facilities. Some of the family live with a disability and as a result, experienced marginalisation in the community.
Milicent and Matthew's vision
Envisioning is a key activity Ripple Effect staff undertake with families in our programmes. Farmers are encouraged to visualise what they would like to achieve by working with Ripple Effect. Pictured is the original envisioning drawing that Milicent and Matthew’s family produced in 2018. Their envisioning drawing included an animal house, toilet, tip tap and kitchen garden.
Over four years later
In May 2023, I returned to visit the family, following their recent journey as part of a Ripple Effect project. Poignantly, I saw that their dream had been realised. Milicent and Matthew proudly showed off their crops, home improvements, an animal shelter for their goat, and health insurance cards for their children.
Since their community took part in gender and social inclusion training, they shared how after feeling abandoned by their community, they felt more included and supported by them.
Matthew, Kenya
It’s stories like Milicent and Matthew’s that show how your donations make a real difference. To support more families like Milicent and Matthew's to turn their hopes and dreams into reality, why not set up a regular monthly gift today. Each month, feel the joy every time you notice your regular payment on your bank statement, knowing that you're starting a ripple effect in a community in rural Africa.
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