Liberia appeal - Annie Reeves' story
Through training, Annie Reeves’ life has been turned around by the farmer resource centre in Grand Bassa.
Annie Reeves is a 39-year-old farmer and a single parent of seven children. She lives in Paul Reeves Town, an hour from the farmer resource centre set up by Concern in Grand Bassa County. Since 2004, Annie has benefited greatly from attending the centre, earning a regular income to support her family.
Feeding seven children
With seven children to feed, Annie couldn’t afford to buy food for a whole year. In 2004, she became a beneficiary of the livestock restocking programme set up by Concern. She and four other farmers received two female goats and two female sheep. They looked after the livestock until the number of animals increased enough to be shared with other farmers.
More effective farming
Before coming to the centre, Annie had never had guidance on how to prepare the soil or when to plant particular crops. The training showed her the best way to plant rice in rows and how to control weeds and pests by using hot peppers, soap and water, or lemon grass to control termites.
Paying hospital bills
Until she started to rebuild her life through the farmers resource centre, Annie didn’t have the income to cover her children’s hospital bills or her own. Now she has the income to get the proper care and medicines her family needs when they are sick.
Education
Over two years, Annie has sold five goats and a sheep and has four goats and two sheep remaining. When she needs extra money she can sell an animal for up to €50. “I have never had any problem sending my children to school or buying them clothes since I owned these animals,” she said.
Protection from HIV
Every training session at the farmer resource centre ends with a screening of the documentary called “Positive Youth” which explores the issues of HIV and AIDS. It’s an excellent forum for building awareness of HIV and AIDS. The results can be seen in nearby towns where more and more people are beginning to openly discuss these issues.
