Earth Day 2025

Gabriela, 5 years old, daughter of Magdalena Paiz and Francisco Felipe

Fourth story: Saturday, April 5, 2025

Dear friends and family,

This week, in advance of Earth Day, we are sharing an inspirational story of positive change.

Magdalena Domingo Paiz and Francisco Felipe Laínez, in Sisbilhá, Guatemala, originally from Huehuetenango, have raised three children together: Cristian, Isaac, and Gabriela, ages 17, 13, and 5, respectively.

Magdalena Paiz and her son Isaac 13 years old, with their greenhouse bed

Motivated by the idea of ​​being able to grow a variety of healthy vegetables and provide daily food for the family in their home, they initially built one greenhouse bed, followed by a second one. They have since built two more raised beds with our help and support, so they now have four plant beds. With the surplus vegetables, they have been able to generate additional income, which has contributed to increasing their family's income and improving their quality of life.

Magdalena Paiz and her husband Francisco Felipe enjoying the fruits of their labor

The young couple is grateful to the nonprofit Sowing Opportunities, which, through Ricardo and his team, Tío Lico and Lety, has introduced them to a new production method that has greatly benefited them.

Take a look at the video of Magdalena from last August:

Magdalena's dream is to build many production greenhouse beds and to have her own well, and to have abundant vegetables to support her community and sell in nearby towns.

"Thank you so much, my God, thank you so much, to the donors, to Mrs. Fern, to the Sowing Opportunities Guatemala team, and to the nonprofit. May God bless you," are the words of Magdalena Paiz.

In order to allow Magdalena and her family to have food security and a livelihood, you can make your donation at: http://bit.ly/3qTdfbK

Thank you so much!

Fern and the Sowing Opportunities team