The story of Madam Hawa Quiwa (age 45), a female member of the Yormata Farmers Cooperative in Yardu Village, Gbense Chiefdom (12th August 2020)
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‘’We are very grateful to the SLCC for introducing Maize Farming to us. We started with one acre of corn field, now we will be cultivating a total of three. We were able to produce 1 and half metric tons of maize after the harvest of the first acre at the end of three months. Out of the first produce, the group was able to sell and earned a total of SLL 6,000,000 (Euro 600). No farming activity has ever given us this amount of money at the end of just one harvest. The other day, we visited our bank in Koidu and saved SLL 4,000,000 and the rest of the money was shared equally amongst the 30 members of our cooperative. The maize farming initiative has done wonders in our community. I and family have greatly benefited. One day early in July this year, I had a call announcing that my daughter, the first from this village would be admitted to university to study Financial Accounting but that we would be responsible for the cost of tuition amounting to SLL 3,000,000 (Euro 300) per year. We were very thrilled on the one hand, but stunned on the other hand! Where on Earth would we, from this village ever get this kind of money to defray this cost? Then the Chairlady of our cooperative heard of our bitter-sweet news. After consultations with all members of the cooperative, a decision was reached to help the family with 50% (SLL 1,500,000=Euro 150) of the cost. The rest the family was able to raise and our daughter will leave for Freetown in October to start her course. Just imagine the unity and cooperation this project has brought to us’’.
