A Mother's Strength
Annie’s story of determination
You know a mom just like Annie Sulenteh!
Everyday she works hard to look after her children, living her life to make sure her children have the basics in life and as many options for success as possible. But for Annie, the challenges of raising children alone in post civil war Liberia could have overwhelmed her. Before the Tearfund supported food security project reached her community of Yowee in Zota County, Liberia, Annie never had enough food for her basic needs – and she had dreams of a better future for her eight children – five girls and 3 boys.
Four years ago, Tearfund Canada and the Association of Evangelicals in Liberia (AEL), offered community members training and start-up support for swamp rice farming. A method that could produce more food in Liberia’s rainforest climate, than traditional broadcast methods. Annie not only joined the group but volunteered to chair it – quite unusual for a woman in a rural Liberian community.

Everyday she works hard to look after her children, living her life to make sure her children have the basics in life and as many options for success as possible. But for Annie, the challenges of raising children alone in post civil war Liberia could have overwhelmed her. Before the Tearfund supported food security project reached her community of Yowee in Zota County, Liberia, Annie never had enough food for her basic needs – and she had dreams of a better future for her eight children – five girls and 3 boys.
Four years ago, Tearfund Canada and the Association of Evangelicals in Liberia (AEL), offered community members training and start-up support for swamp rice farming. A method that could produce more food in Liberia’s rainforest climate, than traditional broadcast methods. Annie not only joined the group but volunteered to chair it – quite unusual for a woman in a rural Liberian community.
Farmers report that their neighbours are also producing more vegetables now that they’ve seen the benefits! The whole community has been transformed.