In the lush highlands of western Kenya, the farmers of Tiret Self-Help Group have planted the seeds that could hold the key to a better future. The 54-member farming cooperative began working with Global Impact partner TechnoServe in August 2010 to improve their business skills and diversify into a new market opportunity: purple passion fruit.

Northern Mali has faced prolonged drought, a coup d’état and occupation by Touareg rebels. The lives of the locals have been thrown into turmoil.

Near East Foundation (NEF) serves the people of northern Mali by supporting agricultural development and the development of non-conventional water resources, lending locals greater self-reliance and stability in the face of turmoil.

Nabintu’s life was completely changed by the war and violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Married to a husband she loved and raising their three children, Nabintu was happy with her life, despite the conflict going on in their country. One night, while her husband was away, a group of men who were part of the Interahamwe, a violent rebel group, broke into her house, and two of the men raped Nabintu.