Katanino
Post
Published 24. Jun 2024 by WeForest
Overcoming adversity: Aubrey C.'s story

The Katanino team recently shared the moving story of Aubrey C. and his family, who've been involved with the project from the start – and who have weathered some challenges along the way.

33-year-old Aubrey started working with WeForest in July 2019 when he was recruited and trained for the collection of the socio-economic baseline data. In 2020, Aubrey joined the Katanino Law Enforcement Team to patrol in the Forest Reserve, and together with 14 other community members, was instrumental in the reduction of illegal charcoal incidences from a peak of 296 in February 2020 to zero in April 2022.

The monthly allowance he was being paid from forest patrols was the main
household income for his family of 6. Unfortunately, in 2023, he became visually impaired, which meant he couldn't continue his law enforcement duties. However, Aubrey's wife Olipa was among the women engaged in the project's Treadle Pump Scheme for vegetable production. She was able to take over as the household's breadwinner through vegetable production, growing cabbages (Brassica oleracea) and rape (Brassica napus) – and Aubrey is able to help by pumping water, despite his visual impairment.

Every month, the family raises an average of US $58 from the sale of vegetables. This buys food for the family, pays for school materials for the kids, and more seeds for their 0.25 ha vegetable plot.