Walid Hoshen is a 33-year-old Bangladeshi farmer living in Betbaria village with his wife and 3-year-old son. He is a day laborer who joined the Partner Farmer program this year and began reclaiming his 17 decimals of land for vegetable gardening. He planted his first garden (cauliflower, red spinach, okra) during the summer/fall of 2004 and looked forward to a harvest with a potential worth of 10,000 taka.

Then came the rains. All was destroyed.

Thanks to SIM relief and the Community Development Project, he was given cauliflower, kolrabi, bottle gourd, and carrot seeds. He has now replanted and is looking forward to a harvest. In addition he has leased another 66 decimals of land and will begin planting vegetables. He hopes to give up his day-laborer work and become a fulltime farmer who is able to support his family at a standard of living which will provide a nutritious diet for his family and school for his child.

Our heartfelt thanks to all who gave to the Bangladesh Flood Relief. We could not have helped families like Walid Hoshen's without you!