Empowering those who were once overlooked

Finding a steady income is challenging for many living in impoverished regions, and even more difficult for those living with a disability. At Eden, if someone has the capability and is willing to get their hands dirty, we empower them to work alongside us in restoring their environment.

In Madagascar, one of our planters, Papan’I Mika, is completely blind. Before he began working with us, Papan’i Mike’s only opportunity for work was when he would go out fishing. Although he tried to find a stable job with a consistent income, employers couldn’t accommodate his blindness.

Many of our team members knew Papani’i Mika form their days as fishers and saw his potential. The level of care and attention that Papan’i Mika showed while fishing was proof that he would be an essential part of the team, so we hired him to plant mangroves. When he plants, Papan’i Mika uses his keen sense of touch to differentiate between species, identify which end of the propagule needs to be planted, and measure each propagule half a meter to one meter apart from the next. Since he was hired, Papan’i Mika has planted thousands of mangroves to help restore the coastline.

Papan’i Mika is one example of many of the people we have hired who have been overlooked due their disability, gender, or status. When we talk about empowering communities, we mean that in a holistic sense and are honored to provide the dignity of fair employment to those who may not have it otherwise