Beyond the Struggle: How Jamica’s resilience transformed her family’s future
When we first met Castro and Rebecca in Mamaguta, a remote village nestled along the Siwai District coastline in South Bougainville, their story was one of resilience, hope, and determination. Life in such an isolated community is far from easy. Access to basic services is limited, and families often face challenges that test their strength every day. Yet, Castro and Rebecca were committed to building a better future for their children.
In 2022, Castro and Rebecca joined World Vision PNG’s WOVEN Project, funded by the New Zealand Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). Through programs in Livelihood, Nutrition, and GEDSI, the project equipped families like theirs with practical skills and knowledge to improve their wellbeing.
For Castro and Rebecca, this was a turning point. They embraced the opportunity wholeheartedly learning savings strategies, marketing techniques, and modern farming practices. Before long, they began to see real progress in their income and living standards.
But despite these gains, one critical area remained a challenge -- nutrition. Like many families in remote communities, they struggled to provide balanced meals. This gap became painfully clear when their second daughter, Jamica, fell seriously ill with malnutrition at just two years old.
“She was weak, pale, and had no energy. All she did was cry and sleep,” Rebecca recalls, her voice heavy with emotion. For parents who had worked so hard to improve their lives, watching their child suffer was heartbreaking.
World Vision stepped in through the Nutrition Program, introducing Positive Deviant Health (PDH), the Healthy Island Concept, and Agriculture Techniques Training. Jamica was put on a three-phase PDH cycle, where her meals were carefully planned to provide essential nutrients. Each cycle built on the previous one, gradually restoring her strength.
The results were nothing short of remarkable. Within weeks, Jamica began to regain weight, energy, and vitality. Her once dull eyes sparkled again, and her laughter filled the family home.
“From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank World Vision for these programs. Jamica is healthy and full of energy, and we couldn’t be more thankful,” says Castro with a smile. Today, Jamica is a vibrant little girl who can’t wait to start school next year, a future filled with hope and possibilities.
Jamica’s recovery was more than a health milestone; it sparked a complete shift in Castro and Rebecca’s mindset. They realized that nutrition and livelihood go hand in hand. Today, their family enjoys balanced meals with fresh vegetables grown in their backyard and fish that Castro catches daily.
Castro has become a skilled fisherman, not only providing for his family but also selling his catch at the local market to earn income. Rebecca, on the other hand, has turned her creativity into a source of income by weaving and selling baskets. Both are active members of their Savings for Transformation (S4T) group, which has opened new doors for financial opportunity.
Through S4T, they started saving regularly and accessing small loans to invest in their livelihood. “We used our savings and loans to buy petrol and fishing gear, which helped me catch more fish and earn better income,” Castro explains.
With improved earnings, the couple purchased a deep freezer to store fish for the market, a game-changer for their business.
Their hard work and financial discipline have even allowed them to start milling timber for a new family home. “We never imagined we could achieve this,” Rebecca says proudly. “World Vision taught us the importance of saving and planning for the future.”
Castro and Rebecca’s story is inspiring others in Mamaguta. They have become advocates for nutrition and healthy living, sharing what they’ve learned with neighbors and encouraging participation in WOVEN programs. The change is spreading, and families are embracing backyard gardening, improving their diets, and joining savings groups to secure a better future.
The community has also benefited from WaSH interventions, including a 9,000-liter rainwater tank that provides clean water for drinking and cooking, a critical improvement for health and hygiene.
“Now it’s easy for me to fetch clean water for meals and store it for the children,” Rebecca says. This simple change has made a big difference in their daily lives.
From a time of uncertainty and hardship to a future filled with hope, Castro and Rebecca’s journey shows the power of knowledge, resilience, and community support. Their story is a testament to how integrated programs, combining nutrition, livelihood, and financial empowerment, can transform lives.
As Jamica prepares to start school next year, her parents dream of building a stronger future for their family.
“World Vision has taught us many things, but the most important is the value of balanced nutrition,” says Castro. “It saved our daughter’s life and changed ours forever.”
Thanks to the support of the New Zealand Government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), families in South Bougainville are experiencing real transformation, healthier children, improved livelihoods, and brighter futures.
