Great treasures that live in Daniel’s small pink Exercise book

At first glance, it looks like an ordinary, worn-out pink exercise book; small, simple, easy to overlook. But in the hands of 44-year-old Daniel, it holds something far greater: dreams, goals, plans, and the vision that has shaped his life.

In rural Kageyo Sector of Gicumbi District, Daniel is known not only as a husband, father of three, and successful farmer, but as a man of uncommon discipline and purpose. 

Though his formal education ended at primary school and he never made it to high school, Daniel has mastered something many degree holders still struggle with; writing down his vision, setting clear goals, and relentlessly following through until they are achieved.

Daniel says his mindset transformation was strengthened through the Empowered Worldview Training provided by World Vision, an experience that helped him see not just where he was but where his life could go. 

Before receiving this training, he used to farm only beans without manure and often incurred losses. At most, he harvested only 5 kilograms(kgs) of beans per season, which his family would consume in a short period of time.

Daniel reflects: “We could only, and even then, hardly afford one meal per day as a family. We lived a harsh and laborious life, with no sense of direction at all.”

One day, at a community assembly, Daniel heard about World Vision’s Empowered Worldview training, a training that would change him and empower him to take care of himself and his family.

Receiving this training gave Daniel direction and clarity. It also equipped him with modern farming techniques, including the use of organic and chemical fertilizers. He also received start-up capital of 95,000 Rwandan Francs.

He started by planting two cups of carrot seeds and applied all the skills he had acquired. He harvested 120 kgs of carrots. This showed him that it was possible.

So, in the next season, he took a step further and planted 3 kgs of maize, harvesting 450 kg. When his farming became profitable, he took a bold step in the following season and planted 100 kg of Irish potatoes, harvesting over 1 ton.

Today, Daniel plants a minimum of 200 kgs per agricultural season and harvests over 2 tonnes. Not only has his farming vastly improved, but his life and his family’s have too.

He expresses with joy: “My family has sufficient food and can access all the basics of life. I am grateful that I can do that with ease and still have extra resources to keep my farming business running in the next seasons.”

Daniel has accomplished even more. He has installed electricity in his house to help his children revise in the evenings. He has bought new furniture that has added warmth to their home. He has bought a cow to provide milk for his children and manure for his crops. He has also bought a bicycle to facilitate his movements and purchased farmland to expand his production.

Habakkuk 2:2 says, “Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.”

Daniel’s life is guided by a small dark pink exercise book that he calls a ‘Performance Targets Notebook’, where all he has achieved is recorded and where all his future goals are written in detail.

He shares: “Writing my plans in detail is great for my business, but even more, for my focus and direction.”

Daniel’s future plan is straightforward: development.

By Mary Umutoni, Donor Liaison Specialist