One of the most inspirational things that I have seen through trips with Transformational Connections is a community that has taken over ownership and stewardship of a valley that was previously owned by a large coffee company. As a collective and with a loan from the Catholic church they purchased the land from the company that had previously employeed them. They then converted its use to crops they would consume and that they could sell, making decisions on its use as a group. One family started up a fish and vegetable business, maintaining pools of water with different fish and aquatic vegetables that were eaten locally and bringing income from outside the valley to their community. Another person established swimming pools that welcomes groups from the area and further away who come and enjoy them, and also spend money at other local businesses. It was inspiring to see what a community of people with a shared vision could accomplish when empowered with the resources that had previously unavailable.
