Nelson Ignacio Obando Parada, Co-founder, Megared cooperative

I’m 16 years old. I currently live with my dad, mom, and little sister in a house built by my paternal grandfather. If I were to describe my father, I would say that he is a very traditional person. He is hard working, but is often irresponsible with putting food on the table. There are days when there is no food in the house to eat, and he hardly worries. He and my mother often fight, and occasionally there is physical abuse.

I would say that ahmsa’s project has helped me a lot. It has made me think more about the future and has made me better myself more and more so that my children won’t have to live through the situation that I currently live in, so that I can have a better life, and have more economic stability. Before I became involved in the project, my future and my family’s future didn’t matter to me much, and I didn’t think about having my own business or my own income. I didn’t speak much with Milton (ahmsa field staff), who has helped me greatly and hasn’t let me regress. When I don’t have anything to eat or anyone to talk to, there he is helping me without expecting anything in return.