Martha Arque is 44 years old and lives in the community of Casco Valenzuela with her husband and their three children. She is a resilient, hardworking, and faith-driven woman who has taken every opportunity God has placed in her path.
Her journey on the Life Farms program began with a multiplication life farm. Thanks to her perseverance, she was later promoted to a full Life Farm, and today she manages an ideal Life Farm. This journey reflects her dedication and her desire to grow in order to provide her family with a better quality of life.
Martha and her family are Christians and actively participate in their church. She not only receives but also gives back: she is currently involved in the cascade training process, teaching others in her community, and she even led one of the small groups during our agroecology experience exchange retreat.
During this time, she has also been blessed with school supplies and Christmas donations for her children, which has been valuable support for her family. Another remarkable part of her story is her participation, along with her oldest daughter Salem, in the micro-entrepreneurship training in Quito. Every Saturday, with great effort, they traveled to attend the sessions and prepare to compete in the Pan de Vida Shark Tank. On one occasion, Martha even traveled to a farther city to gather the products needed and present their project in Quito. That effort was worth it: they won second place! They received mentorship, new equipment, and now their business is much stronger.
Martha’s life is a true example of perseverance and growth. She never stops, she continues learning, working, and sharing with others. Her story reminds us that with faith, hard work, and perseverance, dreams really can come true.
