Ruth’s Restaurant: A Family Business 40 Years in the Making
With fair loans and support, Ruth has grown her restaurant into a business that creates jobs for other women.
Latin America + Caribbean
June 04, 2025
Seeking Refuge
Every night for years, Sylvester’s children slept underneath a thatched roof and hoped it wouldn’t rain. The roof—constructed of dry vegetation—was no match for the torrential storms that buffeted the countryside; rain meant trying to sleep in the cold and the wet as their house filled up with water.
And yet rain was crucial to their father’s livelihood. Sylvester, a rice farmer in northern Liberia, toiled daily on his 10-acre plot of land, earning less than $1,300 a year for all his hard work. His financial situation worsened when 30% of his harvest was lost—due to rodents, moisture, or any number of problems—before he could find a buyer.
Sylvester was devastated. A year’s worth of work, of waiting for the income needed to take care of his family, and suddenly a third of it had vanished. Not only was he unable to send his children to school, but Sylvester was also unable to see a clear path out of poverty.
The Power of a Global Network
Through Partners Worldwide, Sylvester became connected with a local rice processor, Selma Agriculture Development Corporation (SADC). SADC provided Sylvester with agricultural training, which increased his yield of rice by 160% in the first year alone. SADC went on to purchase Sylvester’s harvest at a fair price before cleaning, bagging, and selling the rice to an international market.
A Bright Future
Gone are the days when Sylvester felt like there was no path out; instead, he sees a bright future ahead.
Sylvester’s partnership with SADC resulted in his income rising by 150%. Today, his children attend school, returning home each day to their renovated house. The next time it storms, Sylvester’s family won’t have to worry; they can sleep comfortably beneath their new tin roof.
