Edie Shannon, who has just returned from Soumbalako, Guinea, shares the following insights: NOT

Central Guinea is a long way from my home in miles, and centuries away in living conditions. I am here to work with a large farm union to help them in organizational development. They know they should be doing more than they are for their farm association members, but don’t know where to begin. (more…)

Well, the rainy day bit is true. The rains have arrived, and they are nothing if not persistent. Thunderously loud, they dominated my training, fortuitously coming at the end of the day to usher us out the door. (more…)

The latest is an update from, recent Guinea volunteer, Dan Quinn on his experience with Winrock’s AEMIP program, which helps promote food security and sustainable farming practices.

On my first day in Faranah it rained. It rained hard. The day started as I stood under an umbrella, held up only by a bent fork, waiting for my potato omelet sandwich to be made. I showed up at the Winrock office that morning soaking wet. The steaming sandwich, a strong cup of coffee, and some amazing new “co-workers” worked magic in helping me dry out. Perhaps owing to this early association with warming comfort, I’ve returned to eat this same sandwich nearly everyday for the past two weeks. (more…)

Winrock International has a long history of contributing to Nepal’s development and has been working to increase economic opportunity and sustain resources while protecting the environment of Nepal for over 30 years. Across three decades, Winrock in Nepal has periodically shifted program focus to address the current needs of the country, designing specific thematic programs and developing a coherent institutional strategy, vision and mission. Keeping to Winrock International’s global mission is essential: “Winrock International is a nonprofit organization that works with people in the United States and around the world to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity, and sustain natural resources.” (more…)

This article is a contribution to a week-long blog carnival on USAID’s John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Program. From July 14-18, F2F program partners and American volunteers are sharing their knowledge and experience of providing technical assistance to farmers, farm groups, agribusinesses, service providers, and other agriculture sector institutions in developing and transitional countries. This blog carnival aims to capture and share this program experience. You can find all contributions on Agrilinks. (more…)