A successful mission is always anchored in effective communication. Yet, the beauty of human connection lies in its boundless nature. Even when we speak disparate languages, a shared intent can lead to an enriching discourse. A hodgepodge of words, laughter, and good-natured gestures can create a rhythm of its own, constructing bridges of understanding where once language barriers stood.

Imagine stepping into an unfamiliar environment professionally, armed not with a complete linguistic toolbox but a raw determination to communicate. Often, we find ourselves in such settings, unacquainted with the local dialect, reliant on a well-meaning translator who cannot shadow our every interaction. This is where we are challenged to engineer these bridges of human connection using whatever resources we possess. Yet, the essence of communication transcends mere words. Our most potent tools are non-verbal: a sincere smile, an open posture, and expressive hand gestures. These universal tokens can pave the way to understanding even when we engage with strangers who do not share our language. Our shared human curiosity and will to connect can spark a rapport that sets effective communication in motion.

Every new environment is an invitation to heightened awareness. The unfamiliar becomes an orchestra of new sounds, scents, and sights, a sensory adventure urging us to learn more, live deeper, and embrace every experience. The joy of such open-hearted exploration forms the foundation of our assistance to others in myriad forms. At the end of the day, the privilege to serve our fellow humans fuels our endeavors. The degree of success in any venture is intimately tied to the intention behind the effort, reaffirming that circumstances do not dictate outcomes.

Take my experience in the rural district capital of Fatick, Senegal. Upon arrival, I discovered that the only available water source was a scantily mounted outdoor faucet, dispensing merely a pencil-thin stream of water. Undeterred, we used this meager flow to operate a canning kitchen, illustrating that our determination was our most potent resource, leading us to success against the odds. By embracing the universal language of empathy and resilience, we can turn any challenge into a victory, drawing a map of human connection that transcends geographical and linguistic boundaries.

I have always enjoyed travel shows, and food shows, and especially travel shows about food. Watching Anthony Bourdain eating his way around the likes of Vietnam in No Reservations, I’d often think how I too would love to host a travel food show. But I am a Vietnamese–Filipino woman. Naturally, I look nothing like Anthony Bourdain. How could the food establishment ever let a face like mine speak about my own people’s cuisine to the American masses? my younger self would wonder. It’s in response to questions like these that I have felt the most conviction about entering spaces that were never made for me and claiming them for myself. I have perhaps found fertile ground to plant a flag for people of color in an unlikely place: an American government program.

Since 1985, the U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Farmer-to-Farmer Program has mobilized over 20,000 volunteers to help farmers and agribusiness professionals in developing countries improve their livelihoods and food security. American volunteers offer technical assistance along the entire agricultural value chain, from crop production to marketing and business development skills. Many of their beneficiaries are people of color, receiving training intended to help improve their livelihoods and food security. However, despite the program’s intentions to promote cultural exchange and represent the broad range of expertise that the U.S.’ diverse population can provide, less than 20% of volunteers have been people of color themselves.

Noting this gap in representation, USAID has partnered with Winrock International, a Farmer-to-Farmer implementer, to increase diversity and inclusion among its volunteers. More than a numbers game, the Farmer-to-Farmer DEI Initiative is focused on lessons learned, investigating what changes need to be made to attract and ensure the success of volunteers of color.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, in early attempts to bring on more people of color, Winrock recruiters have encountered a recurring question from would-be volunteers and institutional partners: “You haven’t sought our expertise up to this point, so why should we help you now?” And what a reasonable question, I thought, as a woman of color myself, starkly aware of how people of color have been excluded from government-funded programs, with farmers of color in particular having been denied support in times of need.

As a Winrock staff member searching for these answers, I have had the privilege of speaking with Winrock’s Volunteer Champions, a cohort of veteran volunteers committed to mentoring new volunteers of color. With their wisdom fresh in my mind, I encourage potential volunteers to think about the benefits our participation might bring to us, rather than the proverbial diversity checkbox.

For some, like Felicia Bell, a farmer from Brandon, Mississippi and Maurice Dawson, a professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology, volunteering with Farmer-to-Farmer is a way to connect with their ancestral lands and give back to their forebears. Dawson explains that many people of color in the United States have never had a chance to visit the places where their families come from. He encourages his students to take advantage of Farmer-to-Farmer as an expenses-paid opportunity to not only visit, but also give back to a place where the people look just like them. During his own volunteer assignments across West Africa, Dawson describes, “It was like being welcomed home.”

For others, Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer assignments are at once an opportunity for people of color to feel appreciated for what we bring to the table, and to claim a space for ourselves––to say, here too, we belong. Winrock’s former Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Anjali Patel, explained the difference between diversity and inclusion as “being invited to the party” and “being asked to dance.” The opportunity to volunteer with Farmer-to-Farmer may at last represent professionals of color being asked to dance, and being deservedly thanked for the expertise, skill, passion, and grace with which they do so. In the words of Neelam Canto-Lugo, a professor at Yuba College, Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer assignments are a space “to feel included in the American fabric.”

It should go without saying that people of color have much to offer, but I know from experience that so often it can feel for people of color as though our skills are not wanted, that we are not valued. With Farmer-to-Farmer, the hosts who receive volunteers prove otherwise time and time again. Many of the Volunteer Champions note the gratitude with which their knowledge is greeted by those who participate in their training sessions. Having had a real impact on their lives, these participants show in their outright expressions of thanks and in how they implement what they have learned, how much they appreciate what volunteers have done. People of color here in the U.S. have so much to give, and it’s high time that USAID and its implementing partners make their recognition of this fact deeply felt, because Farmer-to-Farmer hosts––people of color around the world––already have.

Winrock’s Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) provides a unique opportunity to engage volunteers to share their technical expertise while supporting a local organization. Every year, F2F recognizes one volunteer for dedication to the project. This year, Winrock recognized first-time volunteer, Dr. Isaac Zama. Dr. Zama traveled to Ghana and worked with a group called the Participatory Guarantee System Ghana (PGS Ghana), an organic market that raises awareness of organic food systems and gives smallholder farmers the tools and market to increase their incomes through organic farming. Dr. Zama taught PGS Ghana members how to convert aquaculture pond residue into organic fertilizer for vegetable production, create floating fish feed pellets for organic tilapia and catfish production, and the value of maggots as an ingredient in feed. 

On his assignment, Dr. Zama worked alongside Mr. Issifu, a member of PGS and Director of the Centre for Ecological Agriculture and Livelihood, to conduct the training. Dr. Zama provided presentations, demonstrations, recorded videos, printed materials, and hands-on learning to participants that focused on techniques for transforming residues left behind after draining aquaculture ponds into an inoculate for compost piles. The nutrient-rich residue nourishes the compost pile, increasing soil fertility, greater vegetable yields, and revenue growth for farmers, replacing costly, problem-causing chemical fertilizers.

Dr. Zama showed participants how to make fish pellet feed manually by hand and via an extruder machine. Participants jumped in and followed the demonstration and made their fish pellets. Dr. Zama talked about the undervalued and misunderstood maggots. Maggots are the larval form of a fly and play an essential role in the breakdown of organic matter into usable compost. Maggots are rich in protein and have been recognized for their use in poultry, fish, and crustacean farming. Dr. Zama also provided participants with training on maggot production for increased protein in the production of fish feed pellets. At the end of the assignment, Dr. Zama left tangible recommendations for PGS Ghana so they could continue applying the technologies he introduced.

The host immediately mobilized resources to ensure all the recommendations provided by Dr. Zama were implemented, including a maggot production unit and the production of foliar fertilizer (fertilizer sprayed directly on the leaves) units at the farm. These recommendations enabled participants to experiment with what they had learned from the lectures and the videos. Mr. Ahedor Mawule, a PGS Ghana member, shared, “Fish feed is expensive and difficult to buy. Now that I’ve learned to formulate fish feed, I can do it myself and expand my catfish farm. I’ll also share the knowledge with my workers and other fish farmers in Walewale.”

In addition, Winrock’s Farmer to Farmer Program has been making a significant difference in the Walewale community in Northern Ghana. In just under a year, the community group’s efforts have yielded impressive results, helping to improve the lives of the locals in several ways. Above all, Farmer to Farmer volunteer

Dr. Isaac Zama has made a difference by sharing knowledge and skills with the community. According to an email from the community, Winrock International has given them “too much life-changing knowledge and skills.” The locals have been spending time implementing and sharing what they learned with others, particularly other smallholder farmers in their community.

Despite the current circumstances on the ground in Walewale, the community has been thriving in implementing everything that was taught and recommended by Winrock International, with few modifications. The skills learned from Winrock International’s training have significantly increased the number of agriculturalists interested in acquiring the knowledge and skills Dr. Zama has left behind. One of the techniques he has impacted significantly is the extraction of neem oil (from the seeds of the neem tree Azadirachta indica). The Walewale community has since acquired a small neem oil extraction machine and is currently installing the machine on their farms. Over 500 women have been trained in collecting, storing, and processing neem oil, allowing for a business case in the Walewale communities to be made. There are currently three models in operation:

1. Collect, dry, and sell to the Center for Ecological Agricultural and Livelihoods (CEAL) to extract the oil and sell.
2. Collect, dry, bring to the mill, pay extraction fee, package, and trade.
3. Collect, dry, clean, and extract the oil manually for the communities’ use and sale.

The community is still in the early stages, but progress is being made, and updates will be provided. Another area Farmer to Farmer has impacted compost making and application. Communities in Walewale have been screening videos on compost making and applications, with 13 video screenings since Winrock International left. Through the video screenings, over 2,000 farmers have acquired the skills and knowledge in composting, with more still counting. A business case has also been made for preparing, bagging, and selling rich compost. The smallholder farmers have been trained to prepare enough compost for their use and sell the excess to other farmers in the local communities. This has resulted in significant improvements in soil fertility and farmers’ yields and incomes.

Farmer to Farmer has significantly impacted various communities and families in Walwale, Northern Ghana. The efforts of the Farmer-to-Farmer program have resulted in acquiring knowledge and skills that have improved the lives and incomes of the community, particularly smallholder farmers. Our partners are grateful for the training and expertise that Farmer to Farmer has imparted and are progressing in implementing what they have learned. The impacts of Winrock International’s efforts will undoubtedly continue to be felt in Walewale for many years to come.

In recognition of Dr. Zama’s outstanding support, he was honored with Winrock’s 2022-2023 Volunteer of the Year Award. Dr. Zama exemplified Winrock’s F2F mission by increasing the resilience of PGS Ghana’s agricultural productivity and competitiveness. In February 2023, Dr. Zama collaborated with Winrock’s F2F Country Directors to host a Winrock in-house webinar that explored the program’s many facets, including his inspiration to serve as a F2F volunteer and the impacts of the assignment on the host organization. Dr. Zama’s passion was fueled by his personal work as founder of Amba Farmers Voice, a nonprofit focused on reframing agricultural education by shifting to a process that integrates indigenous knowledge, cost-effectiveness, and practical solutions to inspire personalized learning in community-based farming.

Investing in women’s leadership means prioritizing and centering women’s perspectives and their lived experiences of the kinds of gender bias and discrimination that drive exploitation. Women’s perspectives and profound personal knowledge of such gendered power structures are the keys to fully understanding vulnerability, preventing exploitation, and advancing sustainable change. Even more importantly, we need to promote diverse forms of leadership of women who can authentically speak with and for those most directly affected. We asked several women from across Winrock to answer in their own words why they think women’s leadership is essential in their respective areas of expertise.

Every year in March, we celebrate women, their achievements, and their tremendous contributions to our society, and what better way to celebrate than by highlighting a woman who is making a significant impact in her field? Mina H. Lassey, Winrock International’s Farmer-to-Farmer Country Director, is one such woman dedicated to empowering women in the agricultural sector in Ghana. Mina Lassey boasts over two decades of experience in the development sector, with a particular focus on managing projects to improve the lives of individuals and communities. She has held various roles during her career, including serving as the F2F Program Manager for nine years. Mina’s expertise lies in project management, monitoring and evaluation, agribusiness, and natural resource management, which she has leveraged to implement impactful development projects. Presently, Mina is the Country Director of The Farmer to Farmer Program in Ghana, where she continues to make significant contributions towards empowering local communities and promoting sustainable development.

According to studies, 62% of economically active women in Africa work in agriculture as producers, traders, and processors. Unfortunately, despite their high representation in the sector, rural women still lag behind men in terms of productivity and earnings. Mina recognized this problem and has worked tirelessly to empower women to thrive in the agricultural sector. Mina leads the West Africa F2F Country Project, which supports post-harvest, predominantly female-dominated areas. Through this project, Mina aims to empower women-owned agribusinesses with technical support, business training, and access to high-value markets and resources. She believes empowering these women will transform Ghana’s agricultural sector’s productivity and prosperity.

Mina’s work has already yielded positive results. For example, Meannan Foods, a woman-led agribusiness, received an award for being the best agribusiness in which the owners are under 40 years old. The F2F project provided support in online marketing skills to help increase sales and access international markets. Another success story is Hendy Farms, another woman-led agribusiness that received support from F2F to build a processing facility and diversify its product lines. Hendy Farms was also awarded during a Hortifresh Fair for having the best-packaged products.
These organizations are a testament to the power of women’s leadership in the agricultural sector. With the proper support, women-led businesses can thrive, impacting their livelihoods and the agricultural sector as a whole. Mina’s work gives us hope for the future and inspires us to support women’s leadership in our respective fields. Mina’s dedication to empowering women in the agricultural sector exemplifies what can be achieved when women are given the support they need to succeed. Her work inspires us all, and we can learn from her example to empower more women in our communities and fields of work.

After 6 years at the helm of the Farmer-to-Farmer team in Senegal, our beloved Mama Toure retires today. 

Before she started with Winrock in June 2014, Mama became a member of the Africa Women Leaders in Agriculture and Environment (AWLAE) network that Winrock helped form and strengthen in the 1980s. She received her Master’s in International Agriculture Education from the University of Arizona and spent several years working for the Senegalese Ministry of Agriculture and for the Food and Agriculture Organization. Mama’s leadership and spirit has led one of our largest West Africa Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) teams and she will be very much missed! Her work with volunteers and host organizations have helped shape the program in Senegal and left a lasting impact. During her tenure, she has overseen 124 volunteer assignments that dedicated 2,330 days to F2F. These volunteer assignments resulted in 7,936 hectares under improved technology, $2,130,983 in host income, and nearly 5,000 people trained! Mama retires to her farm where she keeps fruit trees, poultry, and livestock. A genuine, warm, and dedicated leader, Mama will truly be missed! 

I learned from Mama that working as a team makes you succeed and sharing responsibility makes the job easier. I miss her already! Patrick, Ndiame Sene, F2F driver, Senegal

Mama has been a role model to staff, program beneficiaries and our volunteers. I appreciate how much she believed in her team members and invested in building their capacity. DeAnn McGrew, Director of Global Programs

Mama has been a great colleague and we are sad to see her go. I hope she works as hard at relaxing as she did during her working life! Mike Bassey, Country Director F2F Nigeria

Her warm spirit, passion for the work we do, and keen expertise in the field will be sorely missed. Jennifer Robinson, F2F Recruiter

I will especially remember Mama taking me to her pride and joy – her farm. Her retirement is well deserved but sad for me. But I shall return to Senegal at some point in the future and look forward to seeing her then. Monica Norley, F2F Volunteer

Mama was so welcoming and helpful to me during my two volunteer assignments in Senegal. The staff under her direction took better care of me than I could have ever imagined. I could not have asked for a better country director and host. She invited me to her family’s celebration of Tabaski and it was like being a member of a wonderful family. She is a true professional and has provided tremendous service to her country through her work with Winrock. Something tells me there are a lot of volunteers that can share the same sentiments about Mama. Ples Spradley, F2F Volunteer

Mama is an open and friendly person who cares about others. I will miss her morning greetings and bright smile. Abibou Diaw, our new Country Director F2F Senegal

Mama with Winrock HQ team and her fellow Country Directors from Nigeria, Guinea, Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh

I’m so grateful for Mama’s spirit, leadership, and care that she has put in to building the Senegal team. After so much hard work, I hope she enjoys her retirement – it is well deserved.
Jen Snow, F2F Program Director