It’s International Women’s Day!

Looking back on all of the great work our volunteers have done with women around the world, one of the programs that stands out in our minds is our USAID-funded Partnership for Safe Poultry (PSPK) program in Kenya, which, like our other Farmer-to-Farmer programs, fielded US volunteers to provide training and assistance to farmers, agribusinesses, government agencies, and others. Though the PSPK program has ended, the impacts are still apparent.

45 volunteers came to Kenya to provide training and technical assistance on improved poultry production… and as a result, thousands of newly empowered women strengthened their livelihoods, for the good of their whole family. One training participant, Alice Pius Makau, exclaimed:

“I am not afraid of my children sleeping hungry anymore, because I have enough food for them, all of the time. The money I get from chicken sales helps me to buy the food that I do not grow on the farm. I also have a constant supply of meat and eggs for my family’s protein nutrition.”

Likewise, another training participant explained:

“My earning an income from chicken has reduced tensions that were there in the family because of lack of enough money. Now we are able to manage through tough times, because there is at least money to buy something to eat.”

Another woman, inspired by PSPK volunteer training to set up a new poultry rearing and poultry vaccination business, explained:

“I realized there was great untapped business potential for me in this area. Currently, it appears like the whole district depends on me for vaccination. Government officers always refer farmers to me. Before PSPK, I was not keeping chicken, but now I have about 100 chickens!”

We are constantly inspired by these stories.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who have worked so tirelessly to benefit the lives of women (and men) all around the world. Happy International Women’s Day!

Today is October 16, World Food Day. A reminder for each of us to consider the daunting task of making sure that the world’s 7 billion men, women, and children can eat. On this day in particular, we ask ourselves, “how can I make a difference?” One answer is to volunteer.

Over the last 21 years, Winrock’s volunteers have impacted 8.2 million individuals in 56 countries around the world, contributing to the global effort to increase availability, access, and quality of food. We are proud to see how these efforts are making a difference.

In Kenya, volunteers worked with several different women’s poultry groups that were struggling to maintain healthy, disease-free chicken flocks. For example, members of the Kyemole Poultry Keepers Group received training on biosecurity and safe poultry production, as well as assistance with improved feed, financing, and linkages with buyers. As a result, members have increased their income and, in turn, improved household food security. One member, Alice Pius Makau, proudly states, “I am not afraid of my children sleeping hungry anymore, because I have enough food for them, all of the time. The money I get from chicken sales helps me to buy the food that I do not grow on the farm. I also have a constant supply of meat and eggs for my family’s protein nutrition.”

In El Salvador, volunteer Alejandro Segarra-Carmona (right) shows local farmers how to apply sustainable pest control techniques to their crops. Segarra-Carmona came here to provide good agricultural practice training, integrated pest management and quality standards. Trainees will apply these techniques to increase production and improve quality.

In Mali, volunteer Poul Hansen worked with the Women’s Local Milk Stockist Cooperative in Oulessebougou to help ensure that many more Malian families had access to quality milk. At the end of the training session, the president of the Cooperative proclaimed, “This is what we’ve been talking about – some new ideas to make a difference! Now the nutrition and health status of our children in need will change for the better, as will the income of women processors.”

In Bangladesh, Farmer-to-Farmer volunteers have trained women farmers on improved vegetable production techniques. As a result, women (like the woman pictured) have been able to successfully grow bitter gourds and vegetables in fallow lands. Their families have reaped the benefits of improved nutrition and increased income.

In Nepal, volunteer Howard Prussack trained low-income vegetable producers to improve vegetable production and processing. Mrs. Sharada Sharma, an agro-vet owner and farmer who participated in Howard’s trainings, stated, “These [techniques] look so simple and we can do it easily, but we didn’t do it before. This training is eye opening for me and many other rural women producers.”

These efforts -and many others- have helped our beneficiaries increase sales by $52 million and increase income by over $9 million (combined).

This is tremendous impact, though there is still more work to be done. Check out Winrock’s website , if you want to be a part of the effort to help increase food security around the world!

Winrock Farmer-to-Farmer staff Bonface Kaberia came to the US (from Kenya) for a couple of weeks to work at Winrock’s headquarters office in Arkansas. While he was in Arkansas, Bonface had a chance to visit a former volunteer who supported the Partnership for Safe Poultry program that Bonface previously managed in Kenya. He had a wonderful time touring the Arkansas countryside and visiting the University of Arkansas and private farms; much of this made him reflect on the agriculture/poultry sector in his home country.

Read below for Bonface’s impressions from his trip

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“On the evening of my second day in US, I had the opportunity to sightsee in the beautiful Arkansas country side as VTA staff Johnnie Frueauff played a tour guide role as we drove to Fayetteville. The trip took us three hours including a dinner stop over along the way. We spent the night in Fayetteville and in the morning drove to University of Arkansas. We were met by John Moyle, a one time volunteer to the Partnership for Safe Poultry in Kenya program. Both John and I were excited to re-unite after one year and replayed back memories of the visit and the work he did for us. John had such good memories of his visit to western Kenya and groups he helped during the visit. After such exchanges and review of memories, John took us to visit the poultry science department at the University. The nicely built department exuded an atmosphere of a centre of excellence for poultry as we walked through various laboratories and facilities. I could not help thinking when such a centre could be built in Kenya and whether there could be opportunities for the department to collaborate with African institutions.

John took us for a tour of the animal science department where we met the head of department, Prof Michael Looper, a very charming and lively gentleman. He gave us an overview of the department. The department has been involved heavily in small ruminant research. Johnnie discussed with Michael the potential for involving department staff in volunteer assignments if opportunities arise.

We proceeded to visit the breeding and hatchery station where we were met by Prof Keith Bramwell. As he took us through the hatchery and breeding pens, his explanations and enthusiasm of his work reflected and reverberated with the atmosphere earlier exuded by the department as a centre of excellence. I could not help being infected by his enthusiasm, wealth of knowledge and experience in poultry breeding as we walked through. At some point I almost thought this is where I am supposed to be or this is the type of person we need for poultry sector development in Kenya. In his breeding station, Prof Bramwell had various breeds of birds that I have never seen, including a ‘naked bird’. It was an amazing visit. He also works with 4H students and uses the various birds to cultivate interest for students to get involved in poultry.

John took us out of the University to visit one free range farmer they were working with. After thirty minutes or so drive, we drove into a grassland farm that would disguise as deserted only to realise otherwise. We were met by the owner Terrell Spencer. He took us to a type of caravan which is a moveable chicken house. Outside the house were free range birds scavenging for food and protected from going far by an electrical wire powered by solar panel. He explained the rearing process all the way to marketing. What was striking to me was the land features which were very similar to what one would find in semi-arid lands of Kenya and most African countries. This was rangeland with grass. As Spencer demonstrated various activities on the farm and how he moves the pens from time to time, I could not help thinking the appropriateness of the technology in not only enhancing climate change resilience in lower parts of Eastern province in Kenya but also increasing household incomes and providing better land use for this drought prone areas as chicken baskets for the country. I sought to discuss this with Spencer and the team. Spencer informed us that they have goat specialists. They usually combine goats and the birds by putting goats to fertilise the land. They also grow some type of natural weeds for purposes of deworming goats. From my knowledge, goats and chicken are the last species to be affected by severe drought. What a combination of technology?

We exchanged contacts and proceeded to a local restaurant where we were served with most delicious chicken I have ever had. Thereafter we drove back to Little Rock.” –Bonface Kaberia

[We are so glad you enjoyed your visit, Bonface! Thank you to Jonathan Moyle -an excellent volunteer- for hosting Bonface on his visit! It’s nice to see relationships with volunteers deepen over time.]

Kathy Colverson volunteered in Kenya to help make improvements to the poultry market.

Kathy Colverson is passionate about volunteering and it shows in the enthusiasm she displays when recounting her own experiences with the USAID John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer program.

Colverson has twice taken time away from her job as associate director of program development at the University of Florida’s International Center to offer her experience and assistance to Winrock’s Partnership for Safe Poultry in Kenya program. She used her expertise to help make improvements to the poultry value chain, encourage growth in the market, and assist in the creation of a National Poultry Improvement Plan.

Winrock staff spoke with Colverson after her second volunteer trip to Kenya. Here is what she so graciously (and enthusiastically) shared.

Why did you want to volunteer?

Because, I love it! Everyone in the world should be of service. If you can volunteer with people less fortunate and learn yourself, it’s a beautiful experience. Anytime I can contribute my skill set to helping disadvantaged or marginalized folks, it is always a valuable use of my time. Also, I welcome any chance I have to work to benefit women; women are important to agriculture everywhere.

What was the highlight of your volunteer assignments abroad?

Kenya’s Minister of Livestock was supposed to make a cameo visit to our workshop. He got so interested in it that he came every day, for hours at a time. I think it’s because we used a participatory approach and he was so amazed by that approach that he couldn’t get enough of it. He really participated and enjoyed himself. And to get someone at that level to participate in that way, was really impressive.

What made your Winrock volunteer trip distinctive?

The Winrock staff are exceptional. They took care of my every need. For example, the staff in Kenya went out of their way to help me buy an instrument for my son. Now, my son is applying for Fullbright to go to Kenya. That is a complete circle. [The Winrock field staff] are the best trainers I’ve worked with in a long time.

How does your experience affect your world view?

The world is a very small place and small farmers everywhere face many of the same challenges. There are so many similar issues, even with small farmers here in the United States. My assignments have helped me think about how we can learn from domestic as well as international farmers.

Volunteering is an opportunity to go and engage person-to-person. That makes all the difference in the world. You see what they have to offer and they see what you have to offer. We all need to recognize that we are a component in making a difference. I believe everyone has something to offer; we just have to find out what it is.