Julie Albrecht was nominated by the Senegal Farmer to Farmer team because of her dedication to knowledge sharing and ability to adapt to local conditions. During her training, she was able to put the participants at ease and engage them with hands-on training. In addition, Julie also demonstrates great creativity in using local equipment and ingredients to come up with products that the women’s group likes.

Country Director, Mama Ndeye, said: “Julie is spending retirement sharing her years of experience and accumulated knowledge with the needy ones in our country to open ways for better lives.” Julie has worked with 2 groups of women (COFLEC and AMIDEF), teaching them how to preserve fruit and vegetable. The COFLEC group sold their products at an annual agriculture fair in Dakar demonstrating Julie’s training has helped them build their capacity and opportunity for income-generating activities. 

We asked Julie to reflect on her volunteer experiences. Read on to see what she had to say! 

Why did you want to volunteer?

I enjoyed my first volunteer experience in Senegal and I thought the new assignment would be just as rewarding. To me, volunteering helps me use my expertise to help others make a difference in their lives.

What was the highlight of your most recent volunteer assignment abroad?

I was able to meet the organization COEFLEC – that I worked with in 2016 and provide them with additional training. The new group – AMIDEF was very receptive to the training also.  I enjoyed making a picture recipe book of the food processes that we did during the training.

What made your Winrock volunteer trip distinctive?

I enjoy working with the Winrock Staff in Senegal. They are very helpful and select organizations that use the training to help improve the standard of living of women in Senegal.

How does your experience affect your worldview?

I have been to many countries throughout the world. For Africa, Senegal has a stable government which helps organizations such as Winrock International be effective in providing educational programs that are put to use (practice) by the organizations who receive the training.

What advice would you give a new volunteer?

Ndeye Mama Toure, the country director, is great to work with. She provides volunteers with the information needed to deliver a successful program.

Why should people consider volunteering?

These volunteer assignments are examples of citizen diplomacy. For world peace to occur, people to people (not government officials) need to happen to gain an understanding of our similarities and differences (of which there are not many).

When your friends/family find out that your volunteer assignment aboard, what do they say or ask?

Sometimes they worry about my safety. I feel that Winrock International is great to work with and assures me of my safety.

What do you do when you’re not volunteering?

I am a professor emerita at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and these experiences help me use my expertise.  I am retired and enjoying it!

Does anyone in your life play a role in supporting your involvement? In providing inspiration?

I wanted to volunteer for the Peace Corps ages ago and these short-term experiences help me fulfill my “Peace Corps” one assignment at a time!

What keeps you going back to volunteer?

The positive experiences!

Jolene was nominated by the Nigeria Farmer to Farmer team because she demonstrated a commitment to the success of her assignments and never tired of the frenzied hours of hard work – developing training materials, training the host in necessary skills and capabilities. Country Director, Mike Bassey, said “Outside of Jolene’s scope of work, she accepted a request by the National Agricultural Extension and Research Liaison Services (NAERLS) to travel to a NAERLS-adopted farming community to hold an interactive session with farmers in pesticides safe use. This collaboration helped pave the way for the implementation of a follow-on assignment.” Further, Jolene continued to work with F2F country staff after she returned to the US! 

We asked  Jolene to reflect on her volunteer experience and the trip to Nigeria. Read on to see what she had to say! 

Volunteer with NAERLS group

Why did you want to volunteer?

I’ve always volunteered in my community, which is very important, but the idea of being able to expand beyond my local borders and reach people who live completely differently than I do is exciting. I love challenges and I felt that this opportunity would challenge me on a personal and professional level and really stretch the depth of what I can do and who I can reach.

What was the highlight of your most recent volunteer assignment abroad?

The most recent assignment in March provided an opportunity for me to meet a few village leaders and provide some pesticide safety training to farmers directly. That was my first experience using an interpreter to translate from English to the native language of Housa and although it was a new experience it was received well and appreciated by the farmers.

How does your experience affect your worldview?

Even with extensive media outreach in today’s world, nothing impacts a person more than an actual experience. The differences in cultures, lifestyles, values, environment can’t be truly realized through video and pictures in the same way as being there. Meeting real people in real time creates a bond and you always find that you have something in common with each person you meet even with large disparities in where and how you live. It also gives you so much to reflect on, how so much of the world struggles with basic needs yet people live happily without material things.

Volunteer observes Hausa traditional rights during a courtesy visit to a local chief

What advice would you give a new volunteer?

Use your opportunity to meet and have real conversations with as many people as you can. Don’t be afraid to accept their invitations to culture and new experiences. We grow the most when we move outside of our comfort zone and they will want you to share everything possible about yourself and your life. Don’t be afraid to do so.

How have your assignments made a difference in your own life? /Has your assignment caused you to do anything differently once you returned?

Absolutely! I always thought material things were a low priority for me but now even more so. I purged so much stuff when I came back from my first assignment! I regained my love for art and culture and looked for more ways to share my talents. I thank God every day for clean water and air, security and my family’s wellbeing and for even having the opportunity to venture and see the world.

How do you feel about the support from Winrock, whether before, during or after your assignments?

Winrock is the most amazing organization. They provide incredible opportunities and really support their volunteers. I always feel I can reach anyone with questions, get advice, or details from my assignments. Being able to talk to previous volunteers is a bonus as well.

What do you do when you’re not volunteering?

Professionally, I have always been in science and education or a combination of the two. I’m also a mom and artist, who loves all things outdoors such as camping, hiking, biking, scuba diving, and beekeeping.

Does anyone in your life play a role in supporting your involvement? In providing inspiration?

I feel that the most successful volunteers have support from their families. My daughter is my inspiration; I want to be a role model for her, to show her how to serve others, to be selfless and adventurous and to share her talents with others who can benefit from them.

What keeps you going back to volunteer?

Winrock is such a solid organization and I believe in their mission. The professional atmosphere, the host organizations they work with, the value received from the inputs, and the experience as a whole provides amazing opportunities for all those involved.

Volunteer explains the tasks of new curriculum development

What, if anything, has surprised you on your assignments?

I am amazed at how engaged everyone is during the assignment. Even in cultures where time schedules are flexible and fluid and learning environments are not standardized, everyone is engaged and willing to learn. They show a real desire to soak up as much information as you can provide. They are inquisitive and anxious to use the information you provide. I was really surprised that as much as the internet and media can reach now, there are still huge disparities in the type and quality of information that reach people.

Dr. Herring was nominated by the Myanmar team because of his ability to quickly absorb the local situation in the field and adapt those observations into an informative presentation and training. He got along well with all the farmers he met, was well prepared and focused on the work. “Dr. Herring’s assignment and shared information delighted the host and cattle farmers, it presented real opportunities in livestock export if they practice cattle farming systematically. It pointed out potential investment areas and possible collaboration between US and Myanmar” Ai Kyaw, Chief of Party, Myanmar. We asked Dr. Herring to reflect on his volunteer experience and the trip to Myanmar, his responses are below.

My Winrock volunteer assignment was to assess the Myanmar cattle industry and to make recommendations regarding potential improvements and developments as the industry there transitions from a draft-based cattle industry toward more organized beef production. I was in country from 1 to 13 January 2018, and my host was the Myanmar Livestock Federation (MLF).

Cattle market near Pyawbwe. These cattle are bred and used for draft purposes. the farmers prefer gray cattle to red cattle. All transactions at this market must be completed by noon.

1.Why did you want to volunteer?

I am interested in opportunities that expand my knowledge base, especially those that also help other people involved in animal agriculture, and particularly those involving cattle producers.

Successful cattle grower operation where the farmer purchases cattle for a specialized market and provides adequate feeding for improved cattle performance compared to typical cattle management in the region

2. What was the highlight of your most recent volunteer assignment abroad?

The most valuable resource in the world is people, and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and interacting with people involved in the various aspects of livestock production in Myanmar, and experiencing their culture and friendship.

Dr. Herring and the owners of a successful dairy farm. They have 56 cows on 2.5 acres of land in a suburban area near Yangon. The owners had also organized a milk collection cooperative company.

3.What made your Winrock volunteer trip distinctive?

I had never been to Myanmar or this part of Asia. One of the most distinctive aspects of this trip was seeing the degree that farmers rely on their cattle for draft work and transportation, and to personally visit and contribute to one of the less developed countries of the world.

The Myanmar cattle industry is transitioning from traditional draft use to beef-emphasized production

4.How does your experience affect your worldview?

The first thing it does is reinforce my thoughts on how fortunate people in the USA and other developed countries are regarding our daily lives. Many in developed countries do not realize how little of our annual income we have to spend on food. In the USA, in particular, we also have many liberties that people in other countries do not have. The second thing it reinforces is how similar people all over the world are.

The gentleman is Zayar Chit Sein, and his meat market purchases and fabricates 3 beef
sides per day. He supplies some restaurants and hotels in Yangon.

5.What advice would you give a new volunteer?

1) Keep an open mind about seeing new cultures and circumstances; it will be a great learning experience. 2) the people you meet will be very appreciative of your choice to volunteer. 3) don’t be afraid to ask questions, and always have patience and politeness. 4) the only impression some people may ever have about the USA could come from their experiences with you.

Meeting between Dr. Herring, Winrock Farmer to Farmer, Myanmar Livestock Breeding, and the owner of a bull buyer operation interested in receiving information regarding nutrition and how to start a beef cow herd

6.Why should people consider volunteering?

It will be a tremendous learning experience, and it will be rewarding personally. Even if there is a day or two that you wonder why you agreed to volunteer, you will be glad you decided to do it.

The owner of “The Prime Rib” restaurant in Yangon, U Myint Thu, hosted Winrock F2F staff and volunteers. U
Myint Thu is a member of the Myanmar Livestock Federation and is committed to producing value-added
cattle and beef products.

7.How have your assignments made a difference in your own life?

I have become more motivated to help cattle producers whenever I can. I have also become more motivated to work with producers and industry groups in developing countries.

Dr. Herring gives an interview to a local TV station after a meeting between him, MLF officers and government officials.

8.How do you feel about the support from Winrock, whether before, during or after your assignments?

The support I had before the trip was excellent. The in-country support that I received in Myanmar was outstanding and surpassed my expectations. All Winrock personnel were very professional and courteous in all my activities. The Winrock Asia F2F Myanmar staff were excellent partners working closely with MLF to organize informative meetings, tours, and farm visits that not only helped me understand their industry and livestock production conditions but also helped me understand the culture and daily lives of Myanmar people.

Bull buyer operation near Myingyan

9.When your friends and family find out that your volunteer assignment was abroad, what do they say or ask?

The main questions they ask are about how different things were there compared to here. Some of those things include food (rice at every meal and lots of spices!), living and driving conditions (which were much more congested than we are used to, and most cars are right-handed because they are used to cars from Japan, but they also drive on the right side of the road), and the cost of various household items (food and many items are much cheaper there than in the USA).

Food markets in Yangon are open 6:30 to 10:00 5 or 6 days a week. Many people buy their food daily because they have little storage area in their homes or have no refrigeration for perishable foods.

10.What do you do when you’re not volunteering?

I am a professor in the Animal Science Department at Texas A&M University, and teach classes and conduct research regarding beef cattle production. However, my most important job is that of dad and husband, and my biggest challenge is time management. I also enjoy working outdoors on the small cattle operation my family and I have.

11.Does anyone in your life play a role in supporting your involvement? In providing inspiration?

I try to minimize time away from my family, but they are huge supporters of me when I choose to go on volunteer assignments. As my children have become older, it has become easier for me to volunteer more. Both of my parents also encouraged me early in life to perform service and volunteer type activities.

12.Do you keep in touch with your host organization? [Host organizations are the organizations that receive volunteer support]

Yes, mainly through social media. I hope to continue communication with them in the future.

Dr. Herring with cattle farmers near Yanthar village in the Mandalay Region

13.How do you feel that your volunteer assignment has contributed to creating a shared understanding of different cultures through person-to-person interactions?

I am very glad to have contributed in a small way to a big-picture activity. The more that people understand and appreciate each other’s cultures, the more effective communication can be achieved, and more efficient learning and improvements can be made. The interactions I had with cattle farmers was very enlightening for both me and them.

The Schwedagon Pagoda in Yangon. The first shrine on this site was built around 558BC and structures have been added to it by kings and queens through different dynasties.

On August 21, 2017, the team from the Thunderbird School of Global Management Emerging Markets Laboratory (TEM-Lab), Craig Pearson, Fungai Mandaza and Rachel A, arrived in Nigeria to work with the Center for Entrepreneurship Development and Vocational Studies (CEDVS), Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti. The trio went to support CEDVS’ quest to establish and manage a business incubator center.

Team Ubuntu’s first day tour of the CEDVS

Incubation centers offer business creation and income generating opportunities to young and aspiring people and provide them with facilities and services that most business start-ups have difficulty in procuring – spaces, electricity, communication, start-up (inception kits), advisory support, training, information and access to external resources (finance and markets).

Soon, the team realized that nearly all the CEDVS faculty misunderstood what a business incubator is.  Many faculty members when asked, gave answers describing business accelerators, workshops to practice classwork and practical skills, libraries, or lounges.  Faculty could name some characteristics of an incubator but only a few truly had grasped the entire concept. Both the trio and the hosts remained flexible as the original scope of the project changed to address this issue.  Everyone realized a business incubator would not be successful if the people running didn’t understand what it was.

After recognizing this crucial knowledge gap, the team came up with some creative activities to inform, as well as change mindsets. Demonstrating great professionalism, team spirit and cultural sensitivity the team formatted a group discussion style training session. The students were asked questions about entrepreneurial challenges they have faced, then taught how an incubator may ease these challenges.  The initial discussion was very abstract and theoretical, so the team performed a role-playing exercise to better demonstrate what it would be like to be an incubatee in an incubator at the CEDVS.

The incubator role-playing exercise did a very effective job of conveying to the students what an incubator would be to them and how they may use it as a resource.  In an exit survey of the 62 participants, 100% of the students said that they had a better understanding of what a business incubator is now that they did at the start. 100% of the students that responded also said that they would be interested in becoming an incubatee in an incubator at the CEDVS.

Volunteers survey students who attended the training session on business incubators.

The team also took the faculty on a study visit to an existing incubator. The faculty was able to speak with the leadership of these facilities at length and tour the incubation space.  They developed a much deeper understanding of what business incubation is. This experience spawned many new ideas on how to apply such a concept at CEDVS.

Team Ubuntu learning about the Design and Textile class at CEDVS

The assignment left a lasting personal impression on the team.

“It was a fulfilling experience to see the understanding blossom across the faces of the CEDVS staff members we worked with. Once the initial barrier of unfamiliarity with the concept was breached, confusion gave way to enthusiasm for the new idea that holds much promise for the institution. It was both fun and educational to learn about the Nigerian culture spanning weddings, dancing, and gender, in addition to what we gained out of the work.”

Follow the links to read more about the teams’ experiences with Nigerian culture!

The Farmer to Farmer team in Nigeria nominated this team of volunteers because of their professionalism, excellent team spirit and cultural sensitivity to the many diverse facets of the Nigerian people. Also commendable was their ability to combine the project tasks provided by the F2F Program with their group reporting as well as individual assignments submitted to their home institution faculty – they coordinated these so well that the F2F assignment did not suffer in any way and all deadlines were met to the satisfaction of everyone involved.

Winrock F2F Nigeria Director Mike Bassey, CEDVS coordinator of Textiles Oyebode, and Team Ubuntu’s Craig Pearson

In December 2017, Monica Norley implemented her 3rd assignment in Senegal, training two groups of women in soap production. The groups have already reported improvement in their skills related to soap production, business planning and management, and safety measures. Our F2F Senegal staff are impressed with Monica’s great patience, understanding, humbleness and ease to work with. In addition, because of Monica, the staff have developed a passion for soap making. Monica shares her experience as an F2F volunteer.

Why did you want to volunteer?

Volunteering is something I have done for years ever since being a Peace Corps Volunteer working in the area of small business development in Guatemala in 1995-97. Since then, in one form or another, I have been involved in international development, namely women’s economic empowerment and fair trade. Honestly, this kind of work is my passion and I definitely plan on volunteering for these types of assignments for as long as I am able to.

What was the highlight of your most recent volunteer assignment abroad?

I can easily say that the highlight of working with Winrock Senegal this past year has been the relationship I have forged with the women of COFLEC, particularly the newest soap making arm of the cooperative. Never before have I met such a motivated, smart, attentive, harmonious group. Everything about our training seemed perfect and it just flowed. I bonded very quickly with them. Their commitment to their local community and other women is impressive. After our first soap making training in June, they went on to train further 70+ women, growing the group to nearly 100 members. We established a natural range of soap for them made from palm kernel oil, shea butter and other locally-available agricultural inputs such as hibiscus, peppermint leaf and dried orange peel (to serve as natural colorants and exfoliants). The quality of soap they are now making is superb and they have retained virtually every bit of knowledge I shared with them. Their future is bright if they maintain their momentum!

What made your Winrock volunteer trip distinctive?

I was fortunate to be assigned to Senegal on three occasions in 2017 and to work mainly with one group. I haven’t been able to have that sort of continuity with any other assignment before. It really makes a difference when you are able to foster a relationship with a group of people, gauge their progress, get to know their needs and challenges and hopefully, be able to ensure a much larger, beneficial long-term impact.

How does your experience affect your worldview?

I feel it is extremely important, especially in current times, to keep abreast of what is going on in the world, continually stretching one’s mind and keeping one’s fingers on the pulse globally. I wouldn’t want to imagine my life without these experiences as my worldview would indeed be so much smaller and limited. The vast differences in culture, language, landscape, traditions, attitudes, etc., have only served to enrich my life, especially when we live in a time of such political and social upheaval. These trips always help me in my quest to approach every person, situation or conversation with empathy, understanding and hopefully, a broader perspective. I also believe strongly that we are far less judgmental when we actually get out into the world and experience as much as we can of it.

What advice would you give a new volunteer?

The advice I would give a new volunteer is to just jump in and do it! Try not to get too overwhelmed or nervous about an assignment and instead, just trust your own skills and knowledge and embrace the adventure. Also, things don’t always operate on the same time scale or expectations as back home so be flexible and gentle with yourself as well as the groups you work with. For example, you may have spent hours preparing a beautiful PowerPoint presentation (I’ve been there), only to arrive and find no electricity, internet or way to use it. So be creative and prepared to scale things back to basics if you have to. I guess my Peace Corps experience taught me that lesson long ago!

How have your assignments made a difference in your own life?/Has your assignment caused you to do anything differently once you returned?

My assignments have definitely made a difference in my own life. I live a simple, minimalist existence on an old Dutch barge in the UK and when I return home, I am always much more keenly aware of how much I consume, materialism, commercialism and the vast opportunities around me. Every trip is a cause for reflection. I honestly often hibernate a bit after I return as sometimes I find it difficult to jump back into society at home.

Why should people consider volunteering?

I strongly believe that a life of service gives us joy and many rewards. Volunteering is a win-win situation for all. When we give, it often comes back to us tenfold. I have always come away from every volunteer assignment feeling perhaps that I have gained more from the experience than anyone else has from me. I think everyone should volunteer from time to time. You might teach someone something or open their eyes to something they are hungry to learn about but believe me, it all comes back.

How do you feel about the support from Winrock, whether before, during or after your assignments?

I really enjoy working with Winrock. The communication and support is always superb before, during and after every assignment. All the coordination that happens prior to every trip is done efficiently and professionally. The Winrock team in Senegal, led by Mama, feels a bit like family to me now. The word in Wolof for hospitality is ‘teranga’ and Senegal has a reputation for being the country of teranga. I can easily say that working with Winrock in-country and getting to know everyone there was a highlight of 2017 for me.

When your friends/family find out that your volunteer assignment aboard, what do they say or ask?

Friends and family have always been very supportive and interested in the volunteer work I do abroad. Everyone who knows me acknowledges fully that this is simply an integral part of my life, who I am and something I find a lot of joy and personal reward in. I feel lucky to be able to share my experiences with everyone as hopefully it opens some windows to the world for some and allows people to experience a bit of what I do, if even vicariously. I think also these assignments serve to break down stereotypes, impressions and misconceptions, and I like to play a role in that.

What do you do when you’re not volunteering?

I do freelance business development/sales for an educational technology company where I am based in the UK. This provides me the flexibility to volunteer as and when I wish as I can do my paid work from virtually anywhere. I also work as an international development consultant for a handful of nonprofit organizations and am a volunteer business adviser for Irise International, an organization which works towards empowering women and young girls in Uganda namely through menstrual health education and social enterprise development.

Do you keep in touch with your host organization? [Host organizations are the organizations that receive volunteer support]

I always like to keep in touch with host organizations and I have most certainly done so with the women of COFLEC. In fact, we made a pact that I would return for an advanced soap making training if they met a number of agreed-upon goals/milestones. They kept their word and so did I and I returned to Senegal for a third time in November/December 2017. Now, I will be monitoring from afar how they are keeping up with their sales forecast and production schedule. I am working on a simple design for soap packaging for them. I have determined all their costs of production and with coordination from Winrock in Senegal, we are working to source affordable, bulk quantities of essential oils for them for scenting their product range. I am also prepared to do continued marketing for them through various social media outlets.

How do you feel that your volunteer assignment has contributed to create a shared understanding across different cultures through person-to-person interactions?

I could share many examples of achieving greater cultural understanding through person-to-person interactions when it comes to these assignments but perhaps I will give two highly poignant examples. When Senegalese women tell me that most men don’t want women to earn and have their own money because they are afraid of them having power, they are surprised to hear me tell them that that isn’t just unique to Senegal. And when women confide in me in our soap making trainings the pressures they feel to use skin-bleaching products, I am, in turn, able to share with them how women in my society are often bombarded by anti-aging products. These might sound like simple examples but they are actually quite profound, empowering experiences to share with these women. It allows me to establish a rapport and solidarity with them and make them not feel so alone.

What keeps you going back to volunteer?

Quite simply, I love it! I would do it all the time, if I could. Last year, aside from three stints in Senegal with Winrock, I also went to Liberia twice with ACDI/VOCA. I love how every assignment challenges me, forces me to grow in different ways personally and professionally and also helps me to build my portfolio of work. I also find volunteering incredibly grounding. With each assignment, I am able to step away from my own little world back home, get a fresh, different perspective and often times, a much needed attitude adjustment.

What have you learned from your assignments?

I always come away from every assignment having learned many things and I love the educational aspect of this work very much. I guess the main thing that has been reaffirmed for me over and over is that people are actually the same the world over. Regardless of educational background, culture, upbringing, language, etc., we all just want the same things. People are gracious and wonderful wherever you go and I think that is easy to forget sometimes.

I have also learned how fabulous a country Senegal is! Dakar is a cool city and the beaches and islands surrounding it are divine. The Senegalese seem to have achieved a pretty good balance of embracing modern aspects of life while also holding on to tradition. I will happily return to Senegal anytime.

Thank you, Monica, for all your hard work in helping to improve soap making in Senegal!