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!

Winrock International’s Nigeria Farmer-to-Farmer staff have nominated Dr. Onesimus Otieno as the December Volunteer of the Month because he is committed and passionate about what he does. Country Director, Mike Bassey, stated that “he is a great student as well as teacher trainer who has a good understanding of his audience and knows how to tailor his teaching and information to the benefit of all. At the completion of his 2016 assignment, the Nigeria F2F Program agreed with the host and the participants’ call for more training as well as a specific request to have the volunteer return to the college in the following school year (2017) for a follow-up training. On the interpersonal skills side, Dr. Otieno relates well with all and has great respect and love for the Nigerian people and for their culture. At the Nigeria F2F Program, we see Dr. Otieno more as a partner, this was evidenced in his driving for five hours with his family from Huntsville, Alabama to visit with me as well as meet with the Winrock headquarters staff in the Summer of 2017.”

Taking a brief interview with the local TV Station, an affiliate of the Nigerian Television Authority.

We asked Dr. Otieno to reflect on his experiences as a Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer. His responses are below:

 Why did you want to volunteer?

First, I saw an opening that made the perfect fit. It was to Senegal, a new place I had never been and I thought it would be a great way to visit while I see just how I can apply my skills in a new context. The duration was long enough to experience the new challenge and make an impact, yet short enough to squeeze into a tight annual schedule.

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

This was a return trip and I met colleagues I had trained before. They had applied some of the skills we learnt and were eager to share their new experience and the changes they had observed in their workplace. Trainees came in larger numbers than we expected. Their enthusiasm was sustained through-out the sessions. The training opened out a new world and they were eager to walk right in.

What made your Winrock volunteer trip distinctive?

The planning and execution was seamless. Head office staff was in constant contact and gave me all the necessary information and detail. I also met people who were so committed to their work and demonstrated a sincere passion for everything they did.

How does your experience affect your worldview?

I realize that we all live in a global village and everything I do can be of impact to others around the world. They too impact me in many ways and I now have a raised consciousness of their environment. My professional focus is now more global and I always assume they are part of my audience everywhere I go.

What advice would you give a new volunteer?

Try it, you will wonder why you did not do it earlier. The world of WI staff and in-country hosts will make you feel like family.

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

I find myself tailoring my regular work to an international audience even though they are not present. I have a constant awareness of my experiences there that I even see the world and my work differently.

Why should people consider volunteering?

Volunteering makes a great impact on people and communities around the world – it starts with the volunteers themselves.

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

What brings me back is the support I get through-out the process. It seems my first call was the beginning of a long-term process that continues even after I have returned home from the assignments. Through this continued contact, I have been made aware of other opportunities within the WI F2F program that I have either participated or referred my colleagues. I find the WI team very welcoming, flexible, and believe that I will only do more of such in the future.

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

They always want to know more and ask how they can participate. I have introduced some. They all admire these opportunities and none has ever been negative.

What do you do when you’re not volunteering?

I teach most of the year and train faculty on the same things I do at the volunteer assignments. This makes things a lot easier.

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

My family has been most inspiring. My mother grew up in a missionary environment and is happy I can also experience some aspect of that. My children are young (7 and 4) and give up family time when I travel. They too accept these assignments and are always happy to know how other children around the world live, play and learn. We stay in contact via the internet and they too have come to appreciate others, just like them around the world.

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

Yes, I hear from them a few times a year. Some communication has been regarding resources, which has been very productive.

Federal Polytechnic (Ado, Ekiti) faculty pose for a picture at the end of training session 2. Mike Bassey, Ndala Booker, Onesimus Otieno, seated third, fourth, fifth from left.

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

I have definitely gained a lot of cultural sensitivity. This is in both my technical material but also my personal interactions. I have also observed the way my hosts have interacted with me especially since I have had the privilege of a return trip. They remember many things about me and my environment and try to accommodate me. I have in return learnt to respect their practices and have a good level of comfort interacting with them within this context.

What keeps you going back to volunteer?

The WI staff are very well trained and dedicated. They listen, communicate, and excel so effortlessly and it gives me great confidence working with them so far away from home. Although the work has been rigorous and the schedule very tight, the planning has been so well done that we always came back with a positive experience.

What have you learned from your assignments?

I have learnt that there are many things and skills I have, which many will find useful. I have also learned to develop these skills with my global audience in mind and share them at every opportunity. My assignments have helped me gain insight into my work from a very different perspective. I am more inquisitive in the way I do things and, therefore, more intentional on the overall outcome.

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

I have been surprised how awareness (or lack thereof) can change the way we view resources around us. I have to remember that everyone wants to do his or her best and makes the best choices based on current knowledge. While I have seen this lack of awareness when I travel, it surprises me that it is on my hosts as well as myself. I return home and seek to do things differently and see resources where I previously did not.

Our Nepal Farmer-to-Farmer staff have nominated, Dr. William (Bill) Foxworth, as the November Volunteer of the Month, because he is a “highly skillful, flexible volunteer and adjusted his hands-on training sessions for the assignment to best utilize locally available equipment and resources in Nepal.” Dr. Foxworth is the reproductive physiologist at the International Goat Research Center at Texas A&M University and is responsible for Artificial Insemination (AI) training at the center. He has also worked extensively in reproductive technology transfer in Africa and Latin America for both cattle and goats for more than 25 years. During his assignment, he conducted training for Okadi Goat Raising Group members, local service providers, and extension workers on AI technologies and practices to improve a youth-targeted goat breeding program. Sushil, one of training participants and Government of Nepal Extension Officer explained, “F2F volunteer William’s contribution is crucial for the country’s context in goat breeding and increased production.” After the training, Sushil facilitated AI in more than 150 goats, doubling the conception rate from their AI operations. Bill shares his thoughts below about his Farmer-to-Farmer experience. 

Why did you want to volunteer?

As a research scientist, my goal has been to develop technologies that assist with livestock reproduction. Improvement in breeding technology leads to more efficient animal production and greater number of offspring. This is a foundation for feeding more people worldwide and that is my true aim. Volunteering in Nepal afforded me the opportunity to enhance the knowledge base in goat reproduction in a country that relies so heavily on the goat.

Photo from Dr. Foxorth’s training on Artificial Insemination

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

For me, the highlight was generating the discussion of how to disseminate this reproduction technology in a manner that would best benefit the people of Nepal.

What made your Winrock volunteer trip distinctive?

Winrock’s infrastructure made the trip work seamlessly. Every step of the way was meticulously planned out with some flexibility and that allowed me to focus on giving my presentations and training sessions. It also allowed me to delve more deeply into the culture through the in country representatives, making my presentations better because I had intimate insight into my audience.

How does your experience affect your world view?

I have had the opportunity to work all over the world and each country I work in presents a new set of challenges from culture to infrastructure. Nepal presented me with a view of a country, that while being smaller in size and geographically highly varied, was a crossroads for several cultures and religions. Seeing their efforts to deal with their differences gives me insight into my own multicultural world and, hopefully, I impart it to my students, colleagues, friends, and family.

What advice would you give a new volunteer?

Enjoy your time. Utilize the in country experts to understand the people and cultures. Ask lots of questions. This will help you tailor your presentations and maximize the benefits to the audience.

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

Working in Nepal, with the lack of some infrastructure and the availability of certain products, reminded me of the need to be flexible and resourceful. After returning, I was reinvigorated to work on and develop strategies for transferring agriculture technologies in global locations that may not have all of the energy or product availability that we have.

Why should people consider volunteering?

It is a truly rewarding experience. For me, having the opportunity to help people improve their ability to produce food and provide better foodstuffs to their fellow man, allows me to directly contribute to helping put food on someone’s plate.

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

The staff, both here in the US and in Nepal, were of great help. I have a pretty hectic schedule every day and they took care of all the travel and logistics allowing me to focus my preparations on my presentations. Not speaking the language, I had some trepidation, but the staff in Nepal, and a well placed Peace Corp volunteer, made my communications flawless with the local communities. I must say, one of the unsung heroes in my time in Nepal was my driver. We were frequently on some white knuckle roads and his skill at maneuvering the mountainside allowed me to relax and enjoy the view.

Dr. Foxworth with Peace Corps volunteer, Garland Mason.

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

The first question almost everyone asks is, “How cold was it?” Everyone imagines that Nepal is all like the base camp on Mt. Everest. They don’t realize that geographically it goes from low tropical jungle to the highest point in the world. The temperatures in the areas where we were working, Pokhara and Waling, were very pleasant in March. I will admit, while looking over the edge of some of the roads on which we were driving, I felt like I was on the side of Mt. Everest.

What do you do when you’re not volunteering?

I am a research scientist at the International Goat Research Center, Prairie View A&M University, Prairie View, Texas. I conduct research with goats in an effort to improve their reproductive efficiency, with an end goal of disseminating the information to limited resource farmers around the world.

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

My family supports me by giving me the time to pursue my goals of helping others around the world. They cover my responsibilities at home while I am gone and I am eternally grateful for that.

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

I am in touch by e-mail on occasion, but I am in regular communication by Facebook. Nothing makes me happier than seeing a post about people doing something related to the training we did.

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

My family is of blended cultures and I have had the opportunity to be educated in Japan and work in Africa, Europe, and Latin America. Each time I encounter a different culture, it reminds me that we are a diverse people. Working with individuals in Nepal offered me first hand insight to the unique cultures in Nepal and they added greatly to my understanding of the world, especially in a country that serves as a crossroad to many cultures. This experience also offered me insight into my own work and how best to present my knowledge in a manner that could serve this unique community.

You can read more about Dr. Foxworth’s volunteer assignment and Farmer-to-Farmer’s cooperation with Peace Corps in Nepal in this previous blog post. 

Closing ceremony after Dr. Foxworth’s trainings.

Dr. Steven Kovach has been a dedicated Winrock volunteer for the past three years. Before retiring, he devoted a large part of his career to international development by working for USAID and Peace Corps, two organizations that are well known for utilizing volunteers to aid people in developing nations. Through Farmer-to-Farmer, Steven has coached youth entrepreneurs on eco-friendly techniques for banana production in Bangladesh, and trained members of youth employment agencies in Senegal and horticulture cooperatives in Guinea on the use and maintenance of drip irrigation systems and helped the groups to develop curriculum for training farmers in the future. This month, we honor Dr. Steven Kovach as the October Volunteer of the Month.

• Why did you want to volunteer?

By being a volunteer with F2F Program, I am provided the means of sharing my technical knowledge in horticulture and drip irrigation technology to poor farmers in the developing world where their livelihoods can be improved and their food security enhanced.

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

In January 2015, I left my position as the Agricultural Water Advisor with USAID/Bureau of Economic Growth, Education and Environment (E3), Water Office, Washington, D.C. to go into retirement. In February/March 2017, I completed my Winrock International FtF volunteer assignment in Bangladesh to conduct “Eco-Friendly Techniques for Safe Banana Production for Youth entrepreneurs”.   As a result of this assignment, it brought to fruition a professional desire I have been working on for over 40 years–to see the successful environment developed and put into place that guarantees the successful implementation of drip irrigation technology in developing countries as a food security tool.

• What made your Winrock volunteer trip distinctive?

The distinctive characteristic of my trip to Bangladesh dealt with the strong dedicated conviction by the Winrock Bangladesh country staff (Dr. Kabir and Badal) that the assignment I was on held high priority and making sure that all needed resources were in place to ensure a successful training program with the banana growers in Thanarbaid. Likewise, the host agency Shalom (formerly Church of Bangladesh Social Development Programme-CBSDP) shared the same dedicated conviction that helped to ensure a successful training.

• What advice would you give a new volunteer

If there is any apprehension about entering a new culture and country, this apprehension will eventually dissipate and vanish through the extensive experience the country Winrock staff has with dealing with volunteers coming from different backgrounds. The Winrock staff knows how to address all the needs and concerns volunteers may be experiencing.

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

After retiring in January 2015, I’ve found that volunteer assignments with Winrock, have helped me to feel positive about myself in terms of self-worth and knowing that I can still contribute to the betterment of less fortunate areas of the world. The confidence Winrock International has in me supports my ability to give important technical knowledge in terms of horticultural production to farmers that are thirsty to learn improved production techniques, such as drip irrigation technology.   The volunteer assignments have provided a rewarding transition from full- time employment to retirement status.

• Why should people consider volunteering?

If someone wants to make a lasting change to the world in which they live and a change that will impact them for a lifetime through the memories of the people with whom they serve, then they need to volunteer their services and share their knowledge.

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

Without the excellent support at Winrock’s home offices in Little Rock and Arlington, including the many hours and other resources to logistically attract volunteers, like me, it would not be possible for the field offices to work with the volunteers to carry out their assignments. Staffs at the field offices are superb in ensuring that volunteers have the resources they need to carry out a successful assignment.

• What do you do when you’re not volunteering?

I spend time at home with my wife (Glenna) and two dogs (Phantom and Dixie–two hybrids). I handle the yard work and other home maintenance projects.  My wife and I enjoy taking long walks together and taking our dogs on outings.

• What keeps you going back to volunteer?

I continue to desire to either volunteer or work in any capacity in developing nations, because of the trainees’/farmers’ thirst for knowledge.

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

I have been working with drip irrigation technology for over 40 years and it always encourages me to see the enthusiasm it brings out in farmers and others in agriculture, such as students and other agricultural technical support personnel and extension agents. One does not even need to be able to read or write in order to understand what drip irrigation can do when seeing water coming out of the emitters on the drip tape “drop by drop”. It always amazes me how quickly the younger generation, whether in Guinea, Senegal, Bangladesh, US, etc. has embraced the use of mobile phones as a means of information gathering and sharing with Facebook, the use of the internet, and other social media outlets. I continue to be pleasantly surprised by the continuous unselfish dedication by Winrock’s US and country staff by ensuring that volunteers have a successful assignment.

To learn more about the technical aspects of his assignment, check out our recent blog post.