As an organization committed to sustainable and equitable agriculture and rural development, the Winrock International Farmer-to-Farmer Program would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and honor the significant contributions and impact that the Black Diaspora has had on the agriculture industry in the United States. For centuries, Black farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers have played a critical role in shaping and sustaining our food systems, despite facing systemic discrimination and barriers to land ownership and access to resources. Their contributions have been vital to the success and diversity of the American agriculture sector, yet their stories and legacy have often been overlooked or undervalued. We understand this is a long-term commitment and that much work must be done. However, we are committed to being a part of the solution and working toward a future where Black farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers are honored, respected, and have the necessary resources and support to thrive. This is why we at Winrock International’s Farmer-to-Farmer Program would like to recognize and honor the work of one of our Volunteer Champions, Amadou Makhtar Diop.

Amadou Makhtar Diop is a highly experienced and passionate regenerative agriculture professional focusing on applied agricultural science, food systems, natural resources management, and the integration of livestock and crop production. He is skilled in developing and managing sustainable development projects promoting organic/regenerative farm practices and value-added products using participatory approaches. Makhtar has expertise in building linkages between governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in agricultural research. Makhtar has been a dedicated volunteer with Winrock International’s Farmer-to-Farmer Program since 2015 and has completed approximately 15 assignments. He is a strong advocate for the Program because it allows him to give back and make a positive impact. He believes the key to successful outcomes is to focus on individuals with a genuine spirit of service. Makhtar is a firm believer in the importance of having a DEI initiative for the agricultural sector, and he thinks it’s crucial for BIPOC communities to participate in the Farmer-to-Farmer Program. Through this Program, people of color can reconnect with their communities and their roots, which is essential to effectively responding to the challenges facing communities worldwide. Volunteering with Winrock International’s Farmer-to-Farmer Program offers many benefits, both for the Hosts they serve and the Volunteers themselves. For Makhtar, the opportunity to give back and make a positive impact is the most fulfilling aspect of volunteering, and he also values the chance to learn and grow through every assignment. He encourages BIPOC communities to consider volunteering with Winrock and making a difference in communities around the world.

What makes you passionate about Winrock’s Farmer-to-Farmer Program (F2F), and why are you such a strong advocate for the Program? 

I am passionate about Winrock’s Farmer-to-Farmer Program because it allows me to give back and make a positive impact. I have been a Volunteer with the Program since 2015 and have completed approximately 15 assignments, each providing me with a new and rewarding experience. Giving back to my home country is essential, but my passion for service extends beyond serving my country of origin. Volunteering efforts that make a difference in communities can have a lasting impact, which is what makes the Farmer-to-Farmer Program so unique to me. When recruiting for the Program, I sometimes encounter individuals who are more focused on the financial aspect of consulting rather than the opportunity to serve. However, I believe the key to effective recruiting and producing successful outcomes is to focus on those with a genuine spirit of service. By working with individuals motivated by making a difference, I am confident that the Farmer-to-Farmer Program will continue to thrive and make a meaningful impact in communities worldwide.

Why do you think it’s crucial for BIPOC communities to participate in the Farmer-to-Farmer Program? What is the purpose and importance of having a DEI initiative for the agricultural sector?

Participating in the Farmer-to-Farmer Program provides an opportunity to build a truly diverse and inclusive country. In order to effectively respond to the challenges facing communities around the world, it’s important to have a connection to them. Through the Farmer-to-Farmer Program, people of color can reconnect with their communities and their roots. The ability to speak their own language and communicate without an interpreter is critical, as so much can be lost in translation. When I speak with people in their language, I truly belong to them and can better understand their needs. By involving BIPOC communities in the Farmer-to-Farmer Program, we can create a more diverse and inclusive agricultural sector that better serves communities worldwide.

What are the benefits of volunteering with Winrock International? Why should BIPOC communities volunteer? 

Volunteering with Winrock International’s Farmer-to-Farmer Program offers many benefits, both for the Hosts we serve and the Volunteers themselves. For me, the most fulfilling aspect of volunteering is the opportunity to give back and make a positive impact. I also value the opportunity to learn and grow through every assignment. Every project presents new challenges and opportunities for personal growth, and I leave each one with a greater understanding of the world and its people. I believe that BIPOC communities, in particular, can greatly benefit from volunteering with Winrock’s Farmer-to-Farmer Program. Not only does it provide an opportunity to give back, but it also offers the chance to learn, grow, and expand one’s perspectives. I highly encourage BIPOC communities to consider volunteering with Winrock and making a difference in communities around the world.

What advice would you give a new Volunteer?

This is an opportunity to improve people’s lives and give them more hope. I feel great when the beneficiaries open their heart to me at the end of each assignment. Please do not give up on these opportunities!

As an organization committed to sustainable and equitable agriculture and rural development, the Winrock International Farmer-to-Farmer Program would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and honor the significant contributions and impact that the Black Diaspora has had on the agriculture industry in the United States. For centuries, Black farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers have played a critical role in shaping and sustaining our food systems, despite facing systemic discrimination and barriers to land ownership and access to resources. Their contributions have been vital to the success and diversity of the American agriculture sector, yet their stories and legacy have often been overlooked or undervalued. We understand this is a long-term commitment and that much work must be done. However, we are committed to being a part of the solution and working toward a future where Black farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers are honored, respected, and have the necessary resources and support to thrive. This is why we at Winrock International’s Farmer-to-Farmer Program would like to recognize and honor the work of one of our Volunteer Champions, Dr. Onesimus Otieno.

Dr. Onesimus Otieno is a passionate advocate for international development and an experienced volunteer with Winrock. Onesimus has gained valuable experience and confidence through his volunteer work with Winrock, allowing him to develop networks and obtain international experience. Dr. Onesimus Otieno a committed and passionate F2F Volunteer. As a Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteer with Winrock International, Dr. Otieno shares his teaching and information technology expertise to benefit farmers and communities in Senegal, Nigeria, and beyond. Dr. Otieno has been praised for understanding his audience and tailoring his teaching to their specific needs. Dr. Otieno’s dedication to this work has made a lasting impact, with Hosts and fellow Volunteers reporting increased knowledge and enthusiasm for their work due to Dr. Otieno’s leadership. As a F2F Volunteer, Dr. Otieno has also gained a global perspective that has impacted his professional focus and worldview. He recognizes our world’s interconnectedness and the impact each individual can have on others.

What makes you passionate about the Farmer-to-Farmer Program, and why do you feel you can be such a strong advocate?

I represent the many whose lives have been transformed by the experiences we gain abroad. I discovered how much impact a single individual can make in a community. At each of my eight assignments, I have learned how to apply my technical skills in different contexts. I discovered new things about myself as I was stretched beyond my comfort zones. My world is now a lot wider. I have more confidence in my skills and have a more extensive global network of colleagues. The skills I learn abroad have made me better back home, and I can more effectively mentor others toward global awareness.  

Why do you think it’s vital for BIPOC to participate? What is the purpose and importance of having a DEI initiative?

The importance of the DEI initiative is to mainstream BIPOC into all activities. This represents a more complete spectrum of Americans to the world. Many countries experience marginalization of minority groups, and the DEI initiative demonstrates an atmosphere of inclusion. Demonstrating inclusion by example will help motivate our host partners to do the same. The authenticity of being inclusive within will go a long way to give our hosts a sense of inclusion where they perceive themselves as colleagues and peers.

What are the benefits of Volunteering with Winrock?

The projects are very well vetted, and all plans are put in place to use time and resources efficiently. The assignments are well coordinated by very efficient and professional staff. This happens from the day you first declare interest to follow-up after the project in networking with new and old volunteers. I have been to eight assignments, and they all were very well coordinated.

What advice would you give a new Farmer-to-Farmer Volunteer?

Please welcome what will change you as you change the world! The Winrock International staff does a great job of matching your skills to the assignment and provides all the support you need to be successful. This reduces the anxiety associated with working in unfamiliar environments. The assignments are long enough to create an impact and have a meaningful experience of the local culture and environment. The assignment is also short enough to fit into a busy schedule with multiple conflicting priorities.

In honor of the 4th of July holiday, we are glad to take a moment to reflect (again) on stories of Americans sharing their blessings and demonstrating the generosity and spirit of the American people. In the last year alone, 113 Winrock volunteers from 45 U.S. states have dedicated their time and energy to helping others in need around the world.

One of our volunteers, Bob Cooperrider, returned recently from his second volunteer trip in Bangladesh. –A trip that he and his wife paid for on their own, following a particularly inspirational encounter at the end of his Farmer-to-Farmer assignment with us. Below, Bob tells the story of how this began…

“Hearing that a US volunteer would be in town, the headmistress of a local international primary school had requested I come on Monday afternoon to talk with them for an hour about America. Whoa, that’s a pretty big topic. So that morning I prepared a slide presentation of pictures of mountains, lakes, etc. from our vacation pictures I have with me. Then I added pictures of our family and some of our activities. I figured I’d spend about 25 minutes with the slide show, take questions, then be done. Was I wrong. The students are learning English as part of their studies.

There were lots of questions during my slideshow. Then after each student and teacher greeted me individually I thought it would be over. But then one of the students asked me to sing a song. That broke us loose. I sang “The Bear Went Over The Mountain”, then it was “Old MacDonald’s Farm” by request with all the animal sounds. The music teacher brought out their harmonium which she added to the songs. The students sang “We Shall Over Come” with each verse first in English then in Bangla. The singing continued with national anthems (I even managed the high notes in the Star Spangled Banner), then they finished up with some of the oldest girls singing some Lalon Shah songs.

The headmistress has been searching awhile for a native English speaker to come be a guest English teacher. She really would like me to come be a guest teacher. She would also welcome Deni [my wife]. I told her we couldn’t come for a whole year or two as she’d like. But we might be able to come for a month or so. It would be so much fun. We would hopefully stay in some of the students’ home. Deni wants to come to Bangladesh now that I’ve had such great experiences. The Bangla people are so friendly and welcoming. And it’s a beautiful country. It would be a great winter break to return to Bangladesh. The two hours I spent at the SunUp International School was the highlight of my trip.”

These cultural interactions, the chance to share what it’s like to be American, the moments of reflection on all that we have to be thankful for in our great country, and the awareness-raising —and oftentimes life-changing-– exchanges with others in their home country… These are the building blocks of cross-cultural understanding, memorable demonstrations of patriotism and humility all at the same time. This is what international volunteering is all about.

Read all about Bob’s Farmer-to-Farmer assignment in Bangladesh and his subsequent volunteer trip with his wife on his personal blog.

Happy 4th of July!

Winrock’s F2F staff in Nigeria recently re-visited some of the host organizations that received volunteer support over the last year. These visits are a way for us to see first-hand how the volunteer trainings have impacted each organization.

Sometimes the feedback is especially inspiring.

The managing director from Ogbuka Green Merchandise, a Nigerian agribusiness that received training from volunteer William Symons in June 2012, had this to say:

“I was shocked to see an American come and volunteer his time to strengthen our capacity. The Volunteer was not even bothered by how obsolete our equipments were and how disorganized our workshop floor was but rather gave us tips on how to make the best use of what we have and how to re-organize the work space. This has changed our perception and increased our love and respect for the American people and the government of the United States of America.”

I think all of our volunteers would agree that these assignments also build love and respect for each of the countries where we are working, as well. –Both sides benefit, sometimes in immeasurable ways!

Joe Sullivan (who has volunteered six times with Winrock’s Farmer-to-Farmer program) wrote a response so poignant, it deserved its own blog entry. Thank you, Joe, and Happy 4th of July!

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There are a couple of sections of President John F. Kennedy’s 1961 inaugural address that mean a lot to me and seem so consistent with what the Farmer-to-Farmer program is doing. The first is this:

“To those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required — not because the

                                                       Joe Sullivan training farmers

Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”

“Because it is right” –What better reason can there be? But America’s gift does not come without a cost. Freedom is not free nor is there a way out of poverty without effort. Americans go overseas in the Farmer-to-Farmer program and in Peace Corps to teach people how to help themselves, to give them a hand up, not a hand out, to lift themselves out.

Kennedy continued this idea:

“And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.”

“My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”

“Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.”

On my last two assignments with Winrock and the Farmer-to-Farmer program, last year in Mali and this year in Nigeria, both of my hosts told me that I was like a father figure to them. Relative to gauging the success of your assignment, that is a pretty good measure when someone of a different race, religion, nationality says that to you. Citizens of the United States and citizens of the world have come together making “here on earth God’s work…truly…our own.”

Not everyone has two years they can commit to meeting the world where they live and teaching them how to help themselves as a Peace Corps volunteer. But sooner or later, almost every US citizen has a few weeks to a month to bring knowledge or to teach a skill to a citizen of the world so that together, as Kennedy said, we will bring about God’s work on earth. There is not anything I would rather be doing than this with my brothers and sisters whom I have met and have yet to meet around the world.

This 4th of July, I will be spending in Bangladesh helping women’s groups gain food security and financial self-empowerment by teaching them how to raise fish and shrimp. Patriotic, perhaps, but as Kennedy also said, it is the right thing to do and I love it…

–Joe Sullivan