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VOLUNTEER BLOG

F2F Bangladesh: A tremendous opportunity

Posted on November 19, 2014

Volunteer Reddy Bommineni completed a Farmer-to-Farmer assignment in Bangladesh, providing in-service training to staff from the Central Disease Investigation Laboratory under the Department of Livestock Services. Reddy shares his thoughts from his assignment in the blog post below:

It was a tremendous opportunity to be immersed in the country of Bangladesh. As a poultry veterinarian and microbiologist, it was my priority to work with the poultry industry and federal lab in Dhaka. The main objective was to improve capacity building of the existing systems in place. I was able to help speak to the needs and interests of personnel, educating on diagnostic techniques in necropsy, histopathology, bacteriology, parasitology, as well as molecular diagnostics. (more…)

Posted in Asia, Bangladesh, Volunteer Feedback | Tagged agriculture, Bangladesh, Farmer-to-Farmer, international volunteer, poultry

Great Being Back in Bangladesh

Posted on October 3, 2014

In today’s blog post, Jonathan Moyle shares vivid reflections and beautiful photos of his recent Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer assignment in Bangladesh:

It has been great being back in Bangladesh. To smell the humid tropical air and feel the vibrancy of the cities and towns as the people go about their everyday lives, is something that has to be experienced to understand (this is my third trip and I learn something new every time). I had not been here in over a year and a half but the smell and feel bring back good memories. The traffic on the other hand I did not miss. Sitting in traffic for long periods of time, or passing slower cars three wide on a blind bend in the road, driving on the wrong side of the road etc. At such times I find it best to simply look out the window and watch the people go by. (more…)

Posted in Asia, Bangladesh, Volunteer Feedback | Tagged agriculture education & training, Bangladesh, Farmer-to-Farmer, international volunteer, poultry

The Couple Who Volunteers Together

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Dwayne Deppe

On June 1st Mary and Bob Albrecht arrived in Guinea for their fifth joint volunteer trip with Winrock. This married couple has completed assignments together in Nigeria, Turkmenistan, and Guinea. Mary and Bob have volunteered separately in several other countries, but confess that they most enjoy working and training together. “It just works well for us,” says Mary. The Albrechts wrapped up their sessions in Coyah, Guinea this week. The assignments are part of Winrock’s Farmer to Farmer Program for Agriculture Education and Training. The Albrechts worked with the National Association of Poultry Farmers of Guinea (ANAVIG) and the National Union of Poultry Farmers of Guinea (UNAG.) (more…)

Posted in Africa, Guinea | Tagged agriculture education & training, Cooperatives, Farmer-to-Farmer, Guinea, international volunteers, poultry, Winrock

International Women’s Day

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Jen Snow

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!

Posted in Africa, Kenya | Tagged food security, international volunteer, international women's day, Kenya, poultry, women

From Kenya to Arkansas

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Jen Snow

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

–

“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.]

Posted in Africa, Kenya | Tagged Arkansas, international travel, poultry
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