Loner Gains Community Through Ag Training
José has spent his entire life working in agriculture, and preferred to keep to himself. When the program came to town, his two children eagerly joined. He thought they’d be wasting their time. They asked him to come and support them, which he reluctantly agreed to do. He had no idea what big changes were in store for him.
He’d never had the opportunity to go to school, and he had always farmed the way his parents had taught him. Even though in retrospect he sees that his farming practices were insufficient, he believed he was doing fine. Moving forward, in fact. However, right from the first training sessions, which he attended for his children’s sake, he began learning improved practices, how to enhance his crops and how to take better care of his land. He realized how useful this knowledge was, and began to get motivated.
Today, says José, “I’m not only an active participant in the Farmer Field School, but I’ve also learned to appreciate my community and to work for its progress. The transformation has been so profound that my neighbors chose me to represent them, something I never imagined possible.”
He admits that the training opened new doors for him, and he now takes part in important community decision making and promotes cooperation among his neighbors. Not incidentally, his corn and bean harvests have significantly improved.
The most valuable thing he’s gained, though, is a deep sense of belonging. “Learning to work as a team and overcoming my fear of participating in meetings has been life-changing. I feel I’m contributing to the well-being of my community and the people I care about most,” says José.
Nicaragua Boaco Camoapa Program
Led by World Renew