Project Launch:

Once upon a time the town of Volcan in Belize had no fresh produce to feed residents. The best mothers could do was to buy picked over fruits and vegetables from the hucksters who occasionally made their way to the village. But what if they were able to feed their families with produce they grew themselves? And maybe even sell the overstock?

With the support of several Peace Corps Volunteers, a World Connect grant and a helping hand from personnel of the Costa Rican Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, that’s just what happened. The women and their neighbors constructed a greenhouse, an outdoor planting area, plus a separate covered area where meetings are held,  and compost is mixed and stored. The harvest is in, the families are well fed and extra income has been earned. Now, professors from the University of Costa Rica are  coming to Volcan to offer trainings requested by the women, and other groups use the greenhouse as a model for their own needs. But, more, much more than that has been grown in this community. This is how one community farmer , Yanuary, describes the experience: “My favorite part of the project is when we are all working together planting, I like spending time with the other women, talking and laughing about our lives. I also like that we are growing a high quality product for the consumption of the neighbors in our own community and for ourselves.

One thing that I have learned as a result of this project is how to work in a group, because it can be really difficult. And all of the skills we have learned will help us if we ever decide to do something similar in our own houses.  My children really like the project and like coming and helping in the greenhouse, they still don`t know what they want to study in the future so there is a chance what they are learning in the greenhouse will help them with their future careers.”