Tecpan: Sprouting After Ten Years Fallow

This month, our update comes from Tecpan, Guatemala, where a group of Mayan women have recently begun gardening again with SPI’s support. These farmers aren’t newcomers—in addition to their traditional knowledge, most have vegetable-growing experience from a program that was supported by Wendy de Berger, the First Lady of Guatemala from 2004 – 2008. When […]

Women’s Empowerment Initiative: Whose Hands? Our Hands!

Today’s Women’s Empowerment Initiative update comes from Haitian partner Fabienne Jean and FONDAMA. We first learned about FONDAMA when Fabienne spoke to a local network here in Asheville, North Carolina (USA) as part of the Presbyterian Hunger Program’s stateside planning efforts — a rare and welcomed opportunity to meet a partner! Since then, Seed Programs […]

Women’s Empowerment Initiative: The Power of Choice

This month’s Women’s Empowerment Initiative update comes from Seed Programs International Partner Daniel Wanjama, Seed Savers Network Kenya (SSNK) Founder and Director. SSNK is a grassroots NGO headquartered southeast of Nakuru in Gilgil who works with resource-poor farmers to promote sustainable rural livelihoods. SSNK has strong support for women’s groups, providing access to agricultural training, […]

Women’s Empowerment Initiative: One Step Back, Two Steps Forward

Back in February, we shared an update from GrowEastAfrica, one of Seed Program International’s lead partners in Ethiopia whose programs serve several women’s agricultural groups. Positioned at something of a crossroads for Kenyan – Ethiopian IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons), GrowEastAfrica is constantly adapting their program to accommodate the shifting political climate and resulting change in […]

On the Road in Guatemala with Pop Atz’iaq

Naima Dido, SPI’s Program Director is on the road this month with Nancee Neel in the mountains of Guatemala, where they’re working to grow a deeper partnership with a local group, Pop Atz’iaq. Established in the 1990s, Pop Atz’iaq has focused on craft-based livelihood development with women and men in the region around San Cristobal […]

New Women’s Groups with GrowEastAfrica

About one year ago, we told you about a pilot program with SPI partner GrowEastAfrica (then DBCO) to establish community vegetable gardens in Billa village and Soyama town in Ethiopia’s Burji region. (You can read part one hereand part two here.) You may recall that they are an Ethiopian diaspora-led group based in the US. We recently […]

Promoting Agriculture in Uganda

Seed Programs International’s primary focus is nutrition and agriculture, but they also support program components that ensure women have access to resources that support livelihoods. Those components can include skills training, farming supplies and inputs, and access to expertise from local leaders who support the entire supply chain from seed delivery to harvest and market […]

East Africa Update: Mary & Esther

Last month, we told you about Mary and Esther — how access to good vegetable seed and agricultural support from SPI’s partner, Seed Savers Network Kenya (SSNK), changed how they sustain their livelihoods. Both women are gardening in Kenya, part of the Horn of Africa. The Horn of Africa has always included arid regions that […]

Empowerment Partners: Seed Savers Network Kenya & SPI

Empowerment Partners: Seed Savers Network Kenya & Seed Programs International Partners are critical to Seed Programs International’s work. We could not do what we do without them. We’ve shared stories about one of our East African partners, Seed Savers Network Kenya (SSNK), in earlier posts and we’d like to tell you another story from our […]

Honduras: Women Taking the Lead in Community Development

Honduras: Women Taking the Lead in Community Development This month’s Women’s Empowerment Initiative story comes from Honduras, where Seed Programs International partner, FIPAH (Foundation for Participatory Research with Honduran Farmers), is working with local farmer groups to lay a foundation for self-sustainability through community-led education and local seed production. Farmers are organized into field schools […]