4.12.09
14.10.09
Community health volunteers!
Health leaders from the comunities of Agua Sarca, Laure and Colonias Unidas.
Moringa!
The above is a photo of the Moringa tree seedlings, I started them in my backyard and ended up with about 100 little trees ready to bring out to some of the communities. A few weeks ago, Matt & Katie DeKam, a couple who are working with CRWRC & Diaconia in Catacamas, Honduras, came down for the weekend. Matt is an agricultural engineer, and together with Katie, they helped us give a few seminars with some of our communities on the Moringa plant.
Why would this plant be important for our communities and the the health program....you probably guessed it if you didn't already know what Moringa is...it is very nutritious. You can use all the parts of the tree, even dry the leaves and make a powder that can be added to foods (for those who aren't really into salads....which is a majority in the communities :) )
This picture shows how it compares to other vegetables and milk...
Matt used a similar picture in the seminar.
Katie made a soup, and we had one of the mothers mix in some of the powder to tortillas,
to show how it would turn out and have a good example of how the women could really use this plant in things that they normally make. Everyone enjoyed the taste test!
I gave each of the leaders a few trees to plant in there own yards, and offered to help them make a small nursery with the seeds and bags we would leave them with. A few of the leaders in almost all of the communities volunteered to work on the nursery, and share the information with the other mothers.
I am hoping that they will continue with the enthusiasm that they showed this day, for starting to use this plant in there daily lives. It's like having vitamins growing on trees in the back yard. Its free and multiplying in amount with each passing day....
I think it is a good example of something that can be sustainable. It is positive and empowering for the mothers also because it is something available for them to do for their undernourished children. It is not expensive or out of reach or something that they need to depend on someone to bring in each month. They just need to grow it, care for it and feed it to their families!
My helpers filling the bags with dirt for the trees...
Over the last few months we have been making some really positive progress working specifically with community health volunteers. This has been 
something that I have been thinking about, planning out and pushing towards for quite some time.
We have been very intentional about setting up schedules, teaching sessions and encouraging their independence in the program with the children. In several communities we have asked new mothers to join as leaders, based on suggestions of the current leaders and observing these women as being active and attentive when they come with their children.
I am learning that the contributions, participation and active example of the volunteer leaders in the community is so important to the end vision of transformation in the community. These leaders live in the community, are mothers (many with children still in the program) and are in constant contact with the other mothers. When they grow and develop in their understanding of what is a healthy lifestyle for their children and families, they live it. Without formal teachings, demonstrations or gifts of food, vitamins or supplements, the rest of the women in the community can begin to see the positive changes and from this learn how to better the health of their family. From there, also, the leaders have a base of trust from which they can counsel and guide mothers in times of illness or problem situations. This trust is so important between the mothers and leaders because often deeply embedded beliefs about things like home remedies for healing sick children or others have caused so much harm. The tradition is followed rather than any other advice only because it comes from a mother or grandmother.
It has been super encouraging for me to see the enthusiasm of many of our community volunteers, as they come for a training and participate and share there experiences. Their presence and place in the health program is invaluable.
Health leaders from the comunities of Agua Sarca, Laure and Colonias Unidas.
Moringa!
The above is a photo of the Moringa tree seedlings, I started them in my backyard and ended up with about 100 little trees ready to bring out to some of the communities. A few weeks ago, Matt & Katie DeKam, a couple who are working with CRWRC & Diaconia in Catacamas, Honduras, came down for the weekend. Matt is an agricultural engineer, and together with Katie, they helped us give a few seminars with some of our communities on the Moringa plant.
Why would this plant be important for our communities and the the health program....you probably guessed it if you didn't already know what Moringa is...it is very nutritious. You can use all the parts of the tree, even dry the leaves and make a powder that can be added to foods (for those who aren't really into salads....which is a majority in the communities :) )
This picture shows how it compares to other vegetables and milk...
Matt used a similar picture in the seminar.
Katie made a soup, and we had one of the mothers mix in some of the powder to tortillas,
to show how it would turn out and have a good example of how the women could really use this plant in things that they normally make. Everyone enjoyed the taste test!
I gave each of the leaders a few trees to plant in there own yards, and offered to help them make a small nursery with the seeds and bags we would leave them with. A few of the leaders in almost all of the communities volunteered to work on the nursery, and share the information with the other mothers.
I am hoping that they will continue with the enthusiasm that they showed this day, for starting to use this plant in there daily lives. It's like having vitamins growing on trees in the back yard. Its free and multiplying in amount with each passing day....
I think it is a good example of something that can be sustainable. It is positive and empowering for the mothers also because it is something available for them to do for their undernourished children. It is not expensive or out of reach or something that they need to depend on someone to bring in each month. They just need to grow it, care for it and feed it to their families!
My helpers filling the bags with dirt for the trees...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
