Volunteer Post
Reborn After Volunteering
Jen Snow
“I have been coming back to Latin America time and again for 35 years to work with rural farmers. I am continually “re-born” each time in having the honor to work with small scale farmers, be they in El Salvador or elsewhere.” –Charles Mitchell, Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer in El Salvador
Charles was one of five farmers from the Vermont chapter of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) who volunteered to help farmers in El Salvador this year.
The NOFA volunteers worked with technicians and extensionists from FUNDESYRAM (a Salvadoran nonprofit working to alleviate poverty), providing hands-on training and technical assistance to FUNDESYRAM staff and groups of farmers that they support. Over the course of three separate assignments, the volunteers addressed issues related to horticulture production, organic farming practices, animal husbandry, and enterprise development.
The FUNDESYRAM staff sharpened their skills and gained inspiration from the volunteers.
“The help that the volunteers bring reinforces our own work and strengthens our ability to serve farmers and do our job,” one technician noted.
“The volunteers are examples of success. The farmers see that and are hopeful and inspired,” another technician explained.
Many thanks to Charles and the other NOFA volunteers for a job well done!