Seeds to Grow 100 Tons of Needed Food in Honduras

Dear Project Supporters,

We continue in our quest to fund this project for the deserving participatory Honduran farmer group, FIPAH. Please use the share links at http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/seeds-for-honduras/share/ to spread the word about the need for vegetable seeds and training in these communities.

Meanwhile, I wanted to let you know a little bit about the context of hunger in Honduras. We are encouraged in crowdfunding to tell the most personal stories possible, to put you, the donor, in the shoes of the individuals you are being asked to support. For most of us, myself included, the power to move us to give is in the expression on the face of a hungry child in a photograph, or the joy of an adult harvesting fresh vegetables from a field.

The truth, though, is that in so much of the developing world, the plight of individuals is so far beyond their control that it has value to step back and look at context. Poverty is the cause of hunger, and it is so often big forces, far away from that beautiful photo, that keep people trapped in poverty. So, here is a little bit bit about Honduras:

• Honduras had a democratically-elected government until a 2009 coup. There was a much-anticipated election in 2013, since the time we first posted this project. There are strong concerns about fraud.
• Here is an article from British newspaper The Guardian, titled "Why the World Should Care About Honduras' Recent Election." Article Link
• Indigenous group leaders in Honduras face imprisonment and death when they attempt to run for political office to support changing the plight of poor and hungry people. From Amnesty International: Article Link
• The murder rate in Honduras declined in 2013 and remains the highest murder rate in the world. Chicago Tribune: Article Link

With this backdrop in mind, we are especially excited that FIPAH in Honduras is already designed to be inclusive of all members of the communities served. Here is text from a profile article in The Tyee, a Canadian website:

Youth and women are heavily involved in all aspects, with the latter accounting for close to 50 per cent of the program's membership.

"Before, women didn't have any say in agriculture. Now they're active in many projects," said Hilda Mencia, CIAL's Women in Action coordinator and treasurer. "Now we have a say in what goes on in our farming communities. The men received us well. Women are good farmers because we are motivated and hard working and organized. We are leaders."

The youth project has drawn 600 members, and is focused on providing work opportunities, education, and training within their communities to preserve the agricultural tradition. In the past year 40 kids finished studies in the trades and three are heading to rural Norway on an exchange.

Until we raise some more monies, the goal of our partnership, to add and expand vegetable production to existing efforts using corn and beans, is on hold. Please keep GlobalGiving "gifts in honor" in mind as you think about birthdays, weddings, mother's day, and other events!

Links:

• Article Quoted in Report