Welcome to the 2009 NI Honduras project blog!  Participants will use this space to share stories of their experiences before, during, and after working in rural Central America from May 31st to July 29th.  Feel free to comment and share the blog widely with friends and family. 

What’s the general idea? This summer, we will be working in conjunction with FIPAH (Fundacion para la Investigacion Participativa con Agricultores de Honduras), a Honduran NGO which supports Honduran farmers and works to provide food security to the people of Honduras. Nourish will be continuing a partnership with FIPAH which began last summer.  By promoting seed banking, they work to preserve hardy varieties of crops through cooperatives in towns across the country.

Why FIPAH? With the rise of industrialized agriculture, monoculture, and the use of only one crop variety, the world/global food supply has encountered reduced biodiversity.  The food supply has become increasingly vulnerable to devastation from crop diseases and climate change.  Working on a local level, FIPAH is supporting communities in three regions of Honduras to face these challenges sustainably.

What is the student role? Nourish volunteers will:

• engage in education initiatives with FIPAH
• shadow FIPAH staff with their activities (interning in the field and offices)
• work with youth cooperatives in three areas, learning about seed banking and other programs

Additionally, two of the team members will be working on a documentary about FIPAH.  We are extremely excited to be returning to two of the towns NI volunteers traveled to last year and to be working in another region!  Check out the “About Us” section to learn about the team, and keep checking this page for happenings while on the ground.  While you’re at it, check out the left-hand column for a link to NI’s other project blogs and a link to last year’s blog – a preview of what is to come!

Con amor Hondureño,

Diana, Project Co-Leader