Food Security Conference

I came into Bamako to present at a conference on food security in the middle of September. I was asked to represent the Health Education sector by presenting on my garden project to many NGO representatives who have an interest in food security and in working with the Peace Corps in this capacity.

Alima, my counterpart came with me and we were the first to present. After a few technical difficulties, I had to begin my presentation sans power point and photos, but the presentation was still a success. Alima began by greeting the crowd and explaining who we were, where we were from, and our working relationship. Then together we explained the process we used to assess the communities need and the ways that we started our project.

We began by using PACA, the participatory analysis for community action model. This is a series of activities and sessions that first ask the community to identify what they are proud of as a community. Then we move on to what the community sees a need for, the priority of the different needs they identify, and their ability to fill that need.

Through this series of activities, we identified a need for school and medical supplies, for food security, and the interest in working to teach the children at the first cycle school gardening techniques. This directly coincided with my interest in teaching the children about healthy eating and nutrition.

From this meeting, we also identified a community partner in the director of my first cycle school, Djakary Dja, who helped us to develop a budget and a plan of action. I applied for the grant through Peace Corps while also working with Djakary Dja and Alima to discuss the community's contribution to the project. Through this specific grant, the community is responsible for 33% of the total budget.

With our approved project proposal, we are getting ready to begin the building of the fencing and when school has started and the ground is ready, we will start the planting of vegetable. The children will be able to learn about the different planting techniques and options while working the land themselves. The goal is to educate the children on gardening practices, which they will use to cultivate the land and harvest their crop. The vegetables will be sold at our local market, providing a new variety of available foods, and a source of income for the school caisse. Initially the money will be used to purchase the medical supplies that the school needs, a basic first aid kit that will help with small cuts and bruises, things that would usual send the child and teacher all the way across town, if the family could even afford the treatment.

Eventually, monies will be used to purchase school supplies, and then be kept in the school caisse to help to meet the schools needs for things like pump repair and other minor needs. The garden will continue to be a source of learning and achievement for the children.

Our project was well received by the group and Alima was proud to have been invited to present on our work. She was eager and able to answer all kinds of questions from the crowd, shedding the shyness she sometimes resorts to among strangers and important people.