Although, AID International has been investigating initiatives that could potentially help communities be self-sufficient and less reliant on outside sources, the earthquake of 2010 brought about some new challenges which we still now face: 1.) Getting relief supplies; ex. food to tents into the country and then, 2.) Getting these supplies into remote communities scattered deep into the mountains.
- While Aid International had been investigating initiatives that could help communities be self-sufficient and less reliant on outside sources, the earthquake of 2010 and the challenges we faced in 1) getting relief supplies (from foods, to tents) into the country and then 2) getting these supplies into remote communities scattered deep in the mountains — highlighted the need for immediate and consistent food sources.In the weeks following the quake, Aid International and its partners distributed 6,000 packets of various seeds to 600 families in the small villages of the Marbial area. The purpose was to give these isolated locals the ability to
- Grow their own produce and feed their families
- Utilize any surplus as an income source
In early 2012, 3 delegates attended ECHO’s 18th Annual Agricultural Conference in Fort Myers, Florida. As a result of their participation in this conference, new partnerships were forged to provide training to local farmers and finding new ways to use preexisting resources.
Just 40 years ago, this area was producing lots of coffee beans and other crops. But deforestation and poverty forced locals to cut down their own fruit trees for fuel and basic survival. As a result, flooding and erosion has been disastrous to the surrounding land.
Our main objectives in the next two years are to provide training to local farmers and to help them replant trees, grafting mangos and avocados and planting new fruits.
- Our sustainability efforts are not only for the villagers in the mountainside – it plays a big role in our Orphan Care approach as well! The older youths enroll in trade school each summer, from culinary arts to masonry.One of the greatest successes has been at our partner, FLL’s Girl’s Home: they have not had to hire uniform seamstresses in years because the eldest girls were trained over the years and are now capable of handling the major part of uniform making for students in the Homes! Currently, the oldest from the Girl’s Home and Boy’s Home are looking to expand into sewing purses and other crafts that can be sold in the community and elsewhere. Our partners are working hard to help them turn their small business ideas into reality.