Lili-Anna Pereša meets families in Honduras and Nicaragua
Back from a visit in Honduras and Nicaragua, ONE DROP’s executive director, Lili-Anna Pereša, was very touched to note the positive effects of ONE DROP projects on beneficiary families. During her tour, she took the time to visit villages, schools and gardens, of course, but what mostly stands out in her mind are her discussions with the people. Here are a few stories that show just how ONE DROP makes a difference in these communities.
Food for the heart and the soul
First conclusion: water-access projects do more than feed families, they ensure their food security. Results are especially convincing in Nicaragua where the project, started in 2005, is now in its consolidation phase. “I was impressed to see that families succeed in overcoming poverty. They are no longer in survival mode,” said Lili-Anna Pereša. Thanks to the agricultural techniques they’ve been taught (for instance, irrigation systems and crop rotation), women can not only feed their immediate and enlarged family, but also sell a portion of their harvest and, in turn, have some money at their disposal. India, a woman from Nicaragua, explained: “We bought a scale. Each week, the women of the village get together to pool their surplus goods. Then, one of us goes to the market by bus to find out about the competition and set the price. The bus driver reserves her a seat up front since he wants first choice when comes the time to buy his vegetables.” For one family, growing a vegetable garden requires approximately four hours of work each day, but it's well worth the effort. “I don’t ever want to be so poor again,” stated India.
Published on February 12, 2010