Our partner ASO-Ixil held an initial training for vegetable gardening program participants yesterday in Chajul, Guatemala. I wanted to share with you, as supporters, some wonderful photos from that event.
Our friend Janet who provides essential US-based support for this project explains:
"None of the women in this training for the vegetable gardens can read or write. Manuel (Director of ASO-Ixil) has experience and training in teaching illiterate people who only speak the Ixil language." So this training is in Ixil, with colorful powerpoint photos to teach those who do not read or write , but are very skilled at listening and interpreting visuals.
In US schools only 10% of students learn primarily through listening. I think the board has put together a really skillful approach to training: with a combination of visuals and lessons in their own Ixil language, with follow up in their own Ixil language as they receive instruction in the gardens. As these beneficiaries have never had the opportunity to attend school, it is exciting and important for them to be attending this training in a high school classroom."
30 initial families have been selected to receive vegetable gardening support in the form of seeds, tools, fertilizers, and training. Each receives a cost subsidy of 25-75% based on their needs.
Because much of the vegetable growing will be by women, their small children are with them in the training room. In the first photo, these children are receiving orange juice from SPI representative Carla Rosemary Rodriguez.
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