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Sustainable Livelihood
Juan Bosque, his wife Selsa, and their 7 children live in the upper valley, a two hour walk from the road, and were among the first to receive a solar panel from the Foundation. “It is easy to have a panel,” Juan says. “It doesn’t bring any complications. We feel safer. We save a lot in money not spent on kerosene. And with kerosene, the smoke enters the house and covers the inner roofs with soot. We also have a television, which is a heck of a good thing. I like to see the news because I want to know what is happening to people out there.”
Over 30 years ago, we set out to grow new and exotic tropical fruits with an eye to improving local agriculture! The famed Durian from southeast Asia was one of our prize objectives. We started with just a few fresh seed rushed over from Singapore some 20 years ago on 24 hour non-stop connecting flights by heroic friend Chuck Ehmann, in order to arrive while still viable to plant - a mere 48 hour window. And now here is our Durian harvest these many years later!!! Note in the photo the little durian seedlings that we are now planting from our own 2nd generation seed. More and more trees are gradually coming into production -- we just possibly may have the ONLY producing Durian trees here in Venezuela, perhaps in the Caribbean, if not in Latin America.
Ministry of Agriculture veterinarian Jesus Saavedra (back to photo) has collaborated with the Foundation since 1994. Here, he vaccinates a burro belonging to valley resident Antonio Henriquez during one of our annual campaigns.
Since 1977, we have operated a small farm which has gradually become a resource center for our valley community. Over the years, we have expanded our activities into nearby valleys and also into the growing barrios of Cumaná.
Our projects respond to the community’s stated needs.
Activities include:
- Solar Energy
- In our remote valley, there had long been no access to public utilities. The Foundation has installed 29 photovoltaic electric systems for rural families. These small systems use abundant tropical sunlight to power lights, radios, and other small appliances. The Foundation supplies solar panels and voltage regulators and installs them at no charge; families are responsible for buying a truck battery and all required wiring.
- Gravity-Piped Water
- With state assistance, we have installed and maintain an extensive gravity piped water system, providing 114 dispersed rural households with clear, clean water from the many crystalline mountain streams that feed into the river valley. Our model has low environmental impact and has been enthusiastically approved by the government and local populations for reliable rural water delivery.
- Distribution of Seedlings and Fruit
- Since establishing our farm, we have introduced and disseminated a wide range of fruit trees that are new to the region, including Macadamia, Durian, Rollinia, and Jackfruit. Many of the trees we have planted and cared for are coming into production, letting us “share the new fruits” of our work with the community. Seeds and young trees are regularly distributed from our nursery to local farmers and gardeners, and to farms in promising areas around the country.
- Animal Welfare and Vaccinations
- We support valley animals in a variety of ways, including vaccination of pack animals, control of vampire bat populations (these animals transmit paralytic rabies to burros and horses), and supplemental food for undernourished domestic animals.
- Microenterprise and Direct Aid to Families
- By supporting microenterprise, we empower families to build long-term economic stability. We also provide logistical and material assistance to families in need. Small increments of help can go a long way in times of difficulty. Used clothing and shoes brought down from the U.S. are sold at low prices, and the proceeds are used to support the rural school and other community projects.
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"When we are dreaming alone, we are only dreaming. When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality" Dom Helder Camara |
