For a fortnight, the "Haus der bayerischen Landwirtschaft" in Herrsching was home to full-time and voluntary workers in rural youth work from all over the world. 77 participants from 46 countries took part in the International Seminar for Leaders in Rural Youth Work in Herrsching. The motto: "Think globally - get together and act locally".
The focus of the seminar, organised by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), was to develop personal skills, share one's own experiences and build networks as well as develop personal action plans.
BBV-LIZ had again the opportunity to send two kenyan women to this unique seminar. Antoninah Kagwiria and Lavina Odungo, both participants are active members in the umbrella association WoFaAK. As always, we asked them about their impressions and experiences.
Antoninah Kagwiria from Tharaka-Nithi County
1. Could you please introduce yourself. My name is Antoninah Kagwiria from Tharaka Nithi County in Kenya.
What are doing in Kenya? I sit in the Board of Women Farmers Association of Kenya representing the youth in Tharaka Nithi County. Am a farmer keeping pigs. Am also involved in Women groups as a mentor to the young women.
Do you have family, your educational/professional background?
Am a single mother of two children, my boy is 18, my girl is 15 years.
I have a Diploma in Sales and Marketing from Institute of Commercial Management London (ICM London). I also have a Diploma in Business Administration from Mount Kenya University.
What do you do for a living? Am a farmer specializing in pigs (Large White). I sell them when they get to 70kgs.
How do you earn your living? From farming
2. The Umbrella Association WoFaAK – are you member? YES am a registered member.
What made you decide to become a member? I felt it is an ideal forum where women farmers in Kenya have an opportunity to share ideas and generate new ones; this gave me a platform to share my ideas. What are you expecting from WoFaAK? Upward growth and enlarge my network.
What could be your contribution to WoFaAK? To overturn the idea that farming is only done by the least in the community and that farming cannot give one financial freedom.
3. What development opportunities do you see for rural women in Kenya? Advocating for quality seedlings and better breeds to the farmers.
What would be your next step towards it? Approach County government of Tharaka Nithi for funds
4. Can this seminar contribute to a sustainable development of rural areas and strengthen agriculture in your country? YES it can.
5. What do you take home about this seminar? A great opportunity to share platform with participants from 46 countries worldwide - with very senior leaders and great farmers. Farming is fun and its able to give financial freedom.
What is your plan – how will you transport these lessons from this seminar? My idea is: “Empowering the women in kitchen garden activities in Kenya” What and Why? Kitchen garden is a garden in which plants (such as vegetables or herbs) for use in the kitchen are cultivated. Women, who are physically empowered through healthy food are more likely to advocate for gender equality, educate their children, and contribute positively to community development. A woman in Kenya contributes highly in providing food for their families.
Benefits of having a kitchen garden • Healthier eating. Growing a kitchen garden provides fresh, organic fruits and vegetables that are free from pesticides and other chemicals. • Stress relief. Gardening is a great way to relax and de-stress. • Environmental benefits • Financial savings. • Sense of community • Sustainable gardening. How and Who? I can do the kitchen garden by myself and encourage another women and office bureaus to come to visit my garden and get experience from me. I give them technical support and trainings to them.
When? First week of September: I can start planting in my garden in the first week of September. After one moth which means in October by seeing the status of my garden I will invite my office bureau’s to visit and assist interested with seedlings. In November I will roll it out to all the interested members. Where ? It will be going to happen in my garden which is located in Chogoria, Kenya. Resources For now I will finance for the project.
6. Looking back – what did you like about this seminar? The seminar was very interactive all round and enlarged my network. For once I have a larger group that I can consult on where to improve and restore hope to the rural woman.
7. What is it, that really surprised you here in Germany/Bavaria? Weather, days being longer that nights. The wonderful food and very hospitable staff.
If there is anything else, you would like to say - please feel free. Thank you so much for this platform you accorded me. I am back home full of new ideas with new energy and ready to share it with all my members. Thanks Madam Angelica and Madam Nathalie for their big hearts and for making my stay very warm. Not one time did I wish to be back home Kenya.
Lavina Odungo from Siaya County
1. Could you please introduce yourself. My name is Lavina Odungo from Siaya County in Kenya. I am currently studying Computer Science and focused on data science and end user comfortability. My favorite dish is fried fish, kachumbari and ugali.
I do farming on our family farm and I mainly focus on sorghum and chia seed farming.
My inspiration to do farming was my parents. Both are passionate about Agriculture and they took it upon themselves to educate me on the topic, its importance and how I can do it as a source of income. It is through this same agriculture that my fees for campus is being paid.
2. The Umbrella Association WoFaAK – are you member? I am an active youth member of the WoFaAK community.
3. What development opportunities do you see for rural women in Kenya? What would be your next step towards it? Drip irrigation to avoid overreliance of rainfall. This can be done by recycling used plastic bottles for the same. As an association, we can be able to find buyers for our produce before planting thus giving people assurance of market once harvesting comes.
4. What do think - can this seminar contribute to a sustainable development of rural areas and strengthen agriculture in your country? Yes, the seminar was very helpful. There was a topic on food security that real caught my interest. We can increase food security by training people on how to practice smart agriculture. We should not only focus on quantity but also quality of the produce. We need to focus on production, market and the people by finding solutions to questions on climate change, outdated technology, lack of cooperatives, and unawareness. By answering this, we can be able to enhance food security in our areas and spread this to our region and eventually our country as a whole.
5. What do you take home about this seminar? What is your plan – how will you transport these lessons from this seminar? We talked about leadership and qualities of a good leader, teamwork and conflict resolution. I have a meeting with my superior where I will tell her about all these and then we arrange a meeting so that I can be able to have a session with all the members. I believe that everyone should be equipped so that when someone with a leadership role is not present, then we can stand u to the task and fill in. These lessons can be practiced anywhere at home, by the roadside at church, and even during meetings.
6. Looking back – what did you like about this seminar? I was able to make new friends and some people I consider as family. Through networking I learnt a lot - both good bad. My friend from Vietnam told me about the Makong river that is causing conflict between China and Vietnam, because China has built many dams and now people in Vietnam are experiencing a shortfall in agriculture.
7. What is it, that really surprised you here in Germany/Bavaria? I was caught by the variety of food cuisines that are very different from here in Kenya. I also noticed that bread is eating during all meals whereas in Kenya bread is only eaten for breakfast.
If there is anything else, you would like to say- please feel free. Thank you for the opportunity. I hope to educate and change the lives of many people by creating a ripple effect. This is to mean that the people who learn from me will have the task of passing it on to others and it continues until everyone is enlightened.
Asante Sana for your inspiring answers. We wish you good luck and success for your activities.
The following pictures are from the closing ceremony - giving the certificates to Antoniah and Lavina.
