Honduran women making change on food security

Alma Moradel. An example of solidarity

Alma Moradel.

“To the women of the country and around the world I say, lets get organized in groups in order to achieve means to survive, because only organized we can get support, alone we will not make it. We must aim to forget the past, the old, looking for new hope, if one is honest with oneself and with others, we can make it”.

Alma Moradel, she is the second coordinator of the “Organized Women in Action Group”, which consists of 70 women. Their objective is to help out with the women’s group in order to gain some economic   independence, through the marketing of bakery and pastry products that they make themselves. The group has had help from other women with greater experience, who have shared their baking and pastry knowledge and skills with the other members of the group. Through this initiative we can confirm the solidarity between women, all in favor of improving economically and socially.

Orfilia Quintanilla, fighting for the food security.

Orfilia Quintanilla

For food safety. Food safety is an issue present in all poor homes of the country. Just like the case of Orfilia Quintanilla who owns alongside her family a small plot of land where she harvests vegetables. She has made an effort to find the means to market her products at a small scale; so every Sunday she has her own sales point at the fair in the community of Chalmeca, close to this community of San Marcos.
Her small plot is located in front of a creek, which makes it vulnerable during the rainy season.

“Lets get organized because through it we acquire better knowledge, which helps us both at home and in society. We are worthy and we can make decisions and give opinions. We can now take part in organizations. There is better quality of life when we are organized. We reach goals or purposes if we are organized and do not be discouraged, because there are obstacles in all fields”.

Darlin Benítez, an example of fighting with others.

Darlin Benítez

Darlin Benitez has established an own nursery with the support of OCDIH, she is dedicated to growing seeds, to irrigation, care of the nurseries and marketing the seedlings of vegetables, as well as, the preparation of organic fertilizer. She is partner of the Agricultural Cooperative Western Effort in which she actively participates. In the absence of public policies that support agriculture, Darlin Benitez is an example of women who seek grouping in cooperatives, which later can get support from nongovernmental organizations.

“We should not only be tucked in the houses, we must be more active and help change the situation in which one lives. By participating in organizations we can improve ourselves and participate in the community’s development and in so doing also contribute to improve the country.”

Carla Yanira Ramos, an example of organization.

Carla Yanira Ramos

Carla Yanira Ramos is dedicated to poultry farming and with her revenues she covers the investment costs. The activities carried out by Carla, include incubation, breeding, feeding, processing and marketing of chickens along with the collection of the manure for composting. She confesses that the key to get ahead is through organization, being such the reason why she belongs to the Parents Association of her community, is a member of the Water Board, a Baptist Church leader, part of the local Board and is a member of the Rural Fund. Considering that even with all of these responsibilities she still has time to tend to her family.

“It is true that it is better to work in group, but sometimes some women do not give importance to this, we must encourage all women, because now you can provide for our homes and to the community and teach other people how to work. Women can do it”.