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Supporting Anti-Child Labor Projects in Ecuador and Panama

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EducaFuturo is a program currently being implemented by Partners of the Americas in Ecuador and Panama. Funded by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), EducaFuturo seeks to combat child labor in both countries through educational programs, vocational training, and livelihood services. F2F has partnered with EducaFuturo on numerous occasions over the past 5 years, sending 7 volunteers to support their efforts in improving the educational outcomes of youth involved in child labor, while also increasing the income opportunities of households to reduce reliance on child labor. Volunteers have provided training on a range of topics, including sustainable production practices, processing, business management, and marketing. In January 2016, F2F volunteer Carmen Pacheco-Borden traveled to Panama to work with native Ngabe-Bugle women’s groups in the tomato farming communities of Hato Chami and Boca de Monte to make value-added products from their harvests and consequently increase their househ...
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F2F Haiti Volunteer Spotlight: Robert Spencer

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Robert Spencer during an assignment in Guatemala in 2016 Alabama Extension agent, Robert Spencer, has been a long-time F2F volunteer with Partners of the Americas. During the current program cycle he completed 5 assignments, including 2 in Haiti on food safety and quality. His first assignment in the country was in September 2015, working with F2F host, Makouti Agro-Enterprise, and several rabbit producers in the northern region of the country. The focus of this trip was to train small animal producers in meat quality assurance and safety. Following site visits to producer farms, Robert conducted four days of workshops to address food quality and safety concerns that he observed. His presentations focused on HACCP, food safety and quality across value chains, and public relations in the meat industry. While in Haiti, Robert also visited over ten restaurants to conduct needs assessments and interviews to gain a better understanding of food safety expectations, inspection practices, and ...
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Host Highlight: The Fabretto Foundation

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The Fabretto Foundation (Fabretto) is a non-profit organization that provides educational and nutritional programs to children and families in the most disadvantaged areas of Nicaragua. Aligning with Partners of the Americas' Women & Youth F2F strategy in the country, Fabretto seeks to build the entrepreneurship and leadership skills of children and youth to improve their livelihoods and empower them to reach their full potential. The Foundation boasts seven community Education Centers and over 400 public schools throughout Nicaragua, with programs focused on three strategic areas: (1) Early Education, (2) Primary Education, and (3) Technical Vocational Education. Fabretto’s community-based approach allows parents and teachers to also benefit from their education and health programs, while providing them with a platform to become leaders in their communities. Teachers and tutors at each of the schools and centers receive training on innovative methodologies and tools to improve...
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Team Assignment Highlight: Dr. Ethel Villalobos & Scott Nikaido

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In May 2017, University of Hawaii-Manoa (UH) professor, Dr. Ethel Villalobos and UH graduate student, Scott Nikaido, traveled to the regions of Valverde and Monte Cristi in the northeast of the Dominican Republic, where they surveyed eight apiaries and made recommendations on beekeeping management. The objective of this F2F team assignment was to provide hands-on training to banana producers of the Banelino Association on the development and implementation of apiculture projects for honey production. As part of this assignment, Dr. Villalobos and Mr. Nikaido worked alongside Banelino staff and led workshops focused on production techniques and technologies for honey bees and queen rearing. The volunteers also assisted Banelino by identifying the best set of endemic flowers for beekeeping and ways that local farmers could improve their apiculture management practices in order to optimize honey production. Dr. Villalobos during her visit to Partners HQ in October 2017 Throughout their as...
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Host Spotlight: Federación Comercializadora de Café Especial de Guatemala (FECCEG)

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The Federacion Comercializadora de Café Especial de Guatemala (FECCEG) is an association of small organic coffee producers established in 2006. FECCEG currently works with 10 cooperatives in Chimaltenango, Huehuetenango, Quiché, Sololá, San Marcos, and Quetzaltenango, and over 1,000 farmers, of which more than 350 are women. Their mission is to promote and support the sustainability of small-scale producers by providing training in the production of organic coffee, honey, and sugar cane, in addition to value-chain support services. FECCEG seeks to increase the incomes of member producers, while also promoting environmental sustainability and gender equality. In 2013, Kishé Foods, LLC (Kishé) was founded in California as a subsidiary of FECCEG in order to help the association have a more established presence in the U.S. market. In addition, as a social enterprise, Kishé Foods serves to strengthen the coffee value chain by directly selling Guatemalan coffee to US consumers.    ...
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Essential Oils Production in Jamaica and Haiti

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Clare Licher, owner of the Arizona-based family-run business PhiBee Aromatics, not only possesses thirty years of experience in aromatherapy and essential oils, but is also a frequent Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer. In the past, Clare traveled to Jamaica in both 2016 and 2017 to consult with the Yerba Buena Farm regarding the establishment of a commercial essential oils distillery and market growth potential. Most recently, she traveled to Haiti to again utilize her highly-specialized knowledge of essential oils to assist the non-profit, Prosperity Catalyst, and their Haitian affiliate Fanm Limye. [Left] Clare during a workshop in Jamaica in 2016. [Right] Clare during her assignment in 2017. Fanm Limye has operated in Haiti since 2012, working directly with over 400 beekeepers in Western Haiti. Most recently, the organization has assisted beekeepers in cultivating essential oil-yielding plants to provide nectar for their bees and scent candles made from their beeswax. Clare helped Fanm Lim...
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Strengthening Public Relations for Colombian Natural Cosmetics Company

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In March 2018, Kathleen (Kath) Lestina, a business owner and designer from the United States, traveled to Zen Naturals' headquarters in Cali, Colombia as a Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) volunteer. The company's Zue Beauty line is a brand of quinoa-based natural cosmetics that emphasizes sustainable, ethical manufacturing and fair trade in order to improve the lives of quinoa farming communities in Colombia. Through Zue’s Give-Back program, customers are empowered to donate to Colombian organizations, contributing to the company’s two central goals: providing high-quality natural skincare products and generating social and environmental change.  F2F volunteers have been integral to the growth of Zue, as several agricultural and technical volunteers have helped train indigenous farmers to harvest quinoa. Other F2F volunteers have assisted with marketing, branding, and digital media. The purpose of Kath’s visit, the most recent F2F-Zen Naturals partnership, was to assist Zue’s public re...
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