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Articles:
by Lisa Wartinger
For twenty-six years Plenty’s efforts have been focused on native peoples who are trying to improve the health and well being of their families and communities, and who are concerned about protecting their culture and natural environment. The ongoing projects listed mostly reflect that focus. They are also examples of our belief in the value of long term commitment and an acknowledgment of the evolutionary pace of true development. Thanks to all of you in the extended Plenty family for your friendship and support of these efforts.
CARIB TERRITORY, DOMINICA
In March, Plenty board member Karen Flaherty linked twelve students from the Alternative break Corps at Florida State University with WAIKADA, the indigenous Carib community development organization that Plenty has had long-standing ties with. Karen and the students brought seven computer systems to the Carib reserve and set up two computer labs (one at each end of the reserve). Part of the student group also worked with the Karib Tour Guides Association (KARTOGA) in creating an ecotrail. In addition to logistical support, Plenty contributed over $1,400 toward shipping costs for the computer equipment. The Florida International Volunteer Corps co-sponsored the project. Plenty also assisted WAIKADA in the development of Phase Two of their Carib Land Use Reform Initiative (CLURI) and solicited funding for this project, which, in 2001, will carry out further community education efforts related to land-use and environmental issues in the Carib Territory. Special thanks to New England Biolabs Foundation for their continuing funding of the CLURI project.
PLENTY BELIZE
While the year was marked by the tragic death of our dear friend and co-worker Michelle Spencer-Yates in June, Plenty stepped up project activity in Belize, inspired at least in part by our memory of Michelle and her passionate commitment to the people of the Toledo District. In September, we concluded a lengthy search for a new coordinator for the Belize program, and by late October, Melanie Reimer and her husband Greg were settled in Punta Gorda. We made two overland trips to Belize in 2000 in the 15-passenger van purchased with funds provided by Onaway Trust. Each time the van was packed with computer, agricultural and medical equipment and supplies for our Toledo project partners.
Midwifery & Women’s Health Program: An intensive education program was held in 2000 for 14 Mayan traditional birth attendants (TBAs), and monthly continuing education work has been ongoing with a local facilitator. The project touches on other key issues for women as well such as reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, family planning, and domestic abuse. Our sincere thanks goes to UNICEF Belize for their partnership and financing of the project in 2000, to the Belize Ministry of Health for their participation and to Deborah Flowers, our project trainer and Deborah’s translator and partner, Remigia Cucul, of the Toledo Maya Women’s Council. Recruitment of a local trainer for 2001 is underway, and we continue to look for additional program funding for this year.
Toledo Ecotourism Association: Plenty volunteers, board members and staff extended management and marketing assistance and networking help to the TEA to strengthen their ecotourism program. Thanks to the volunteer efforts of Douglas Stevenson (Deborah Flower’s husband), a new website for the TEA was launched in 2000, which will enable the TEA to better market their guesthouse and tour facilities <http://www.belizehome.com/toledomaya>. Plenty also helped organize and provided funding for a spring retreat and workshop for TEA members, and participated in joint planning for an innovative environmental education program which will focus on monitoring bird species. Funding has been awarded by the Global Environment Facility and Onaway Trust. This project will be implemented in 2001 with assistance from Plenty Belize. Thanks also to volunteer Mark Koelen from the Netherlands Institute of Tourism Studies for his help and support to the TEA in 2000.
Soy/Agriculture: Plenty is working with farming cooperatives and families who are seeking to bolster self-sufficiency and sustainability and improve agricultural practices by learning organic farming methods and adding new crops for food sources and local markets. Soybeans fit into both these categories. Soy processing demonstrations and agriculture extension support were provided by Gomier Longville during the spring. Volunteer agriculture technician Dave Kershaw spent a month in the Toledo district, assessing farmers’ needs and providing technical assistance. Special thanks to the Greenville Foundation for its $8,000 grant allowing Plenty to continue providing agricultural extension support for farming families, produce educational materials and hold soy processing demonstrations.
Solar Energy: In rural Toledo District, many villages lack access to electricity. Basic solar technology has the potential to make a significant impact on the quality of life of local families. Plenty and Solar Energy International are developing a joint project in collaboration with the Toledo Cacao Growers’ Association to offer solar power at affordable prices to member families. Plenty and SEI are now soliciting funding for this work.
Chairladies’ Fajina Association: The CFA is a cooperative of Mayan craftswomen from 20 villages who have been working together to market their unique basketry, embroidery, and other handiwork at a small storefront in Punta Gorda. Plenty support includes regular monitoring, investigation of markets, and liaison with potential volunteers. We assumed more of this role in 2000 in order to continue the work of Michelle Spencer-Yates, who was a key support person to the Fajina. (Note: if any Plenty supporters have wholesale or retail crafts contacts and would like to see samples of Fajina crafts, contact Plenty for more info.)
GUATEMALA
Alimentos San Bartolo (San Bartolo Foods): Plenty representatives Felipe Xoquic and Chuck Haren worked twice with ASB staff in 2000. Their assistance focused on ways to improve food processing, quality control and marketing skills. They also worked with San Bartolo’s Village Development Committee in identifying and reviewing long-term strategies for expanding use of their community-owned soyfood processing facility. ASB staff and the Village Development Committee send their warm regards and thanks to Plenty supporters and Food Industry Crusade Against Hunger (FICAH/Food For All) for their funding support.
IMANI HOUSE INTERNATIONAL, LIBERIA
Plenty provided a grant of $2,000 to help keep IHI essential programs running in 2000, such as their clinic and dentist, women’s literacy classes, and a small demonstration farm. IHI director Bisi Iderabdullah writes: “Also from Plenty’s supporters we received a $490 grant, which was used to buy medical supplies for the clinic, where the stocks are very low and intermittent. UNICEF is cutting back the drug supply that they donate to the National Drug Service in Liberia. The IHI clinic only gets 50% of the drugs that it needs for a month, and they do the best that they can, so this funding is a real help.”
KIDS TO THE COUNTRY, TENNESSEE
KTC was in full swing in 2000 with seasonal activities including the spring Earth Day reunion garden in Nashville, four 5-day summer sessions for Nashville and Memphis kids, a fall Children’s Harvest Village on the Farm, and winter Kwanzaa celebration in Nashville. Over 100 at-risk kids participated in these activities, which offer them a healing experience in nature, an increased awareness of the environment, and teach the value of cooperation and nonviolence. Thanks to The Hohenberg Foundation of Memphis, Nissan Corporation, Sheila Fortune Foundation, Fred Bay, Josephine Bay Paul & C. Michael Paul Foundation and many donors for their generous support of the Kids to the Country program.
PINE RIDGE RESERVATION, SOUTH DAKOTA
At the end of August, Plenty helped organize and fund a student work trip to Pine Ridge reservation for seven high school students and two teachers from the Farm School in Tennessee. The students had studied Lakota history, and their visit brought that history to life. While there they painted the interior of the hemp house, and also worked on a packed earth house construction. Kathie Hanson, Principal of the Farm School, wrote: “I wanted to express our heartfelt thanks for making our trip to Pine Ridge possible. All the kids want to return next spring. The sweat lodge, working at the hemp house, meeting lots of wonderful folks, hearing the stories from the tribal elders and, most of all, being welcomed as family, are all things we will never forget! The kids learned more in a week then I could have taught them in a year.” Plenty is committed to offering these types of experiences to young people to expand their global understanding and we hope, inspire their leadership in future work. Plenty also made a direct contribution of $1,000 to the Slim Butte Land Use Association and channeled several grants to Pine Ridge contributed by Onaway Trust in England.
In addition to the above-mentioned project funders, we’re grateful to the following funding agencies who contributed general support to Plenty in 2000: The New Road Map Foundation, The John Bloom Family Fund, C. Marshall Lowe Trust, Tides Foundation, P.E.A.C.E. Awareness Foundation, The Freedom Forum, Calvary Presbyterian Church of Wyncote, PA, The Goldsmith Foundation, The Jewish Federation of Nashville, A Better World Fund.
The biggest share of Plenty funding comes from individual donors too numerous to list. You know who you are and we want you to know how important your efforts are to Plenty’s work. Thank you so much.