Behrhorst Partners for Development Updates

Faustina Chiquita Xicay has been farming since she was a girl. Until a few years ago, she went to big farms to harvest coffee. Now she grows corn and other vegetables and works at home. She started to participate at the Strong Family Center in La Pila when it first opened and says that her life has changed because of the programs at the Center.

As a participant, she has learned to work as part of a team and has been very interested in the workshops on handicrafts. She has also learned how to prepare nutritious recipes and use products that she wasn't familiar with until she learned about them at the Center. Many of the recipes have become family favorites.

Faustina has participated in the agriculture program at the Center and how has her own garden. She is very happy that she has learned to successfully grow her own vegetables and saves money since she doesn't have to buy them at the market. Faustina grows a wide variety of vegetables including: cabbage broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, spinach, coriander, carrots and others. Staff also taught her new agriculture techniques, which historically only men did. She especially appreciates learning how to grow seedlings.

Faustina said, "Thank you ABPD and your donor for all of your support for our work. You have allowed our families to receive many benefits which have improved our quality of life."