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A Song for a Greener Future: Meet Denilmer, a Young Musician and Agroecology Facilitator from Honduras
“Today, the Earth calls us to act. Now is the time to get involved. With solidarity and unity, we change the world with every action.” These are the words of Denilmer Joseth Cruz Alvarado, a 20-year-old musician and agroecology facilitator from Honduras who wrote and composed Jóvenes en misión, a song calling on young people to work together for a greener future. Inspired by his father and grandfather, Denilmer began learning guitar at age eight. He later taught himself five other instruments, including keyboard, drums, and electric bass. In Jóvenes en misión, he brings his love of music toget …
Women Reading the Land: Experiences of Women Farmers in Latin America and the Caribbean
This article was originally written in Spanish – read it here. October 15 marks the International Day of Rural Women, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2007 through Resolution 62/136. To reflect on the significance of this day and give rural women a voice, a webinar brought together experiences from the Andes, Mesoamerica, and the Caribbean. Qachuu Aloom (Guatemala), PDL (Haiti), and EkoRural (Ecuador), partner organizations of Groundswell International, shared women-led initiatives focused on seed stewardship, biodiversity conservation, and local knowledge as a sou …
Las mujeres calibrando la tierra: experiencias de agricultoras en América Latina y el Caribe
El 15 de octubre se conmemora el Día Internacional de las Mujeres Rurales, proclamado por la Asamblea General de las Naciones Unidas en diciembre de 2007 mediante la resolución 62/136. Para pensar este día y darle voz, se celebró un webinar con el compartir de experiencias de los Andes, Mesoamérica y el Caribe. Qachuu Aloom (Guatemala), PDL (Haití) y EkoRural (Ecuador), organizaciones socias de Groundswell International, presentaron procesos liderados por mujeres en torno a las semillas y su custodia, la protección de la biodiversidad y los saberes locales para la innovación. Según la ONU, las …
In Rural India, One Woman’s Work Is Changing Lives
When a goat falls sick in Dohari, a village in Bihar, India, people call Sumanti. They call her Doctor Didi. Her patients are goats, and there are many of them. Today, 349 women across Dohari and 5 other villages trust Sumanti to vaccinate their goats, treat illnesses, and keep them healthy. A vital role, goats being one of the main sources of food and income for families in the region. Dohari is home to many families belonging to Scheduled Castes – communities that have experienced generations of caste-based discrimination and unequal access to land and opportunities. Although legal protectio …
Nancy’s hands: from rock to fertile soil
“Nancy speaks slowly, without haste. She says that the earth also teaches, but only to those who listen to it.“
How Savings & Credit Groups Help Rural Women in Nepal Build Financial Independence
In Bailbas Chiran Tole, a village in rural Nepal, 26 women meet once a month under the thatched roof of the group leader’s home. One by one, they put NPR 100 (about US$0.65) into a shared fund. They record loan repayments on a sheet of paper and consider new requests. If several women need money, they discuss who needs it most. They prioritize those with an emergency. In just 2 years, this credit and savings group has helped them move away from precarious daily wage jobs and even build their own business ventures. It is a relatively simple system. But in an area where credit is often out of re …