Volunteer Success Stories

We are proud to share some of the successes reported by our volunteers. Many volunteers complete assignments that result in immediate and measurable impact, while others participate in a more protracted, complex process of development, but all of our volunteers share the sentiment that what they are doing is makes a difference in the lives of the people they serve.

Improved Apiary Practices in Mozambique Improve Quality, Increase Yields and Result in Greater Profits

Beekeeping, a common traditional activity in the Gorongosa District of Mozambique, provides an important food supplement. However, until recently both the quantity and quality of honey produced was low, and apiculture was not significant in terms of income generation. A group of beekeepers approached ACDI/VOCA in 1997 for technical assistance, training in association development and help with establishing marketing contacts. Through a series of assignments carried out by volunteers Martin Hardison of Colorado and Timothy Haarmann of New Mexico, ACDI/VOCA helped the communities to transition from traditional tree-bark hives to Kenyan top-bar hives, leading to better quality and increased production. Full story

FINACOOP Speeds Agricultural Recovery after Devastating Hurricane in Honduras

ACDI/VOCA developed a finance and credit initiative to help speed the recovery of rural areas in Honduras after a devastating hurricane. The project involved a $2.5 million grant in loan capital and technical support to FINACOOP, a cooperative financial institution providing credit to farmers. Marco Tulio Fonseca, the general manager of FINACOOP, says that the loans came at an opportune time and adds that the cooperative bank is now a stronger institution as a result of ACDI/VOCA technical assistance. Over two years ACDI/VOCA volunteer executives provided training in administration, loan portfolio management, account management, finance and operations, information services, banking procedures, new product development and organizational structure. Full story

ACDI/VOCA Helps Colombian Coffee Growers Enter into Specialty Coffees Markets

Volunteers Kelly Peltier and Craig Holt of Atlas Coffee Importers, LLC, provided expert advice to local coffee farmers in Monteserrate, Colombia, on the exacting international coffee market. Peltier and Holt, coffee importers based in Seattle, Wa., shared their first-hand experience and recommended practices for local farmers trying to gain a foothold in the competitive and lucrative specialty coffee market. Full story

Increased Profits at Novy Edem Cheese Company in Russia

With the help of two American specialists in hard cheese production, the Novy Edem Cheese Company has been enjoying new successes in providing better services and products to their cheese-loving customers. During his volunteer assignment William Broske guided Novy Edem on ways to better utilize its new German cheese-making production line and expand into hard cheeses. Also helping Novy Edem to stir up new business, Tony Kutter, owner of Kutter Cheese Factory in New York, consulted with Novy Edem on developing a hit cheese snack recipe and provided a processing unit and the know-how to smoothly operate it. Full story

Fruit Producers in Mozambique Benefit from Training and Technical Assistance

Representatives of the Dondo Community Center, a vocational skills development center with a membership of 75 women, approached ACDI/VOCA for assistance in developing economic opportunities for its members. The women had previously experimented with fruit jellies, but with the high cost of fuel, sugar and packaging materials, were unable to operate at a profit. Through a combined effort on the part of expert volunteers and staff, ACDI/VOCA helped the DCC to develop training in high-value fruit-drying, leading to a bulk dried fruit contract with a local exporter. Full story

Strawberry Farming Increases Incomes in Azerbaijan

Although demand was high for fresh berries in Gelilabad, they were not widely grown in the region. To introduce strawberry production to local farmers, ACDI/VOCA sent Cliff Hatch, a Massachusetts organic farmer with over 20 years’ strawberry experience to conduct seminars in strawberry growing best practices. As a follow-up assignment, ACDI/VOCA sent a second volunteer, Margaret Morse from Virginia, to check on the farmers’ progress and further develop the new crop. Full story

Volunteer James Thibeault Brings Marketing Expertise to Kenyan Handicrafts Group

Life has always been challenging for women living in the slums of Nairobi, Kenya, but with high HIV/AIDS prevalence rates, women who were already struggling are increasingly having to cope with extra responsibilities resulting from HIV/AIDS-related deaths. Jisaidie Cottage Industries (JCI) was created to market handicraft items developed by such women, but JCI needed help to penetrate new markets and expand opportunities for its members. James Thibeault of Malden, W. Va., who has more than 30 years of experience in handicrafts and marketing, was selected by ACDI/VOCA’s Farmer-to-Farmer Program in 2003 to work with JCI to address marketing constraints. The organization has since expanded into a networking and marketing handicrafts hub that promotes the products of over 200 Kenyan groups and individuals. Full story