Global Service Corps expands Tanzania volunteer programs through new USDA food security partnership

Global Service Corps (GSC) has announced an expansion of its Tanzania international volunteer program in sustainable agriculture, food security and HIV/AIDS educatoin as a result of a new contract with Partners for Development and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

With over 15 years of experience operating overseas volunteer programs in Thailand, Cambodia and Tanzania for students, active retirees, mid-career professionals and families, GSC's new partnership successfully leverages their strong reputation and 14 years promoting sustainable agriculture and HIV/AIDS education best practices in East Africa. The new USDA contract will enable GSC Tanzania to expand local organic gardening and rural poultry projects along with NGO partners into a regional program bringing food security to over 2,000 smallholder farmers in Tanzania on both a subsistence and commercial basis.

"This past week was National Volunteer Week in the U.S. and Global Service Corps is particularly proud to be able to announce this new partnership with USDA as we celebrate the power of volunteers to change the world. The Partners for Development contract creates a new ‘tipping point' for GSC's Tanzania food security, sustainable agriculture and HIV/AIDS education programs, providing expanded volunteer and internship opportunities" notes GSC Executive Director Rick Lathrop.

Managed by Erwin Kinsey, Tanzania Country Director for GSC and former Africa Regional Development Officer and Tanzania Country Director for Heifer International, the Partners for Development program uses proven methods to empower rural producer groups by increasing the use of sustainable agriculture, poultry and kitchen gardens. In select communities, this also involves organizing village-level collection/buying/ selling points, ensuring quality produce through a participatory guarantee system of certification, encouraging rural poultry markets, conducting practical research and sharing knowledge of nutrition, food preservation and appropriate irrigation skills with participant farm families. Market linkages ensure that profitable and equitable relationships will benefit rural producers, small and medium entrepreneurs and others along the value-added chain.

The GSC expanded Food Security Program in Tanzania will also serve as a critical resource for sustainable agriculture supporting families caring for Persons Living with HIV/AIDS. GSC's longstanding commitment to HIV/AIDS prevention and education volunteer programs in Tanzania recently received additional support from The PILGRIM Foundation to reduce the impact of the HIV/AIDS crisis on youth in Tanzania.


Source: mmdnewswire.com

Publication date: 5/7/2009

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