World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

The Project was implemented among more than 500 women of the community of Apantillo who attended workshops and received technical assistance (through local NGO FUDEMAT) with methods to improve their harvests. With the cash the received, they then purchased additional food to complement their families’ diet.

The women planted fruits and vegetables in their small plots of lands surrounding their homes. Although the programme ended in October 2011, the women’s home gardens are still thriving.

That is the case of Candida Maldonado’s home garden. “I take care of my plot daily because I know its import for my family’s well-being,” said this 46 year old woman.

WFP Executive Director, Ertharin Cousin, visited the community where she met the women and heard their stories. Because of the project, many of these women said they visited a bank for the first time of their lives.

While the women spoke to the Executive Director, some of their husbands stood discretely in the back.

These women composed and dedicated a song with the help of local musicians to WFP, the European Union and FUDEMAT for helping them improve their food security.

Vicenta Ruiz shows the Executive Director a sample table with all the food they have produced thanks to the help of the project. Yucca, arum root, plantains, bananas, beautiful cabbage, pumpkins too heavy to carry, onions, carrots, pineapples, mandarins and coconuts.

A bouquet of flowers to the Executive Director, Ertharin Cousin, to thank her for her visit to the community.

Fabricio Fernando Rodríguez also spoke about the impact of the project on him. “My wife has been an example for me to follow,” he said.

The Executive Director, Ertharin Cousin, visited the home garden of Aryeri Sevilla who showed how she takes care of produce. A Nicaraguan National Flag hangs on the wall of her home.

The Executive Director receives a pair of “calalas”, a local fruit used to make refreshments, especially during the current season.

While the women were explaing to the visitors the impact of the cash-for-work project, this little one and his dog played in the back.