Manna Project International
Nurturing Community Growth: How Manna's Chicken ...

Chickens are an essential asset in numerous communities, offering not only a reliable food source but also serving as a vehicle for economic empowerment. The consistent production of eggs and meat from chickens significantly enhances nutritional intake and can increase family incomes, particularly for those facing food insecurity.

In various initiatives, we have integrated chicken farming as a sustainable agricultural practice. By equipping local community members with training in effective poultry care and management, we not only advance food security but also create pathways for entrepreneurship. Chickens require a relatively low initial investment, making them an accessible option for families aiming to improve their financial stability while thriving in diverse environments.

Additionally, involving families in chicken farming promotes cooperation within the community. Neighbors come together to share knowledge, resources, and support, thereby reinforcing the community's social fabric. As families acquire the skills necessary for raising chickens, they also develop an appreciation for sustainable farming practices, which can be transmitted to future generations. Thus, chicken farming evolves into more than just a means of sustenance; it becomes a vital catalyst for comprehensive community development.

Nurturing Community Growth: How Manna's Chicken Project in Ilayaku is Transforming Lives
Ecuador, Community, Program Director
Manna Project International
When Soccer Isn't Just a Sport: Futbol in ...

Growing up in Maryland, I played soccer until around middle school, when I realized I wasn’t all that good at it and that I was in love with basketball instead. Since then, I’ve been known to kick the occasional ball around, but I was pretty nervous when I was invited, along with my friend and fellow PD Patrick, to play for Once Valientes B (in English: eleven brave ones) in the Shandia soccer league.

When Soccer Isn't Just a Sport: Futbol in Shandia
Ecuador, Community, Events
Manna Project International
Music, Colors, Foods … and lots of Laughter - ...

As in many parts of the world, this past week in Shandia was all about the celebration of Carnaval. Originally coming from an area that calls the local Carnival the annual “fifth season”, I was especially excited to see what Carnaval in Ecuador would look like. What would the local customs, foods and music be like?

Music, Colors, Foods … and lots of Laughter - Carnaval in Shandia
Manna Project International
A Day in the Life of the Amazon Rainforest: ...
A Day in the Life of the Amazon Rainforest: Welcome to Shandia!
Abby Pauley
Discomfort as a Sign of Growth
Discomfort as a Sign of Growth

questions

Questions for Bibi

It's that time again... time for you all to send me any and all questions you might have for our very new, very fabulous country director, Bibi Al-Ebrahim for her interview later this week.

There hasn't been much about Bibi on here, so the opportunities to ask any number of questions really are endless! Curious about how she gets her hair to be that awesome? Or what her favorite place she's traveled to is? Or what the best part about getting her MPH from Tulane was? Now's your chance!

Please do not hesitate to send them in, the more the merrier.

Questions are due to me by Friday night at midnight. Submit them, per usual, either as a comment to the blog or directly to my email. Holland.c.ward at gmail dot com.

Looking forward to hearing from you!
Holly


A Quick and Useful Survey

To Whom it May Concern:

In the interest of filling this blog with the stories, information, and pictures people are actually interested in (instead of using it as my own personal sounding board and dumping ground for sunset pictures), I'm going to try something new. Something exciting. Something called "Asking for feedback"... see, exciting, I told you! We aim to please down here.

Basically my creative juices are less like juice and more like molasses...as in not flowing. So that's where you all come in: What do you want to read about? What would you like to see photographs of? If I post another sunset picture will you throw something at your computer screens? What programs haven't been given enough blog time? More stories about the house, or more focus on Manna as an organization?

Any and all suggestions are welcome, either as comments or as emails directly to me (holland.c.ward@gmail.com)! Just don't tell me that my grammar is atrocious or my spelling is bad, because a) I'm very sensitive about that and b) I am well aware.

Looking forward to hearing from you!
Holly

(Not related at all to today's post, but still kind of cool. The Conocoto church is now PEACH. Less cool)

Questions for Holly AND Meet Summer Session 1!

The next (and last!) PD interview is with me, Holly. As much as I was trying to avoid it, outside pressures have forced me to reposition myself in front of the camera instead of behind it :) I know the housemates are going to get back at me for their interviews so please, if you have any questions you'd like to ask me don't hesitate to submit them (so they'll balance out the embarrassing house-fueled questions)!

You can submit them either as a comment, to me directly (holland.c.ward@gmail.com), OR to Dana Conway if you want to be secretive (danamaraconway@gmail.com). The deadline for question submissions is THIS SUNDAY, MAY 31.

And now, meet Summer Session One!


Questions and the Moon

With our first session summer volunteers arriving tonight, life at the house has gotten a liiiiiiittle crazy. As evidenced by the still-unedited Serena interview, nowhere to be found monthly update, and general neglect of the dishes.

The interview will be up at some point this week, but in the meantime, please start sending me questions for Seth Harlan! The deadline for questions is Thursday at noon, so send them in before then if you want them to be included!

Last night we ate dinner up on the roof to celebrate our last 'family dinner' before summer changes everything, and the moon was killer. Check it out below.

Holly

Questions for Serena!

Please don't forget to send me any and all questions you may have for Serena Zhou, the interview-ee for the week! Leave them as comments or email them to me at holland.c.ward@gmail.com.

Suggested question topics include:
~anything about food
~her theories about vampires
~a synopsis of the movie The Godfather
~appropriate substitutes in the kitchen
~pronunciation of almost any spice in the kitchen, particularly Oregano
~how she spent the Chinese new year in Ecuador
~how she got to be the best price haggler of all of us
~why she'd be great at Jeopardy