#empowering rural communities.

[farmerstrend]

From Stigma to Strength: How One Kenyan Farmer Transformed His Community Amid Disability and Climate Shocks

With training from the World Food Programme, one entrepreneur overcame stigma – and climate shocks – to become a community leader. James Esinyen demonstrates a homemade incubator during a small workshop in poultry keeping for Rose and Joyce, two other farmers on his smallholding in Lodwar, Turkana County, Kenya. 24 September 2024. James Esinyen’s father sent him to a care home at the age of 2.…

[binders-and-beanies]

Formally announcing that I don’t wanna be called the q slur anymore in any context lol y’all have made it into something I don’t like or identify with so everyone has lost their calling me queer privileges. Including if you know me irl and including if you’re applying it to me as part of an ~umbrella term~

[bulletsandbracelets]

Slaughter places are different, as someone who comes from a small community where that is a huge staple of our jobs. The meat packing plants usually have unionization and higher hourly pay than other industries because the work is pretty rough. I have classmates who went into this work and working on the kill floor is especially grueling.

A lot of immigrants do come and work these jobs too, but I think more so because immigrants are more interested in coming to a place solely for the chance to do a job and send money back, or think of a place as a temporary location. My hometown is small and while I love it, there’s not a lot of opportunities to get out of that work in order to do something preferable. So not many people are going to relocate their lives there in order to work in that type of job long-term. People born and raised here have a mindset of wanting to find something, or at least a location, more permanent.

Maybe we were the exception, but I don’t see the same kind of abuse that actual labor-intensive farming tends to have. It also depends on the crops. Farm work is seasonal, I used to de-tassle and pollinate corn in the summer and I would make quite a bit over the course of a month only to be done when the month was over. That’s completely fine for a high schooler looking for extra cash, but when it’s mostly short bursts of hard work, there’s no long term financial stability there. (A lot of farms also take advantage of free labor from their family members, especially children, and I’ve known a lot of farmers who treated their kids pretty horribly as a result. Enough that it’s a pretty clear trend, even on farms that don’t have enough work to require immigrant labor.)

TLDR; I legitimately think that universal income would solve a lot of this. It would allow people to choose where they live based on the people and environment they want to be around vs purely the economic opportunities. It would also allow people to do more temporary and seasonal work without constantly needing to worry about resumes, or work history, or a consistent paycheck coming in.

Protections need to happen too, absolutely! But the problems run deeper than that. Agricultural work is not sustainable in a capitalistic economy, not any more than rural hospitals. That is why so many farms rely so heavily on government subsidies in order to survive. The work is variable, extremely dependent on outside factors, and inconsistent season by season on what kind of (and how much) labor is necessary. That variability is also how those exceptions are justified. If farms were required to pay what people deserve, they would be bankrupted. People need food to live - we cannot just increase food prices exponentially to cover the difference.

Usually the most important jobs need to have the lowest monetary value so that everyone can access the things they produce. The market is never going to be able to account for this. The more fair the pay is, the less fair society is, unless we fix something pretty fundamental.

kill the rhetoric that americans are so lazy that they won't take farm jobs. americans take labor intensive jobs all the time. the reason no americans will take farm jobs is because agricultural work is exempt from the vast majority of labor laws and labor protections, including the use of child labor. so only immigrants - people who have little to no protection from the law or other options for work - take most of these jobs. we have created a permanent underclass of labor and then say that americans are just lazy for not volunteering to be part of the underclass.

there are actually good discussions to be had about how alienated many americans are from food production (hi hello that's what my only popular post is about), but the real solution to this problem is to protect agricultural workers, citizens or not. ban child labor in its entirety. punish corporations and farm owners that abuse and poison their workers. reform the immigration process so that these people aren't barred from legal protection and recourse.

agricultural workers have been exploited since the dawn of civilization, but the US in specific has been doing this since slavery, and it evolved in the 30s when FDR's labor laws excluded them specifically because most agricultural workers at the time were black. now it's mostly latino immigrants.

food doesn't fucking pick or slaughter itself. but citizens aren't going to take these jobs when the entire industry is rife with abuse - both legal and illegal - and horrific wages and working conditions.

[townpostin]

Citizen Support Centers Transform Rural Jharkhand: Jean Dreze

NSKs Bridge Gap Between Government Services and Villagers Jharkhand’s Nagarik Sahayata Kendras revolutionize rural governance, empowering marginalized communities by facilitating access to essential services across 76 blocks. RANCHI – Nagarik Sahayata Kendras in 76 Jharkhand blocks are transforming rural governance, facilitating access to essential services for marginalized communities. The…

[ruraldevelopmentcompany]

Transforming Tobago: Empowering Rural Communities Through Development Initiatives

In the picturesque landscape of Tobago, nestled away from the bustling urban centers, lies a tapestry of rural communities brimming with untapped potential. These communities, often overshadowed by their urban counterparts, are the heart and soul of Tobagonian culture and heritage. Recognizing the significance of fostering growth outside metropolitan areas, the Rural Development Company of Tobago has embarked on a transformative journey to uplift these rural areas.

At the core of their mission is a commitment to rural community development in Tobago. Through strategic planning and sustainable initiatives, the company aims to address the unique challenges faced by these communities while leveraging their inherent strengths. By promoting economic diversification, enhancing infrastructure, and fostering social cohesion, they pave the way for a brighter future for Tobago's rural populace.

One of the primary objectives of the Rural Development Company is to empower local residents by providing them with the necessary tools and resources to thrive. This includes skill development programs, access to financing, and support for small-scale enterprises. By investing in human capital, they not only bolster individual livelihoods but also stimulate overall economic growth within these communities.

Infrastructure development plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between rural and urban areas. The Rural Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago understands this, and thus, has prioritized initiatives aimed at improving road networks, utilities, and public amenities in rural locales. This not only enhances the quality of life for residents but also attracts investment and tourism, thereby creating new opportunities for economic advancement.

Furthermore, the company recognizes the importance of preserving Tobago's natural environment while pursuing development goals. Sustainable land management practices, conservation efforts, and eco-tourism initiatives are integral components of their strategy. By promoting environmental stewardship, they ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy Tobago's pristine beauty.

Collaboration and community engagement lie at the heart of the rural development and management company's approach. Through partnerships with local stakeholders, government agencies, and international organizations, they leverage collective expertise and resources to maximize impact. By fostering a sense of ownership and participation among residents, they ensure that development efforts are tailored to the specific needs and aspirations of each community.

In conclusion, the Rural Development Company of Tobago is spearheading a comprehensive approach to rural community development in Tobago. By empowering residents, enhancing infrastructure, preserving the environment, and fostering collaboration, they are laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and prosperity. As Tobago continues to evolve, it is imperative that rural communities are not left behind but instead are empowered to thrive in the ever-changing landscape of the island.

[reasonsforhope]

"In neighborhoods across the globe — yes, even in Antarctica — it is not uncommon to find a Little Free Library, or a book-sharing box filled with a collection of free books to take, share, and enjoy.

If a location on the South Pole wasn’t enough, Little Free Library is celebrating a major milestone: Its 200,000th box. 

The nonprofit that manages these 200,000 mini libraries works to increase access to literacy in urban, suburban, and rural communities all over the world. This includes programming to expand access to books among BIPOC communities, as well as efforts to fight book bans across the United States.

In sticking with this mission, the landmark 200,000th library was donated to and installed at Benjamin E. Mays IB World School, an elementary school in St. Paul, Minnesota. 

The donation also marks the first of 200 Little Free Libraries that will be given to Title I schools across the U.S., in an effort to expand access to books in low-income areas...

The 200,000th library is exclusively for students and is designed to resemble a one-room schoolhouse. This pays homage to the very first Little Free Library, built by the organization’s founder Todd H. Bol in 2009.

“The future where all of us, no matter our age, economic status, or residence, have the opportunity to readily access a book that can inspire, motivate, and empower,” Metzger continued. 

“Working together locally as a community, a community connected through Little Free Libraries, we hope to make this opportunity a reality for all.” 

The worldwide network of Little Free Libraries spans all 50 states, 128 countries, and all seven continents. 

Next, 199 more Little Free Libraries will be installed at Title I elementary schools, and each of these will be stocked with 200 brand-new books.

The donated libraries are sponsored by Books Unbanned and the donated materials come from a 40,000-book donation from Penguin Random House. ..

Schools receiving these libraries and books were selected through an application process, and all students in the schools are welcome to take the books home at no cost.

“Many of our students have little to no books at home, and transportation barriers prevent families from reaching the public library,” a representative from participating school Somerset Lakes Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida, said in a statement.

“A Little Free Library will serve as a crucial bridge, providing ongoing access to literature for students, their siblings, parents, and the community.”

Back in St. Paul, the 200,000th library is already set to be well-loved by the 340 students who attend Benjamin E. Mays IB World School. All students received gifted books, and 50 select students who excelled in a recent reading challenge attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“Freedom is the road seldom traveled by the multitudes; however, literacy is the gateway to learn one’s past, present, and shape the future,” said the school’s principal, Dr. Kenneth O. Turner Jr. 

“Through literacy, one can travel the world, reading and learning about historical figures who have shaped the world. Literacy can take you into space and travel the galaxies far away. Through literacy all is obtainable.” 

Anyone interested in joining the “take a book, leave a book” movement of Little Free Library can build or buy their own box and register it online to be part of the official network."

-via GoodGoodGood, March 13, 2025

[batboyblog]

Things Biden and the Democrats did, this week #19

May 17-24 2024

President Biden wiped out the student loan debt of 160,000 more Americans. This debt cancellation of 7.7 billion dollars brings the total student loan debt relieved by the Biden Administration to $167 billion. The Administration has canceled student loan debt for 4.75 million Americans so far. The 160,000 borrowers forgiven this week owned an average of $35,000 each and are now debt free. The Administration announced plans last month to bring debt forgiveness to 30 million Americans with student loans coming this fall.

The Department of Justice announced it is suing Ticketmaster for being a monopoly. DoJ is suing Ticketmaster and its parent company Live Nation for monopolistic practices. Ticketmaster controls 70% of the live show ticket market leading to skyrocketing prices, hidden fees and last minute cancellation. The Justice Department is seeking to break up Live Nation and help bring competition back into the market. This is one of a number of monopoly law suits brought by the Biden administration against Apple in March and Amazon in September 2023.

The EPA announced $225 million in new funding to improve drinking and wastewater for tribal communities. The money will go to tribes in the mainland US as well as Alaska Native Villages. It'll help with testing for forever chemicals, and replacing of lead pipes as well as sustainability projects.

The EPA announced $300 million in grants to clean up former industrial sites. Known as "Brownfield" sites these former industrial sites are to be cleaned and redeveloped into community assets. The money will fund 200 projects across 178 communities. One such project will transform a former oil station in Philadelphia’s Kingsessing neighborhood, currently polluted with lead and other toxins into a waterfront bike trail.

The Department of Agriculture announced a historic expansion of its program to feed low income kids over the summer holidays. Since the 1960s the SUN Meals have served in person meals at schools and community centers during the summer holidays to low income children. This Year the Biden administration is rolling out SUN Bucks, a $120 per child grocery benefit. This benefit has been rejected by many Republican governors but in the states that will take part 21 million kids will benefit. Last year the Biden administration introduced SUN Meals To-Go, offering pick-up and delivery options expanding SUN's reach into rural communities. These expansions are part of the Biden administration's plan to end hunger and reduce diet-related disease by 2030.

Vice-President Harris builds on her work in Africa to announce a plan to give 80% of Africa internet access by 2030, up from just 40% today. This push builds off efforts Harris has spearheaded since her trip to Africa in 2023, including $7 billion in climate adaptation, resilience, and mitigation, and $1 billion to empower women. The public-private partnership between the African Development Bank Group and Mastercard plans to bring internet access to 3 million farmers in Kenya, Tanzania, and Nigeria, before expanding to Uganda, Ethiopia, and Ghana, and then the rest of the continent, bring internet to 100 million people and businesses over the next 10 years. This is together with the work of Partnership for Digital Access in Africa which is hoping to bring internet access to 80% of Africans by 2030, up from 40% now, and just 30% of women on the continent. The Vice-President also announced $1 billion for the Women in the Digital Economy Fund to assure women in Africa have meaningful access to the internet and its economic opportunities.

The Senate approved Seth Aframe to be a Judge on the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit, it also approved Krissa Lanham, and Angela Martinez to district Judgeships in Arizona, as well as Dena Coggins to a district court seat in California. Bring the total number of judges appointed by President Biden to 201. Biden's Judges have been historically diverse. 64% of them are women and 62% of them are people of color. President Biden has appointed more black women to federal judgeships, more Hispanic judges and more Asian American judges and more LGBT judges than any other President, including Obama's full 8 years in office. President Biden has also focused on backgrounds appointing a record breaking number of former public defenders to judgeships, as well as labor and civil rights lawyers.

[kawuli]

Today in "cool things the US government is doing"

The Environmental Protection Agency is giving out $2 billion in Community Change Grants "to empower historically disadvantaged communities all across the country to access federal funding to address the challenges of climate change, increase resiliency, and transform lives."

The grants target "communities most adversely and disproportionately impacted by climate change, legacy pollution, and historical disinvestments"

Specifically:

Tribes in Alaska: $150 million for projects benefitting Indian Tribes in Alaska including funds for cleanup of contaminated lands.

Tribes: $300 million for projects benefiting Tribal communities in the other states. 

Territories: $50 million for projects benefitting disadvantaged communities in the United States’ territories of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities: $50 million for projects benefiting small and rural areas that lack fixed, legally determined geographic boundaries, such as Colonias.

U.S.-Southern Border Communities: Consistent with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) longstanding commitment to addressing transborder pollution challenges, $100 million for projects benefitting non-Tribal disadvantaged communities within 100 kilometers north of the U.S.-Mexico border.

$200 million is also available in technical assistance to help people with the application process, so organizations without the institutional capacity to understand complicated federal funding structures can get help, free of charge.

As they put it, "The Community Change Grants are funded by the Environmental Protection Agency to empower historically disadvantaged communities all across the country to access federal funding to address the challenges of climate change, increase resiliency, and transform lives."

So a) if you know of any organizations that might be able to use this funding, spread the word! and b) sometimes the government does good stuff, even in this the year of our discontent 2024.

[autisticadvocacy]

ASAN welcomes the removal of Section 722 from the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. In June, some members of Congress introduced a rider to the act that would stop the FDA from banning electric shock devices for behavior modification, such as the devices used at the Judge Rotenberg Center. Section 722 said the FDA cannot ban a device that is used by court order. All of the electric shock devices used at the Judge Rotenberg Center are used because of a court order.

If this rider had passed, it would have taken away the FDA’s power to move forward with the proposed rule that ASAN and many grassroots advocates commented to support. Because of your powerful activism, this rider failed to make it into the final bill, and the FDA still has the power to #StopTheShock.

This was only possible thanks to the hard work of our grassroots. You called, emailed, and shared across social media to make your voices heard. Members of our community have fought to end the use of shock devices at the JRC for over a decade, and we will not be ignored. Your calls, along with the hundreds of public comments sent in support of the FDA’s proposed rule, have gotten us that much closer to ending this tortuous practice once and for all. 

We also thank the many members of the House Appropriations Committee who supported removing Section 722. At last night’s markup of the bill, Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro and Representatives Chellie Pingree and Debbie Wasserman-Schultz all used their opening remarks to point out the harm this rider would have caused, and the urgent need to remove it. Subcommittee Ranking Member Sanford Bishop spoke in his remarks about our community’s work to educate the Committee members on this issue. We are thrilled that the House Appropriations Committee listened to our community on this urgent issue and acted to protect disabled people from torture.

We are grateful that this rider did not make it into the current version of the bill, but the fight isn’t over yet. The full House of Representatives, and the Senate, still need to vote on this bill. Thanks to your efforts, we have built strong bipartisan opposition to Section 722. We will continue to work with Congress to make sure this rider stays out of the final bill. Meanwhile, the FDA still needs to do their part with the power our community fought for them to keep. ASAN calls upon the FDA to swiftly release the final version of their proposed rule “Banned Devices; Proposal to Ban Electrical Stimulation Devices for Self-Injurious or Aggressive Behavior.”

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network seeks to advance the principles of the disability rights movement with regard to autism. ASAN believes that the goal of autism advocacy should be a world in which autistic people enjoy equal access, rights, and opportunities. We work to empower autistic people across the world to take control of our own lives and the future of our common community, and seek to organize the autistic community to ensure our voices are heard in the national conversation about us. Nothing About Us, Without Us!

[diaryofafeministbw]

KVINNA TILL KVINNA FOUNDATION

The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation is an international organization that has been empowering DRC women since 2009. It calculates that 60% of women in the DRC live below the poverty line and have extremely low levels of political participation. The organization works to gain respect for women’s rights and end discriminatory gender practices. Kvinna till Kvinna helps women participate in learning exchanges that provide education and economic empowerment. It also helps finance certain activities of the Rien Sans les Femmes (Nothing Without Women) movement, a collaboration of Congolese women’s rights activists. By supporting smaller partner organizations in the DRC, Kvinna till Kvinna has definitively lowered gender-based violence against women and has boosted political participation for DRC women. For example, the partner organization AFEM (Association des Femmes des Médias du Sud Kivu) is a collaboration of female journalists. It uses a radio station, Mama Radio, as its platform to empower DRC women.  Mama Radio caught on and AFEM was able to report reduced violence against women.

WOMEN FOR WOMEN INTERNATIONAL

Women for Women International empowers DRC women in numerous ways. Since 2004 it has supported more than 106,000 Congolese women. Its most recent impact evaluation reports increased access to credit, savings and assets.  Second, it reports an increase in women’s ability to pursue entrepreneurship. Finally, it shares that women are benefitting from improved diets and mental health access. In 2022, 256 women received advocacy training in land titling. It also expanded upon its health insurance projects which were able to reduce fees for women and their families by around 50%.

WOMEN'S PEACE AND HUMANITARIAN FUND (WPHF)

WPHF is an international organization that helps empower grassroots organizations to help women become more involved in political affairs. In the DRC, it works with Spotlight Initiative, another women’s rights organization to fund 30 projects that 51 women’s organizations in the DRC spearheaded. These organizations seek to eliminate violence against women and encourage political mobility for women. For example, WPHF supports our GRACE, which seeks to promote gender-based equality and peace in North Kivu. It also supports CAUSE RURALE, which focuses on providing humanitarian aid to reinforce stronger institutions for women.  Finally, WPHF supports AFPDE, in South Kivu and promotes the strength of women’s organizations.

WOMEN, CRADLE OF ABUNDANCE

Women, Cradle of Abundance is a DRC organization. It has been empowering women in the DRC by attempting the eliminate systemic poverty for women. The organization provides physical safety, medical care, counseling and community services for women. It also helps improve education for women and girls by supporting schools for disadvantaged children. Women, Cradle of Abundance provides women with micro-savings and microloans. For example, it has provided 199 microloans to Kinshasha women. This helped them start or expand their businesses.

[coochiequeens]

Some goods news for women

How Ivuna women farmers are transforming their lives through seed production

In Ivuna Village, Tanzania, a determined group of women leveraged Vikoba loans, mentorship, and improved sorghum seeds to transform their livelihoods, boost household incomes, and inspire others in their community

By Florian Ndyamukama February 4, 2025

“Five of us borrowed $100 from our Vikoba group and invested it in seed production. Not only did we repay the loan with interest, but we also made a profit,” says Skola Sichalwe, a member of an extraordinary group of women who are transforming their community in Ivuna Village, Momba District. Vikoba groups, grassroots savings and credit associations, operate as informal microfinance systems in rural communities, empowering members with access to small loans and promoting financial independence. These groups often provide a lifeline for women seeking financial stability and growth in rural areas. What began as small savings groups has blossomed into a powerful movement of women breaking barriers and creating a legacy of resilience, innovation, and success. These women—once skeptical about venturing into seed production—are now thriving entrepreneurs, producing quality sorghum seeds and inspiring others in their community to follow their lead. Their journey began with a chance encounter with Miss Zainab Hussein, a passionate seed producer and a youth champion. Her vision and mentorship planted the first seeds of change. “I used to think farming was just about survival,” says Pauline Martin. “But Zainab showed us that with the right knowledge and tools, farming can be a business; a way to change our lives.”

A leap of faith in seed production

Before venturing into the world of seed production, these women were members of Vikoba groups, pooling their savings to lend and borrow money. While this system was helpful for meeting immediate financial needs, it offered little opportunity for growth or long-term investment. Everything changed when Zainab Hussein, an experienced seed producer and youth champion, began attending their meetings. Zainab introduced the group to the potential of improved seeds and the opportunities in seed production. She explained how adopting high-quality sorghum seeds could significantly increase yields and profits, far exceeding the returns from what traditional grain farming could offer. Her visits became a game changer, sparking curiosity and inspiring action among the women. “Zainab’s dedication inspired us,” says Skola Sichalwe. “She didn’t just train us. She believed in us.” As a trainer, mentor, and role model, Zainab played a central role in their transformation. She guided the women through the complexities of seed production, teaching them essential planting techniques, helping them understand TOSCI regulations, and offering practical solutions to challenges they encountered along the way. “She showed us how seed production could not only improve yields but also become a profitable business,” recalls Pauline Martin.

Zainab Hussein, a passionate seed producer and mentor whose guidance and leadership inspired the women to venture into successful seed production and transform their lives. (Photo: CBCC)

Inspired by Zainab’s success, the women saw an opportunity to turn their savings into a sustainable investment. This journey was further supported by the establishment of Youth and Women Quality Centers (YWQCs) under the Center for Behavior Change Communication (CBCC) and the Accelerated Varietal Improvement and Seed Systems in Africa (AVISA) project through CIMMYT. The AVISA project, led by CIMMYT, piloted the YWQC model to address key challenges faced by rural farmers, including limited access to quality seeds, market linkages, and knowledge on improved farming practices. These community-led centers serve as hubs that enhance last-mile seed access by working with seed companies and local producers, ensuring a consistent supply of quality seed. They also facilitate market linkages by connecting farmers with aggregators and off-takers, improving market access and profitability. Additionally, YWQCs provide capacity-building initiatives, equipping youth and women with training in farming practices, local seed production, and business skills. The model further promotes collective action by encouraging farmers to form associations, strengthening their bargaining power and collective marketing efforts. These centers became hubs of opportunity, providing essential infrastructure and resources such as access to certified seeds, extensive training, and advanced farming technologies such as the multi-crop thresher through a cost-sharing arrangement. This technology not only improved efficiency but also ensured the quality of processed seeds, increasing its market value. The project also facilitated crucial linkages between the women and certified seed producers, ensuring they had access to high-quality inputs for their production. In some cases, the project even helped them find markets for their seeds, closing the loop and creating a sustainable business model. And so, they began the journey of seed production, transforming not only their own lives but also their community.

The women’s group plants sorghum using proper spacing techniques, a transformative practice essential for certified seed production, which they adopted after training by CBCC and mentorship from Zainab. (Photo: CBCC)

With loans from their Vikoba groups, they purchased quality seeds and accessed the tools, training, and market linkages provided by the YWQCs. “For years, we saved money but didn’t know what to invest in,” says Halima Kajela. “Seed production gave us a clear opportunity to grow.”

Challenges: A Test of Determination

The journey wasn’t without hurdles. Rodents feasted on the carefully spaced sorghum seeds, a new planting method the women had to adopt for certification. “Broadcasting seeds was easier, but seed production required precise planting and spacing,” Halima explains. “This made it harder to protect the seeds from pests and animals.” Excessive rain washed away seedlings, requiring several rounds of replanting. Cattle from neighboring farms often invaded their fields, causing further damage. Adopting good agronomic practices such as proper spacing, timely weeding, and regular inspections was initially difficult for these women, who were unaccustomed to the disciplined approach required in seed production. Despite these setbacks, the women persevered. With Zainab’s guidance and support from the YWQCs, they implemented solutions like using seed planters which saved time and effort during planting, knapsack sprayers helped combat pests and diseases, and multi-crop threshers simplified the post-harvest process. All these tools saved time and improved efficiency.

Triumph in the fields

And their hard work paid off. In their very first season, the women achieved remarkable success, producing three tons of TARISOR 2, an improved sorghum variety. This achievement not only set them apart from other first-time producers in the district, but also marked the beginning of a transformative journey.

Before the arrival of multi-crop thresher, the women relied on traditional methods to thresh sorghum. Their dedication laid the foundation for their transformation into successful seed producers. (Photo: CBCC)

The impact of their efforts went far beyond the impressive harvest. Ten women became officially registered seed producers with the Tanzania Official Seed Certification Institute (TOSCI), gaining recognition and credibility in the seed production business. Two members received specialized training in seed and fertilizer dealership, equipping them to expand their services and outreach to the community. Four women ventured into distributing essential agricultural inputs, such as maize seeds and hermetic bags, further diversifying their income streams and supporting local farmers. Recognizing the need for efficient post-harvest processing, the group collectively contributed to the purchase of a multi-crop thresher. This crucial investment significantly streamlined their operations, reducing labor and ensuring higher-quality processed seeds. Their efforts quickly translated into financial rewards. Within a short time, they sold one ton of their high-quality seeds, earning over $700. As word of their success spread, demand for their seeds continued to grow, promising even greater opportunities in the seasons ahead.

A ripple effect of change

Their success has had a profound effect on their community. The women’s achievements have earned them respect, and their influence is inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. “Before this, I didn’t believe in seed production,” says Pauline. “But after seeing Zainab’s success and what we achieved, even my husband now supports me fully in this venture.” Their impact extends beyond their fields. Other Vikoba groups have invited them to share their knowledge on seed production, and 10 new women have expressed interest in joining the initiative. By making improved sorghum varieties more accessible, they’ve also helped increase production and reduce food insecurity in their village.

Looking ahead: Planting seeds for the future

Inspired by their success, the women have ambitious plans. With a clear vision for the future, they are determined to expand their seed production enterprise and bring its benefits to a wider community. One of their primary goals is to extend their production to neighboring wards, such as Mkomba. To make their knowledge and improved seed varieties more accessible, they plan to establish demonstration plots closer to the village center. These plots will serve as practical learning sites, allowing more farmers to experience the advantages of using certified seeds and adopting best practices. “The demand for quality seeds is growing,” says Halima Kajela, one of the group members. “We’re committed to meeting that demand and helping more farmers improve their yields.” They are also exploring ways to diversify their operations. They aim to invest in distributing other agricultural inputs and post-harvest services such as threshing, to support farmers in the community and generate additional income. For these women, seed production isn’t just a business—it’s a symbol of empowerment.

[maaarine]

Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Human Evolution (Cat Bohannon, 2023)

"In a wide variety of studies, covering cultures ranging from rural America to urban India, women are more likely to allocate financial resources in a way that directly affects the welfare of their immediate households and local community.

When given the opportunity, women are more likely to spend a family’s money on food and clothing and health care and children’s education.

Men, meanwhile, are more likely to spend it on entertainment and on weapons and—if we’re talking global trends—on gambling or the local equivalents.

Worldwide, girls and women spend up to 90 percent of their earned income on their families.

Men and boys spend only 30–40 percent.

When women in India were given the opportunity to participate in local governments as ministers and officers, those governments more greatly invested in things like public services and infrastructure, from waste management to potable water and railways—things that, as it turned out, seemed to matter more to female politicians.

It’s not that male politicians don’t care about community concerns and infrastructure.

They just seem to care about them less—or at least, if they have those concerns, they act on them less.

Similar trends can be seen in the voting habits of women in the United States and Europe.

As troubling as it sounds, the data exist: when you leave men in charge, roads and bridges and dams are effectively left to rot.

When women are empowered in local governance, for whatever reason, they are more likely to vote for local infrastructure (and health services and local, directly impactful public spending) than male politicians, and in Europe, they’re even likely to improve government transparency."

[capesandshapes]

When I say my politics are based in nurturing, I mean that my beliefs lie not only in equity for POC and lgbtqai+ people but also expanding social services to provide a baseline of living-- and investing heavily in solutions to hunger, housing, and healthcare that foster community and connections.

I believe in restructuring our education so that students feel empowered to learn self advocacy and advocacy for those who cannot raise their voices, and also reintegrating elective programs for students in highschool and middle school to explore a variety of interests, with shop classes and home ec being offered as an opportunity rather than a requirement for students. I also believe in giving students a day every week where schools are encouraged to take them on field trips out in the world so that they can learn about the many cogs in a functioning nation AND spend time outside the classroom.

I believe in restrengthening our transit system both on a national and state level with connecting rural areas to urban hubs being more of a priority rather than doubling down on city to city transit

And I believe in thoroughly inspecting our technology and the practices surrounding it while incentivizing compliance with right to repair laws and planned failure bans by providing incremental grants for products that companies continue to maintain and improve.

I also support cutting subsidies to crowded farming niches and instead putting grant and subsidy programs in place to encourage the diversity of crops and cultural diet, as well as additional grants for farms who agree to engage in once a semester trips for students to learn about our agriculture industry.

I also believe in expanding our library systems and more directly tying them to the department of transportation to further the accessibility of media to all.

I ain't running for shit, but I just love to yap

[prettyboysdontlookatexplosions]

Violence was politics as usual [in South Carolina] in 1860, the fire-eaters' electoral strategy a paramilitary one. Vigilant committees, like the one John Townsend addressed in Edisto, were organized at public meetings called by the local elite. The initial justification was the alarm raised by Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry. But by the spring of 1860, vigilant committees and Minute Men associations could be found in every parish and district in the state. Founded ostensibly to "guard and protect the safety of our homes," they elected committees of vigilantes to police the community, punishing not just slaves and strangers but, as one association's bylaws put it, "persons not strangers or now residents." Like the other groups of men empowered to accuse, harass, brutally beat, whip, shave, tar and feather, run out of town on a rail, and lynch, these forces contributed greatly to the state of imminent danger they were ostensibly formed to allay. Vigilantes in their very existence dramatized the dangers of invasion about which poor white and yeoman voters had been warned. "I am for trusting no one here on earth but ourselves," "Vigilance" proclaimed in the Charleston Mercury in November 1859. So fearsome were the committees throughout the countryside that some elites (including those who initiated them) tried to shut them down, fearing that too much control had gone to the lesser sorts. "We are under a reign of terror and the public mind exists in a panic," the planter William Campbell Preston admitted. Not for nothing did the leading abolitionist publisher William Lloyd Garrison write about "The New Reign of Terror in the Slaveholding States.""

But the political utility of the vigilant committees was indisputable precisely because of their success in drawing the state's yeoman farmers and poor whites into participation in the fire-eaters' campaign. When the "citizens" of St. Peter's Parish in the rural low country near Beaufort responded to the call for a meeting at a country store in January 1860 to form a committee, two local leaders, a minister and a militia captain, gave the speeches, but more than half of the "gentlemen" elected to the committee were yeoman farmers. And when they rode out to discipline their unreliable or heterodox neighbors, it was yeoman farmers who led.

Using the traditional form of the militia beat company, fire-eaters managed to build a massive political network. The Minute Men companies represented, if anything, a more overt bid for the nonslaveholders' vote than vigilant associations. They formed, tellingly enough, on October 3, the very eve of legislative elections in the state. Their political purpose was acknowledged in the original Constitution drawn up in Columbia by Robert Barnwell Rhett and James Hopkins Adams. In it, every district in the state was called on to prepare for immediate resistance to the election of a Black Republican president by forming volunteer infantry and cavalry companies. A blue cockade would signify membership; activities would include drilling and parading day and night. In the critical last few months of 1860, companies of Minute Men shadowed political events large and small. When the newly elected state legislature met in Charleston in November to decide whether to call a secession convention, armed companies of Minute Men drilled outside the hall, issuing threatening resolutions and demanding decisive action when legislators hesitated. They also exerted a muscular presence at public meetings in the countryside to nominate delegates to the state convention in December, insisting, as in Charleston, that they would vote only for those who favored immediate separate state secession. Their armed presence made it pretty clear that secession and consent were a lot less hazardous to the health than opposition and Unionism of any sort in the fall of 1860.

Popular mobilization was clearly not the only purpose of the various paramilitary political associations. Indeed, the paramilitary organizations worked in two ways simultaneously: as outreach, mobilizing yeoman and poor white voters to make the fire-eaters' cause their own; and as suppression, threatening physical violence and exile to those still disposed to dissent. The newspapers were filled with accounts of the committees' bloody discipline of white men, although charges of voter intimidation surfaced only later, when it was safe to report. Four or five years before the secession elections, "men could speak their sentiments ... freely and fought about it," one low-country resident recalled after the war. But by 1860 a man "with a public reputation for unionism ... would not have been allowed to live here." "We had to be very quiet," Joseph Brandt, one of those Unionists, would recall. "We were too few in numbers and the secessionists were too overbearing." Slaves knew the few Union men in their area who could be trusted, but the white men and women oftentimes did not know one another. So frightening was the surveillance that men claimed they were afraid not to vote: the "feeling ran so high," one Beaufort farmer remembered, that he "could not abstain from voting." Because there was no Union ticket, he put a blank vote in the box. Lawrence McKenzie left his neighborhood on election day "to keep from voting," he said, "and from being annoyed by those who would vote for it and would be after [me] to do the same." "Well, Lawrence," his neighbors said when he returned, "we have today voted South Carolina out of the Union and you did not help us."

stephanie mccurry, confederate reckoning: power and politics in the civil war south

[rhapsodyyyyyyy]

The Cracks in the Foundation: A Look at Poor Quality Education

Education is where society begins. It shapes the future, fuels innovation, encourages creativity, and empowers individuals. But what happens when the foundation starts to crumble? When quality education collapses, the consequences can ripple through future generations, leaving a legacy of inequality and limited potential. If you know a thing or two about the struggle of Poor Education, critical issue of education, the hidden or ignored problems and you want to be aware about it. If you are looking for a way on how to support poor quality education, then this blog is for you.

THE STATISTICS OF THE CHALLENGES IN ACHIEVING QUALITY EDUCATION

Statistics show that we are falling far behind and we need to take action with utmost urgency. The world cannot afford to let millions of children fall behind, deprived of the education. unable to reach their full potential. We must invest in education, bridge the gaps in access and quality, and build a future where every student has the opportunity to learn and thrive. This serves as a stark reminder that we urgently need to invest in education and ensure that every child has access to quality learning. We must face these challenges and build a future where everyone has the chance to succeed.

CAUSE OF POOR-QUALITY EDUCATION

Lack of funding:

Lack of qualified teachers: Little pay and no or fewer professional development opportunities will discourage better teaching professionals from teaching in less privileged schools.

Poor infrastructural facilities: Poor ventilated classrooms, crumbling buildings, and even the lack of adequate water supply and sanitation facilities.

Inadequate Learning Materials: The absence of books, computers, and other fundamental learning equipments may limit the interaction with the curriculum among the students.

2. Poor Teaching Skills:

Lack of training by the teachers: Teachers may not have the expertise and knowledge in conducting interesting and useful teaching processes.

Large class populations: The teacher is unable to offer every individual attention and care for her/his students due to a huge number of students in a class.

Discrimination and prejudices: The victimisation of the marginalized groups in the society is carried out in the classroom, and they are supposed to be treated with fewer expectations and fewer opportunities.

3. Systematic inequalities:

Gender discrimination: Girls are specifically disadvantaged in the shackles of education, especially in developing regions. It is because of culture in some cases, and in others, lack of economic power and security in school.

Socioeconomic disparities: Many children from low-income backgrounds cannot attend schools due to poverty, poor childcare, and an uncaring parent.

Schooling inequality based on rural-urban divide: There will be fewer resources, fewer qualified teachers in rural areas of development than in their equivalents in urban communities, and students from the former may gain lesser educational achievements.

CONSEQUENCES OF POOR QUALITY EDUCATION

1. Individual Level:

• Scarce and low-paying jobs : Individuals without adequate education are confined to low-remuneration jobs and are unable to undertake stable employment. • Economic mobility: Education prevents subsequent generations from devolving into poverty cycles, although education impacts economic ability to achieve success in the labor market. • Health outcomes: Education fosters healthy behaviors while developing an understanding of health information. Poor education leads to underlining bad health results.

2. Community Level:

• Economic stagnation: It prevents economic growth, development, and leads to a leakage of skills. • Social unrest: High unemployment and poverty lead to social unrest and instability. • Limited civic engagement: Citizens educated are knowledgeable, conscious, and have a voice in the democratic process and are able to get their leaders accountable.

3. National Level:

• Competitiveness reduced: Low-quality education systems make it hard for countries to compete on the global economic scale. • Inadequate innovations: The absence of sufficiently skilled employees and an innovation culture can easily hinder technological advancement. • The excess usage of foreign aid: A country with a poor education system will inevitably use more foreign aid within their society to solve the social and economic issues.

SOLUTIONS

1. Increased funding:

•Infrastructure development: That means the quality school building and maintaining them, computer technology, and enough resources for learning. •Raise the salary of teacher and professional development: Higher salaries and professional benefits will attract current qualified teachers; however, low salaries and the lack of both might discourage qualified teachers from teaching. •Expand access to early childhood education: Early childhood education programs can lay down sound foundations for future learning and development.

2. Better Teaching Skills:

• Evidence-based instructional approaches: Use teaching methods that have been proven to increase involvement and learners' achievement • Class size: Limiting the number of students for each teacher enables them to fully cater to an individual's needs • Equity and excellence: All learners should have equal opportunities for quality education that recognizes cultural heritage and social background

 3. Systemic Inequalities:

• Institutionalizing gender equality in school: Availing girls with equal opportunity in education while putting them on watch for safety in schools. • Eradicating poverty and extending social safety nets: Poverty needs to be eradicated through these net services thereby offering the opportunities that are economic ensuring all children can go to schools. • Rural development: Extending resources towards making rural communities at par with the urban community.

WAYS TO SUPPORT:

Support International Organizations: Volunteer or donate to organizations like UNICEF, Save the Children, or the World Bank and bring attention to education reform in developing countries.

Educate Yourself: Learn more about the issues and opportunities in international education. Learn the problems with the children of other nations and how you can help with that.

Share Your Knowledge: Talk about global education with friends and family, and encourage them to become involved.

Donations: Organizations working for education improvement, helping schools with allocations of resources and funding for training teachers, educational reform.

Advocate : Speak out for quality education. Share information, write to your elected officials, and participate in campaigns that support educational initiatives.

Engage Your Community: Attend school board meetings, offer to volunteer at local libraries, or become active in the events of your community that would promote literacy and learning.

Addressing this challenge requires a concerted effort from governments, educators, communities, and individuals. By investing in education, improving teaching practices, and addressing systemic inequalities, we can create a world where all children have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

Remember: " Every action, big or small, can contribute to creating a world where everyone has access to quality education."

[broken-endings]

The Earth Avatar

So one thing Legend of Korra did great was make sure not to repeat most story and character beats from The Last Airbender.

Aang was a simple monk with spiritual upbringing, communing with nature and peace. He was also out of his time, and being introduced to this world as an audience we learned about all forms of bending as Aang learned about all forms of bending. Culminating in ending a long war.

Korra was a rough and tough gal with a rural upbringing. Punch first, ask questions later. She was one with bending that came easy, because we the audience already knew about the forms of bending. One thing we never saw through Aang was the struggle to learn airbending. So like a 4th book to the first series, we got to see the avatar learn airbending. Korra was sheltered never traveling like her past life, and so we see the new Republic city through her eyes. Someone who has never been to the city. The rest of her story builds on lore in the world and the evolution of the people in it. Each season she faced a different "tyrant" whose stance has good intentions but they become villains.

I'm trying to think of what types of things neither series touched on that the 3rd series could explore. The only things we know are -They're an Earth Kingdom native -Their only past life connection will be with Korra

What kinds of stories have we not seen the avatar go through? Let me speculate below

My first thought is highly desirable but feels unlikely which would be for this avatar to be nonbinary. Having the Korrasami ending makes it feel not totally impossible. But I'm not holding my breath for this one.

Have the Avatar be an adult. The original audience of the series are all adults now. It would be fitting to have a series about an adult avatar.

Learn about the new avatar gradually through flashbacks. Perhaps there could be a mystery tied to information they've forgotten or are trying to keep hidden.

Have the avatar grow up in the city, and be forced to adjust to being thrown into a rural environment (opposite of Korra). Learning about the differences in life between the two.

Have the avatar be a parent. We haven't witnessed what it's like to be a young child with an avatar parent. We've only seen the avatar's children as adults.

Expand on the treatment of nonbenders. this was the biggest plot point that LoK kind of abandoned once Amon was gone.

Possibly discover a way to reconnect the avatar to all previous past lives. With only Korra as a guide, I feel like she might not excel at guidance, so being able to reconnect to history could empower this avatar. Just like Korra reconnected to her bending.

The previous avatar spirits have been zen and helpful. Korra's spirit should challenge that cliche. Perhaps her spirit gets angry with the avatar and she ignores them at times.

Have this avatar be an intellectual. Korra had a jock personality (gryffindor). Aang had a goofball, spiritual personality (hufflepuff). Perhaps this avatar reads and studies about everything in theory but struggled to put it into practice (ravenclaw).

Have this avatar have a physical disability. Toph was blind, we saw a waterbender with no arms. It would be new to see an avatar that is perhaps deaf or hard of hearing, be unable to walk, colorblind, or have only one seeing eye.

Have the avatar deal with death. Aang learns about all the people he lost but he never lost someone right in front of him. If this series is permitted to not be a kids show, it could deal with death head-on.

Have the avatar be one that needs redemption (slytherin). Now this is unlikely, but what if we were introduced to an avatar that rejected destiny and made selfish choices, and we learn all the things that pushed them down that path, maybe it would be too much of a repeat of Zuko's journey. But there are more ways to build a redemption arc.