PCVs Susan Trainor and Emily Schauer led a meeting concerning this year’s #gardening efforts with 8 teachers and directors from four different schools in Kaffrine. Each school will work on a 20x10 meter plots using a curriculum Trainor developed and began last year. 2 classes of 40 students (800 total students) from each school will participate in the upkeep and management of the gardens (watering every day and working in the garden once a week). Trainor and Schauer will meet with more schools interested in joining the program during the month of November. 

From October 17th-20th over 70 counterparts and Eaux et Foret agents met Agriculture trainees at the Thies Training Center for Counterpart Workshop. Within two full days, trainers covered topics that included volunteer support, community networking, seed extension and Peace Corps’ partnership with ISRA. Participants traveled to a Master Farmer field and a garden to see different technologies in action. 

From October 31st – November 3rd PCVs Jenae Woodward, Cara Steger, and Dan Hodson will continue part two of their four part #gardening training. Volunteers, a Master Farmer from Goundaga, and a health relais representative will travel to four different communities (Koulinto, Saare Yerodji, Saare Madia, and Thienfo Kodia). This week group members will plant okra, bissap, and moringa and will learn about their nutritional benefits. In addition participants will learn about pesticides and managing their vegetable nurseries. 

Next Friday, November 4th, Agriculture trainees will attend their swearing-in ceremony in Dakar. After swearing-in volunteers will be installed in their sites and begin their two years of service as Urban Agriculture, Sustainable Agriculture, and Agroforestry volunteers. 

PCV Emily Kraus is completing a bug guide for Agriculture PCVs in Senegal. The guide introduces general IPM (Integrated Pest Management), basic insect order, and more specific information on products easily found in Senegal that can be used on common pests. She hopes to have the manual printed for the newest group of volunteer’s at their IST (In Service Training). 

On the 25th-26th of October, 95 health (HE) and environmental education (EE) volunteers and staff will gather at the Thies Training Center for the HE/EE Summit. This year’s summit will showcase successful volunteer projects throughout the country, a job fair, training from members of successful missions (moringa and neem lotion) and a discussion group for future modifications to the HE/EE program.