Growing benefits for women

Marcelina, agricultural promoter for COMUCAP [Marcella Haddad]

The women at COMUCAP own their own land and have formed six co-operatives making orange and raspberry wines, aloe vera soap, shampoo and organic coffee

Marcelina is a founder member of COMUCAP and provides technical support to 16 member organisations in organic farming.

Among other things, she helps women grow aloe vera plants to make soap and shampoo.

Self-esteem and dignity

It all started when Marcelina listened to a radio programme broadcast from Tegucigalpa. The radio station sent her a book about women’s rights, self-esteem and women’s dignity - then followed that up with six months’ training in radio broadcasting.

The women formed an association with 27 members, which has continued to expand, and started their own radio programme. Today 254 members own 92 acres of land between them.

Marcelina says: "I find out who wants to work on plots of land growing radishes, cabbages, onions, lettuce for themselves and sell small amounts – it’s all organic produce.

“These same women produce lots of aloe vera. As well as making soap and shampoo from it, we sell the juice to businesses in Germany through a Catholic women’s group there. They help us sell the coffee we grow too.

“At the start we each took 40 baby plants to Las Cabanas to grow. Now there are many more so we have each been given 200 baby plants to grow ourselves in our own fields."

Expanding horizons

The women also grow organic food for their families. Improved diets mean that the families are healthier too, and more able to develop their own futures.

Today, each of the women have at least four children who go to school and have managed to save money for the materials they need, uniforms and shoes.

They are also hoping to find scholarships so the children can study a profession.

Marcelina says: “We produce the chickens, maize and coffee, which we eat here. Before, we produced them with chemicals. It all tastes better now and it’s healthier.”

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