Below is a summarized statement of the Zamorano’s activities and projects over the last few years.
Strengthening and integration of middle school education into sustainable rural development processes and fight against poverty in Central America (Jan. 2002- Dec. 2005)
This program is financed by the Republic of China – Taiwan. 2,000 young students and 285 teachers from 11 middle education schools from Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama have been assisted. The project implements four components: Curriculum Adaptation, Administrative and Academic Strengthening, Human Capital Formation, Monitoring and Evaluation. The accomplishments of this program include: Education quality was strengthened by using the teacher’s portfolio as a means of evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of services (course: 30 teachers, and multiplying effect: 201 teachers in 13 shifts). Furthermore, the educational approach in practical modules of incorporating pedagogical techniques in applied teaching was renewed (11 practical modules and 13 investment plans), complemented by teaching processes in value formation, mathematics and accelerated learning, all applied to the reality of the centers. The administrative personnel of the centers are trained in database management, which allows them to create information mechanisms to improve control and follow-up on students and teachers . At the same time, the preparation and negotiation of projects (14) and market studies (12) are promoted as self-management tools for the centers, ensuring sustainability.
Yeguare Initiative Project (July 2004-June 2008)
Financed by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, this project is carried out with the Commonwealth of the Yeguare region. It is a poverty-fighting project with youth-centric approach, but with actions affecting all social units (youth, family, community and society).
Achievements:
- Municipal and regional strengthening. Sharing with other commonwealths was encouraged and alliances with institutions in both the public and private sectors were fostered. In two of the micro-regions, support was provided for the organization and strengthening of the Water Boards and community boards.
- Strengthening of youth organizations. 9 groups were chosen, with t he participation of 326 youth, men and women involved in art and culture, environmental protection, community development and revenue generation. Workshops were held to identify strengths, weaknesses, interests, whether proper planning exists, level of organization, relations with other groups and institutions. After these workshops, the decision to begin a youth empowerment program was made. This program has the aim of training and preparing the youth to become true promoters of development in their communities.
- Support to health and education systems: With the support of the International Education Planning Institute (IIPE), information was collected on the status of the region’s educational system . In terms of health, a program to provide support to the sector has been proposed.
Water Resources Management (2003-2004)
The strategy used by Zamorano is based on (i) acute awareness of the water issues in the region, (ii) in-depth knowledge of the best practices in the relevant technical areas, and (iii) significant experiences in the resolution of water problems, with the most recent being the projects with USAID for the “post Hurricane Mitch” repairing of basins in Honduras and Nicaragua, in addition to the USAID project in Honduras for the Water Resources Management in the Choluteca and Negro River Basins. The program was carried out in the lower basins of the aforementioned rivers, covering operating influence areas in seven municipalities and over approximately 991 km². The main objective of the Program was to strengthen the local capacities for the integral management of water resources. To do this, specific actions were taken to increase access to water for human consusmption and to optimize its use in productive units. At the same, actions were directed to the development of public awareness and strengthening the governability of the local agents in the management of this resource. The operating strategy of intervention considered the establishment of demonstrative units, fostering motivation, learning and a multiplying among the various agents (commonwealths, local governments and community groups), all in the short term.
“Integrated Environmental Resource Management (MIRA)” Program.
This 4-year program started in September 2004, with financing from USAID of over $23 million dollars. MIRA is a program that is mainly aimed at the Honduran rural municipalities and communities. The MIRA Program is run by the International Resources Group (IRG). Zamorano is one of its main partners in the country. The general components of the MIRA Program include the management of protected areas, preparing for disasters, environmental certifications, legislation and environmental regulations, basin management, and community education and awareness of natural resources.
Aquaculture
For over twenty years, Zamorano has conducted activities in support of the water sector of Central and South America, through a permanent research, training and extension program, mainly in the production of tilapia and shrimp, both traditionally and industrially. Over these two decades, the program has received support from several cooperating entities, including USAID, NOAA-Sea Grant, GTZ, and the Peace Core. Zamorano currently conducts research and offers training with funding from USAID/Washington, in the “Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture Collaborative Research Support Program” working together with researchers from the U.S. Universities of Georgia, Auburn and Arkansas.
The program is carried out directly in the rural sector and at the Aquaculture Station located in Zamorano. It is equipped with modern facilities to train individuals in the fundamentals of cultivating various species of fish and crustaceans, to conduct research, sell products and “alevines”. The research program includes the subjects of culture management, water quality, genetics and improvement, and the food and nutrition of the important aquatic species in the region. This program has prepared hundreds of small aquaculturers, technicians, teachers and students of various organizations of the continent.
PROMOSTA PROJECT/Secretary of Agriculture and Livestock. – Livestock Development National Plan, Milk Producers Training (2003-2004)
Financed by the IDB. The purpose of this project was to improve the production and productivity of small agricultural producers, through generation and technological transfer activities, allowing them to improve their income, competitiveness and living standards.
Accomplishments include strengthening t he level of milk production in the Honduran Atlantic Coast zones, improving the milk quality and increasing production. Close to 1,000 small cattle farmers associated with 54 Milk Collection and Cooling Centers (CREL) were trained and received technical assistance in the following areas : establishment, handling and conservation of forages; preventive farm health, dosage and administration of medication; handling and feeding the milk and breeding cattle; handling of replacement animals and fattening of calves; and health and hygiene in milking and milk quality. These allowed the cattle farmer to improve production systems and optimize resources . A bovine semen bank was developed to supply the artificial insemination routes established in the region . A participative route has been established, providing artificial insemination service, to improve the genetic material at cattle farms . Technical brochures were developed with alternatives for the use of the main pastures and their supplementation level for the production of milk and meat . The Cattle Scorer Card was developed to foster the use of cattle records and expedite the decision making process.
Rural Tourism
In 1996, a program was started for the Sustainable Development of the Yeguare Region, involving 72 villages and six municipalities. The program is based on the active participation of the population and the rational development of natural, social and cultural resources. This program has aided in the organization of small businessmen into conglomerates. Various activities have been conducted with the members of the Agro-tourism Conglomerate such as training workshops, inventory of potential sites for tourist attractions, diversifying farms by adding the tourism component, editing brochures promoting tourist destinations in the region and providing support to hold “patronales” and “costumbrista” parties. Positioning new destinations and stimulating the creation of nontraditional tourist movements is demanding work that Zamorano has undertaken following the example of countries such as Brazil, Chile and Colombia, in Latin America, and Spain, Italy and Portugal in Europe, which have had excellent results with their rural tourism programs.
