My work

So what exactly will I be doing with my time?  Hope this clears up some questions for you. This was some of the information included in my invitation.

Country: ZAMBIA

Program: Rural Aquaculture Promotion (RAP)

Job Title: Rural Fish Culture Extension 

Agent

Staging Dates: February 11-12, 2013

Pre-Service Training (in Zambia): February 13- May 3, 2013*

Dates of Service: May 3, 2013- May 3, 2015*

             *dates subject to change

Daily Life as  RAP Volunteer:  

A RAP Volunteer’s work may be characterized by long hours spent with individual farmers and groups teaching them about fish farming and integrated  agriculture.  On a typical day, you start by heading out on bike to meet the  farmers, sometimes up to 20 kilometers away (time to learn the metric system!).   The work area is very rural, with little to nothing modern in sight.  Your own  home will be a basic small clay brick structure with a grass roof.  You will see  the fruits of your efforts; first in the form of constructed fishponds, then in the  harvests of fish, and ultimately in the lifestyle changes based on that production.  

It is a very satisfying feeling. 

To date, about 313 Volunteers have worked on the RAP project.  These Volunteers have laid a promising foundation for you to work from and build upon for future RAP Volunteers.  Your assignment will be more challenging than ever as we hope you will surpass our current achievements.

My contribution to Zambia: 

RAP Volunteers have worked with about 5,000 rural farming families in over 300 villages in Zambia.  Fish productivity of project farmers has increased by more than ten times. Project farmers are currently earning 75 percent of their average annual farm incomes from integrated fish farming alone. Aquaculture has assisted in bringing irrigation to previously dry villages, bringing notions of integrated agriculture to villages, and have encouraged farmers to plant soil-improving trees. Given that 70 percent of rural Zambians live on less than a dollar a day, Volunteer efforts are directly contributing towards creating a sustainable source of income and nutrition for many households.

Secondary Duties:  


All Volunteers serving in Africa, in every program sector, will be trained to be advocates and educators for HIV/AIDS prevention.  I will receive training in HIV/AIDS education and prevention during pre-service training and/or in-service training sessions, which will include sessions that address specific cross-cultural issues.
  
Volunteers have also been involved in promoting gender issues both in their primary work and sometimes as secondary activities. For example, Volunteers organize an annual girl’s career week during which young promising youth from villages meet in provincial capitals and are exposed to different women with successful careers. Some volunteers establish girl or boy clubs in schools where they teach HIV/AIDS and life skills to the youth.