Youth Farmers
Uganda youths want to be presented to the government as an asset
…as a creative force… their roles be recognized. They
want to be accepted as partners for development.
Matovu Abubakr, Uganda National Youth Alliance, 2004
Amber Herman, an ISU undergraduate student in Public Service and Administration in Agriculture, believes in the power of youth to actively participate in developmental progress. Amber traveled to Uganda from February to May 2006 in order to learn about the participation of youth farmers in VEDCO programs. She attended seminars at Makerere University and studied the Luganda language before beginning a research project with VEDCO.
Amber conducted interviews and focus groups with over 200 youth between the age of 18 to 25 years of age to assess both their involvement in community development and agriculture and the support networks available to them. Using participatory research methods, she identified specific hindrances to youth participation with VEDCO programs and offered recommendations to VEDCO based on the youth's interests to organize youth into farmers' groups. Amber's focus upon involving youth is aimed at achieving a long-term sustainable project. If youths have the opportunity to participate in VEDCO programs, their access to resources and mentors will better equip them to secure a livelihood. Even after returning home, Amber has continued to analyze the data and to work with VEDCO staff to develop a VEDCO youth program.
This research would not have been possible without the financial assistance from the following organizations: the National Golden Key Honors Society, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the Iowa State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Study Abroad Program, the School for International Training, and the Iowa State University Honors Program.
More: http://ourworld.worldlearning.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=8551
