Raleigh City Farm Partners with Community Engagement Exchange Program
CEE fellows Lasu Jacob and Victor Mora
Blog Author: Bhavani Rao, RCF Marcomm Volunteer
Raleigh City Farm partnered with the US Department of State's Community Engagement Exchange (CEE) Program to host two Fellows, Lasu Jacob Elnai Luate from South Sudan and Victor Mora from Guatemala. The CEE Program strives to create a global civil society ecosystem through the creation of a network of international young leaders, U.S host organizations, and global specialists to further innovate community-based solutions to the world's most pressing issues.
Raleigh City Farm was proud to have this opportunity to develop actionable community projects with Victor and Lasu during their 3-month stay that they can bring back to their respective home countries. You can learn more about the CEE Program on the Bureau of Cultural and Educational Affairs (ECA) website. Read below for interviews with Victor and Lasu.
Interview with Victor Mora
Why did you choose to intern with Raleigh City Farm?
I am from Sacatepequez, Guatemala, which is surrounded by beautiful volcanoes, such as Volcan de Fuego.These active volcanoes are unpredictable and in some cases could be destructive, causing mass evacuations and loss of life but making the soil very fertile. I am part of a local non-profit that manages 25 acres of land, and my role is to teach youth agricultural and leadership skills. I enjoy it because it’s a great way to share sustainable livelihoods with people whose lives are constantly upended. Raleigh City Farm has been a great way to combine my interest in regenerative agriculture with my passion for sustainable development.
As a first-time visitor to the USA, what funny or interesting things have you noticed?
A good deal of the food/vegetables I see here seems to be packaged, in boxes, in cellophane, etc. but they are not very fresh.I get the impression that most people here don’t have any connection with food origins. For example, if I ask someone where carrots grow, they’re just as likely to say they grow in a tree as they are to say they grow underground. I think it’s important to know how and where our food comes from.
I love how the infrastructure here just works! My fellow intern and I travel back and forth to Raleigh City Farm entirely on public transportation.
What have you been doing on the farm?
On the farm, we are hands-on, helping the farm managers, Maria and Colleen with anything that needs to be done. Earlier, we finished up the summer harvest of okra, sweet peppers, basil, etc. I love the fact that we are donating some of the products to other non-profit organizations such as Place at the Table and Salvation Army. Over the last few weeks, we harvested 400 pounds of food. I am also part of a program from the US State Department (Community Engagement Exchange) CEE that teaches us leadership and sustainable development on Fridays.
What are your plans when you go back home?
It’s been great to experience the culture of the USA. However, the practical portion of this program finishes in December at which time, I will go back in Guatemala. As part of the program, I will start a Community Engagement Project. For me, I am going to rejoin my local agricultural association, and I will be much more knowledgeable about cultivating leaders and applying sustainable agricultural techniques that I learned on Raleigh City Farm.
Interview with Lasu Jacob
Why did you choose to intern with Raleigh City Farm?
I am originally from Juba, South Sudan, which is the newest independent country on the earth! South Sudan declared independence from Sudan in July 2011. I aspire to be a changemaker and do something relevant for my country. Developing hands-on skills will be a great advantage in a country where the majority of people (over 70%) are youths. Having practical skills will make it easier for me to engage with our youth and steer them toward productive goals.
As a first-time visitor to the USA, what funny or interesting things have you noticed?
The USA has so many different cultures, races, and religions but all seem to coexist. The differences between these groups seem vast, but for the most part, everyone gets along. In South Sudan, the differences between groups are small but for whatever reason, it creates tremendous tension.
I also find it surprising that people in this country don’t know what is happening in other countries. The news here is very US-centric, whereas in other parts of the world, it’s the other way around. For example, I think most Americans would have a hard time finding South Sudan or even the Nile River on the map, but most people in my country could easily locate New York City.
What have you learned at Raleigh City Farm?
I have some experience with farming because several years ago, we lived as refugees in Uganda. The UN refugee agency gave us 4 acres of land for subsistence farming. We grew maize (corn), beans, ground nuts (peanuts) and cassava. I had never been to a greenhouse until Raleigh City Farm, and I was surprised to see how much can be produced on 1 acre of land. From Maria, the farm manager, I’ve learned organic pest control. You don’t need to use chemicals all the time, you can check for pests and physically remove them from plants. I have also learned regenerative farming practices such as composting, reduced/no-till farming practices, cover cropping, etc.
What are your plans when you go back home?
I am also part of a program from the US State Department called Community Engagement Exchange. CEE is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S Government and it’s implemented by the International Research and Exchanges Board. The CEE equips dedicated visionaries with the expertise, skills, and resources to develop multi sector approaches and build healthy and engaged communities in over 100 countries.
At the end of the program in December, I will return to South Sudan to implement my Community Engagement Project as a continuation of the CEE program. I’ve chosen youth engagement for my CEE program theme. I haven’t selected an NGO or non-profit to join but my overall project goal is to mobilize and train fifty youths on high-yield farming methods in Yei County, Central Equatoria State, South Sudan by the end of June 2023. This will enhance agricultural production to improve food security, create more jobs, and reduce poverty in South Sudan.