First hired by SHI in 1999 as an extensionist, Yovany Munguia was promoted to the country coordinator position in 2000 then to regional coordinator in 2002. University trained in forestry sciences and rural community development, Yovany also has extensive experience in working with international development agencies, including CARE International and Save the Children.  Yovany is proud of SHI's growth in Honduras and says, "When I started my work with SHI-Honduras, it [was] a very little program in the country, assisting ten communities and 50-60 families. But in the past years, the growth was very fast and now we assist 35 communities and 400 families, with a total of over 2,000 people."

 Salomon Zelaya holds a degree in agriculture and still helps his parents on the family farm. "Working with SHI is the most important thing in my life," Salomon says, "because it's an organization [dedicated] to supporting and helping the poorest families in communities where other public and private organizations don't go [because these communities are difficult to access].  "The families [are enthusiastic about] our work and they are grateful [to] SHI and the donors [that provide them with the funds to train them to] work the land with new technologies, [providing] non-local materials and helping in each activity. God bless you for your support!"

Juan Carlos Sandres was hired as an field trainer in 2000 to work in the Azacualpa region of Honduras. He is an experienced farmer and has a degree in agriculture.  "Working with SHI is an excellent experience for me," he says, "because it's a nonprofit organization that is helping families in the rural area of Honduras.  The most important [aspect] for me is supporting families with new and sustainable technologies that improve production in [traditional and non-traditional] crops, especially the use of organic fertilizer like bocashi. This technology saves money [for the] families and is good environmentally."

Jacobo Suazo works in the Nueva Frontera region of the Santa Barbara Department of Honduras. He brings to his work with SHI a degree in agriculture and previous experience with the Evangelist Committee for Development in Macuelizo Municipality.  Jacobo is enthusiastic about his work with SHI, not only because he gets to help others learn sustainable techniques, but also because he is learning a great deal himself. "Previously, I cut trees and shrubs to fix fences on my property and didn't plant anything.  Now I teach by example. Last year, I started a nursery with plants and planted 500 trees to use in fences. I am [also] applying organic.technologies in my coffee crop."  SHI has helped him to see that organic techniques are superior to using chemicals on his crops. "Now I save money and take care of nature for my future and my children's, too."

Lily Andrade works with SHI helping to manage the community loan funds, provide micro-business assistance and to facilitate the legal establishment of the growers' groups. Prior to working with SHI, Lily received a degree in business administration and worked for four years with commercial enterprises in San Pedro Sula.  She also volunteered for six months with Sustainable Harvest-Honduras.

Selvin Martinez - Field Trainer (2005)
Selvin has been with SHI since early 2005, and is now our coordinator for all of the work done in the Yoro district.  Before this, Selvin developed an extensive background through work in the private business sector that focused on some of the same concerns as SHI:  sustainable agriculture, commercialization of products, community organizing and small loan programs for farmers.  Although he was happy with this work, he feels like SHI is even more focused and logical in how it manages such programs, and he is proud to be a part of that process.



Ana Leticia Martinez
Before coming to work as an administrative assistant with Sustainable Harvest in Honduras, Ana Leticia worked in for a dairy cooperative, helping with the credit programs extended to rural farmers.  She is also still a part-time student studying business administration.  She says, "My work with SHI gives me a chance to use both my practical and classroom experience in a way that helps the people of her country."





Wilmer Lisandro Machado - Field Trainer (2006)
Wilmer works as a field trainer in the Yoro district where he focuses on the planting of and diversification of crops with SHI families.  He has also become an expert on construction of lorena stoves, biogas digesters, fish tanks and chicken coops.  He has a college degree in Agronomy, but is also proud of the practical experience he has gained both in his prior work and with SHI.  "I think I know more the more I teach the SHI farmers, because I always have to put into words and demonstrate why the techniques we promote are the best."