Joining The Permagardens Foundation brought me into the realms of work and ideas I’d been longing to participate in. I’ve always wanted to help improve the way we humans treat the ecosystems that we’re part of, but when I became more aware of oppressive political structures and extreme poverty, I realized we humans need to be better cared for as well. What initiatives could I join that help advance all these causes at once?
There are of course multiple, and The Permagardens Foundation is a FANTASTIC one. I get to work with PEOPLE I highly value (with our team members right here in the U.S. and also directly with our amazing Kenyan, Rwandan, and Indian Practitioners who live so far away), in WAYS I highly value (cross-cultural collaboration, empowerment of young people and those in the field), on issues and solutions I highly value (community resilience, sustainable food systems, and so on)
This photo of me was taken when we were fortunate enough to travel to India and work with tribal villages. What I’ve been learning in my work right now, I NEVER would have learned through school.
From the knowledge and experience my team members have shared, I’ve been learning that many humanitarian programs end up exploiting their “beneficiaries” or making them dependent, and how to avoid making that mistake. It’s helping me be more sure of how to make a positive impact in the world, and for that I am deeply grateful.
For the basics of my bio, such as my education, previous job/volunteering experience, etc, feel free to visit my LinkedIn profile under my name.