Agroecology trip to Uganda!

Florencia Spirito Start Date: Sep 18, 2017 - End Date: Jan 15, 2018

My Travel Story

by: Florencia Spirito Start Date: Sep 18, 2017 - End Date: Jan 15, 2018
Hey all,
my name is Florencia, I am from Argentina but this autumm (October to Decembe 2017) I am going further and I will cross the ocean to Uganda. I will spend two months at Kikaaya High School, teaching agroecology, and I need fundings for y fly ticket (1300 Euros Argentina-Uganda).

During my academic carreer, I got a PhD in biological sciences, mainly focus on sustainable uses of land. Although, for more than 10 years in academia ,I realize how meaingless is science if is not solving the society problems. Africa is one of the most poverty continent in the world, but on the other hand still conserve local knowledge for producing food. I want to teach to the student how important is their local knowledge, how important is understand their own ecosystem, and how science theory can help in getting a better way of living. Most of the student at Kikaaya School confront unsuitable realities. The school represent the place where they go to eat, to learn, to improve their future. Because of this I want to teach agroecology, which is defined as the application of ecological concepts and principles to the design and management of sustainable agroecosystems. The central idea of agroecology is to develop agroecosystems with minimal dependence on external inputs (e.g., fertilizers), emphasizing complex agricultural systems in which ecological interactions and synergisms between biological components provide the mechanisms for the systems to sponsor their own soil fertility, productivity and crop protection.

In a climate change context, a new path of agricultural development is needed and that the role of rural societies must be redefined using new criteria which view agriculture as not only having an economic and food-producing role, but that also emphasizes its environmental, cultural and social roles, key for the long-term sustainability of both rural and urban systems. I want to teach them the power of local knowledge, and the usefull of produce their own food, but at the same time I will learn for them they personal perception of nature, both committed with a sustainable use of land, with a sustainble world.

I hope you can help me in getting my project! I cannot made it without your help! A sustainable use of land is possible, and this school in Uganda is a perfect place to start!
To learn more about the Kikaaya project, open this link. Once I arrive at the school, I wil share my project with you on this website.

Thanks for your time in reading my proposal! And for your money, which will return in new opportunities for this children and for the mother earth.

Besos,
Flor