Mr. Nartey, the regional manager of the Eastern Region shows us Moringa seeds for the first time. looking for answersMy first two project choices for this fellowship were with MoringaConnect and Farmerline. When these two projects became one and I was chosen, with my partners Kimmie and Jean, to take it on, I was exuberant. This excitement for agricultural social enterprises confused my friends and family. Though I was interested in sustainable and international development, my focus at the time was climate mitigation, something that normally happens in cities. At the time, I had a general idea of why the project was interesting to me, but if pressed, the explanation probably wouldn’t have gone too deep. Mostly, I wanted to develop a deeper understanding of social enterprises, and see if they actually created the kind of social change I had been told they did. And, as I was a hopeless idealist, I wanted to know concrete ways I could make a difference, using the experience, as I stated in my application essay, “to learn how to effect permanent, positive change." A moringa plant beginning to grow. The answer to this broad question was not immediately apparent, as during the field I found it hard to take a step back and examine the whole picture. We were thrown into the chaos of Accra traffic, seemingly never-ending pot-holed roads, new cultural norms, and scheduling mishaps as we attempted to meet with as many farmers, field agents and partner organizations as possible in our short seven weeks in the field. In the heat of the moment, I sometimes found myself being confused as to why I had chosen to do the research in this agricultural context. Unlike Jean, I did not have an overwhelming desire to see farmer’s fields. Learning about agricultural techniques was interesting, but it didn’t ignite my passion. learning to listenInstead, I found meaning and purpose in our interviews. Hearing the stories of farmers and field agents was heartbreaking. It was joyful. It was tragic, confusing, fascinating, heartwarming, complex and moving. These conversations were what inspired me. People were patient as we initially stumbled through our interview guide and accidentally spent 3 hours in one interview trying to figure out how to talk with two people at once. People were open, honest, and shared their lives with us as we sat together in plastic chairs and wood benches in front yards, cocoa processing warehouses, churches, and fields. Interviewing a cocoa farmer in the Ashanti region with our incredible translator Abigail. I remember one interview where everyone we were supposed to interview during one day all came to the same place at once. In this unexpected five-person interview, there was a man who brought a little orange notebook to take notes. I didn’t know why, but seeing that little orange notebook made me want to burst into tears on the spot. Here we were trying to get information and learn from him, yet he also saw the interview as valuable. This man wanted to participate in a value-exchange and retain any information that would make him a better field agent. This intention was shared by the most every farmer and field agent we met. They believed that we could make a real change in the enterprise they worked with, and wanted any resource that would help them help themselves, and people in their communities. Still, I was surprised every day by individual’s willingness to share their stories. Listening to a community of moringa farmers in the Eastern Region. I have realized now that the farmers and field agents we connected with were willing to share because we were there to listen. We were there to hear their trials, tribulations, successes and desires. People knew this, and they knew we would take this information back to the enterprises that could then better equip them with tools to transform their own lives. Social entrepreneurship is unique in this regard. Social enterprises don’t just sell things without intention, or even give people things with intention. Instead, they work within the system to offer people tools and opportunities to help themselves. When people are given this opportunity, they can transform their lives, the lives of their family, and their community. This work, of empowering others to make their own change, is where I want to operate. a future for everyoneIt’s funny, I feel like in some ways this experience has completely ruined my future career options. Getting to connect with new people every day, learning from individuals in vastly different contexts than my own, and being involved in projects that were aligned with social impact was incredibly meaningful. Through this fellowship I was able to cultivate a deeper understanding of a new culture and of the pervasive problems present in the Ghanaian agricultural system. Working with these challenges, I discovered my excitement for research that directly contributes towards the creation of systemic solutions. Doing this work made me feel like I was making actual change. I’ve realized I can never sit in cubicle ever again and have permanently crossed those jobs off my list. Wherever my vocational discernment takes me, I now know that I can actively be involved in changing an unjust equilibrium, and can use innovative entrepreneurial thinking to find solutions that empower others. I also now know that even working on even a tiny piece of a complex global challenge is incredibly difficult. There are sacrifices, complex interdependencies, and a whole lot of ambiguity, but as humans we can use empathy and problem-solving to work through them. As Pope Francis in Laudato Si says: “Many things have to change course, but it is we human beings above all who need to change. We lack an awareness of our common origin, of our mutual belonging, and of a future to be shared with everyone. This basic awareness would enable the development of new convictions, attitudes and forms of life.” My experience throughout the fellowship has helped me develop a deeper understanding of this mutual belonging, and has given me an even greater desire to create a future that can be shared by everyone. Getting to get a glimpse into farmers lives. Ibrahim in the Ashanti Region of Ghana showing us his moringa farm. agents of changeIt took me an embarrassing long time to realize that our project wasn’t really about agriculture. It was about understanding human motivations, decision-making, economic incentives, and the relationships people share that make them embedded in their community. Listening to people with an open heart and an open mind was the way I could start to understand these complex human systems and was the role our team could play to help our enterprises scale their impacts. I desire to continue listening to people, hearing their needs, and co-creating solutions that equip communities with resources to be their own agents of change. Working to understand how the nuances of field agent management in urban vegetable farming. I am still am a hopeless idealist, and still aim to effect permanent positive change. My time as a Global Social Benefit Fellow has given me the skills, knowledge, experiences, and mindset needed to continue pursuing this throughout all of my vocations. I will be forever grateful for my incredible teammates Kimmie and Jean, and mentors Keith and Thane, for being by my side in this journey, and inspiring me to keep working towards a better future. Dream team!
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