We are fortunate to welcome back two very much-loved volunteers to our Symbiosis team.
Anthony and Jacqueline Jenyns will travel to Bangladesh with their family and begin another voluntary secondment this month.
Their skills and love for life in Bangladesh will be a true asset to our team. Here’s a few words from them before they begin working with us again.
1) You have previously volunteered in Bangladesh, can you tell us when that was and a few details on what you were doing at the time?
The first occasion was from 2002 to 2004 where my family and I assisted our Bangladesh team to build a fish farm and hatchery. The second occasion we volunteered to operate the fish farm and fish hatchery with additional roles as a trainer with the Rural Income Generation Project which was founded in 2004. The high lights for us were the graduation of several staff members and beneficiaries with a certificate in Aquaculture presented by the Deputy High Commissioner to Australia. The second highlight was the Rural Income Generation Project receiving two Australian Government Awards for excellence in poverty elevation, presented by two Prime Ministers of Australia The Hon John Howard 2002 and Kevin Rudd 2007.
2) As a Community Development Consultant connected to our Sustainability and Training Based Development Service, can you tell us what you hope to be doing?
The Training Based Development Service & Rural Income Generation Project work in partnership with group members to help improve their communities farming performance through education, demonstration and facilitation. A very experienced and old farmer from the Mymensingh District once taught me that if his family can’t farm then we simply cannot remain healthy enough to educate and elevate ourselves. Farming is the back bone of the Nation. More than ever food availability and affordability are going to be a challenge to the rural communities of Bangladesh. We will answer that challenge as trainers and farmers who are committed to helping group members farm better.
3) What are you most looking forward to in Bangladesh?
It’s a privilege to plough, plant and grow with these brave communities. There is something just so rich and wholesome about turning dirt with Bengali farmers, whether excavating fish ponds or caring for cattle they respond with so much grit and determination even when the environment is so harsh on them.
