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 In the past, a lot of promising organizations came to our village and worked for a little while but most of the time, nothing was done. It was not until SHI-Belize, which many of us had heard of and had long waited for, accepted the invitation to work with our village of Sunday Wood, that we had hope. We had heard and seen what SHI accomplished in the other villages, so we did not need to think twice about working with them.
Today it is like a dream that has came true. Ever since I started to work with SHI Field Trainer Herminio Sho, I have changed our way of living. I planted over 300 plantain and banana suckers (young banana plants), over 250 coconuts seedlings of different varieties and started to raise local chickens. SHI has built us a wood conserving stove and a timber and fruit tree nursery. We are so happy now because we never could get this help from another organization, until SHI-Belize.
I thank SHI-Belize a million times. What we have learned and what they have given us will not be forgotten, nor will it be lost. We will continue to maintain and practice sustainable and organic agriculture.
~ Pablo Salam - Sunday Wood Village, Belize
Three Keys To Success
There are three key elements that make Sustainable Harvest International's projects stand out:
1. We provide long-term assistance, approximately five years, to make sure the programs that we introduce actually take root in the communities. Transforming agricultural practices from traditional slash-and-burn or modern chemically aided methods to sustainable farming takes time. Farmers need to acclimate to the new techniques and require on-going support to address their questions and concerns. Therefore, SHI commits to providing Field Trainers to work regularly with participants for approximately five years. Thereafter, participants will continue to have access to field trainers and the SHI information network as needed. SHI's long-term approach ensures that the techniques take root in the community and will continue to flourish after the years of technical assistance are completed.
2. We work only in communities where we have been invited by local people. We always work in partnership with an in-country organization that shares our goals. Because our projects are locally initiated and supported by in-country organizations, the work will continue long after families have graduated. To ensure that the techniques the program teaches are implemented in an efficient and culturally appropriate manner, SHI hires local residents to be Field Trainers. Field Trainers are professionals who provide on-site, hands-on training. Local residents possess an intimate understanding of the local geography, customs and circumstances of the participants that allows them to work very effectively.
3. We are a skeletal organization with low administrative overhead, with just 8% of our annual expenses spent on administration and overhead. "Only 10% of the charities we've rated have received at least 3 consecutive 4-star evaluations, meaning that Sustainable Harvest International outperforms most charities in America in its efforts to operate in the most fiscally responsible way possible. This "exceptional" designation from Charity Navigator differentiates SHI from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust." ~ Trent Stamp, President of Charity Navigator
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