Route J-1

Before I say goodbye to Ashby, I want to highlight a few participants from relatively nearby who came to participate in the J1 internship program.  Although they traveled a shorter distance (by hours) than others; their countries may have the most to gain from their participation.

I can think of no better term to describe my new friend, Virginia, from El Salvador than, “she’s got it.” This young woman will share her energy and spirit with you freely and she seemed to be a very focused and determined young woman.  She studied agronomy at her university in El Salvador and knew that she wanted to train in the United States. She found out about the program and immediately signed up!  Through this experience, she plans to use new approaches to farming in El Salvador, and she better understands why they use certain techniques at home.  If there has never been a woman-owned premier farm in El Salvador, I have no doubt that Virginia will break that ceiling!

Then I met Chatelyn from Haiti.  (Pictured above with Virginia) Chatelyn is finishing his studies in the town of Les Cayes in Haiti.  He is older than the other interns in the program due to a number of factors in his life, and his country, that forced him to take extra time to get to where he is today. His father owns land and he intends to go home and use much of what he is learning during his J1 experience to grow food to “feed his country.”  He values this experience greatly and hopes to help the young students at his university to complete their studies faster than he did so they may also experience this program. I have no doubt he will realize all of his dreams.

I also met Victor, a thoughtful young man from Mexico who actually flew home briefly after he arrived for the J1 program to attend his graduation ceremony. Victor’s sponsor helped him to get the most out of the program through a partnership with his university in Mexico.  Victor’s English has drastically improved and he looks forward to contributing to the strengthening of cross-border ties between the U.S. and Mexico.

Virginia, Chatelyn, and Victor are all part of an extraordinary group of students who are making connections and gaining an experience that will last a lifetime. I can’t wait to see what the next group of participants in Colorado and California are up to!

Categories: Participants