FFP Inaugurates Three Projects in Honduras
Consul General Ju-tsong Liu, of Taiwan, with tilapia from the successful project.
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. (October 29, 2008) – During the month of October, Food For The Poor (FFP) inaugurated three projects in Omoa, Honduras. Two of the projects, completed jointly with the Taiwan International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF), are multi-pond tilapia farms. The remaining project is the Omoa Training Center, which is a women’s skills training facility. The festive inauguration ceremonies were attended by representatives from Food For the Poor, CEPUDO and ICDF. The Consul General of Taiwan, Ju-tsong Liu, participated in the dedications and was recognized for Taiwan’s contribution to the success of the development projects.
Food For The Poor, with the assistance of the ICDF, has implemented the Tilapia Farm Program, a self-sustaining fish farming initiative specifically designed to enhance food production in countries that are food insecure. The program produces a nutritional source of food to combat hunger and reduce malnutrition, and will encourage economic sustainability with a viable and marketable product.
“To help break the cycle of poverty, Food For The Poor has developed long-term, sustainable solutions to improve the economic situations of poor communities. We provide the poor with reliable facilities and the training that will enable them to become self-supporting,” said Angel Aloma, Executive Director of Food For The Poor.
The Genesis Tilapia and Shrimp Farm, consisting of six ponds, will not only benefit the 27 families involved economically, but will also greatly contribute to the nutritional intake of the surrounding communities. This project will be a solution for two of the community’s problems – lack of food and sources of income.
The Maranatha Tilapia Ponds Project, located in Pueblo Nuevo, Omoa, consists of three ponds. This project will benefit the entire community, and will also aid in a feeding program for the poor conducted at a local church.
The Omoa Training Center is designed to empower low-income women by providing them access to skilled job training and materials that promote businesses, which will generate income to support their households. Training is provided in baking, sewing, arts and crafts, piñatas, catering and other trades.
The ICDF serves as Taiwan’s dedicated international development and cooperation organization, with a mission of “working for humanity, sustainable development, and economic progress.” The ICDF shares Taiwan’s development experience with partner countries, and assists developing nations in their efforts to become self-reliant, enabling them to emerge from poverty.
The CEPUDO Foundation, which maintains a chapter in Omoa, oversees all of Food For The Poor’s projects in Honduras. CEPUDO operates a number of education and community centers that provide the impoverished communities of Honduras with workshops and training classes.
Food For The Poor, the largest international relief and development organization in the US, does much more than simply feed the millions of hungry poor in 16 countries of the Caribbean and Latin America. Since 1982, we have provided clean water, medicines, educational materials, homes, support for orphans and the aged, skills training and emergency relief, with more than 96% of all donations going directly to programs that help the poor. For additional information please visit our Web site www.foodforthepoor.org.