print this page

Greenhouses, guinea pigs, and graduation:
Daría's story

Daría Ramos Cordova is a trailblazer.

The first woman to graduate as an agricultural technician in the isolated rural area of Arampampa, she went on to lead an agricultural school in her local community of Pararani and is now the general secretary of Arampampa’s main organization for farmers.
She is also working in the technical department at the Municipality of Arampampa.

In Daría’s part of Bolivia, many young people are unable to complete primary education. And there are few opportunities for young women to study after the age of 15, as girls are expected to begin raising their own families and take charge of the household.

However, International Service is working with the CECTFIA Centre in Arampampa to give young Bolivians the opportunity to receive training and learn practical farming skills, so that they don’t have to abandon their education and go in search of employment at a young age

Daría says: "I always dreamed about studying" and in 2007, she joined CECTFIA's training programme in agronomy and agriculture so she could learn about cultivating the land, and raising animals.

Daría learns to operate a tractor (l) and helps build a greenhouse (r)
© International Service

Aged just 17, Daría was shy and lacked confidence. Yet her perseverance and dedication saw her quickly grow in skills and confidence as she became experienced in caring for livestock, cultivating the land, managing projects, using computers and giving presentations.

At the end of 2008 Daría successfully graduated as a technician in agronomy.

She decided to finish school, and is now using the skills she gained at the CECTFIA Centre to help teachers and children in Pararani build a solar greenhouse and produce vegetables such as lettuces, radishes, onions and tomatoes.

This access to healthy vegetables means the children’s nutrition has improved significantly. With Daría’s support they are also rearing guinea pigs (traditionally used in cooking) so that their diets contain more meat.

Daría says: "Thanks to the CECTFIA Training Centre I am a professional now. I want to be a leader, and I want to be an example for all women here."