Goducate … Go And Educate! – Page 112 – Helping Asians Help Themselves

2013-04-252013-04-28

Goducate teaches Indonesians how to make Moringa capsules and tea

In previous blogs, we have mentioned the nutritional and therapeutic properties of Moringa. The leaves are traditionally used by lactating mothers for making soup to improve their milk production. The possibility of making Moringa capsule and tea has widened options for the intake of this plant.

Recently Prof Hope Patricio, Goducate’s volunteer agricultural consultant, demonstrated to Indonesian farmers in Kg Gunung Tinggi in North Sumatra and in Kg Gedung Mulyo in Central Java how to make Moringa capsules and tea. Before the hands-on training, she highlighted the importance, production, and utilization aspects of Moringa.

Prof Patricio explained that only 3-4 green compound leaves should be placed inside a screen bag for drying under a shade, because direct sun drying can destroy the vitamin C packed in the leaves. After drying, the leaflets should be shaken off from the leaf petioles, then roasted over a low fire for 2-3 minutes only, with continuous stirring to reduce the moisture and sanitize the leaves. Roasting helps to preserve the leaves and improve the tea’s flavor.

The roasted Moringa leaves are powderized with a blender or mortar and pestle before being sifted to remove the larger particles. The powder is then poured into empty capsules that can be obtained from local drugstores. The Moringa capsules are stored in amber bottles or other airtight containers that keep out light, and these are stored in a dry place or in the refrigerator.

To make Moringa tea requires one cup of Moringa leaves, one cup of ginger, and one cup of lemon grass. These are placed in a pan containing four cups of water, brought to the boil and simmered under low flame for 2 mins. After the concoction is placed in a pitcher, the juice of an orange can be added to improve the flavor.

Most of the participants prepared their own Moringa capsules later on and experienced the simplicity of the procedure. They were reminded to always sanitize their hands with alcohol or else use disposable plastic gloves before handling the powder and capsule.

Their next request is for Goducate to teach them how to cook Philippine Chicken Tinola with Moringa leaves, green papaya, and lemon grass.

participant making her own Moringa capsule

2013-04-232013-04-22

Goducate returns on mercy mission to Mindanao, Philippines

In early December last year, the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines was hit by Typhoon Bopha (known locally as Typhoon Pablo). This category 5 typhoon was the worst disaster in the world in 2012 by way of lost human lives. However, by the end of last month the UN had received only $38.76 million of the $111.8 million that it had appealed for. The challenge at hand, from the UN’s perspective, is to help build comfortable shelters and provide victims of the disaster with such basic needs as staples, clothing, and health care.

In late December Goducate had visited the affected area to assess what help it could offer, especially in the longer term. Last month Goducate returned with a team of medical personnel and agricultural experts, to attend to the medical needs of and to give advice to the predominantly farming households. Dubbed operation “Lift a Burden”, the team of 30 was helped by 70 on-site volunteers who provided the pre-identified 2,500 victims in the towns of Monkayo, New Bataan, and Nabunturan with relief aid—medicines, rice, groceries, clothes, shoes, and assorted vegetable seeds.

Next, the Goducate Training Center in Iloilo, in partnership with local organizations, hopes to implement a cohesive, holistic, and sustainable program in New Bataan, Compostela Valley, the area worst hit by the disaster. Community development workers trained at the Goducate Training Center will be deployed in Compostela Valley in pro-active and participative initiatives.

Tent shelters outside the gymnasium also occupied by displaced families

Assorted medicines provided by Goducate to typhoon victims

2013-04-192013-04-22

Harvest time at Goducate community farm in Tagumpay

In August last year the torrential rains and thunderstorms, known informally as Typhoon Habagat, displaced the communities around Laguna Bay. The Goducate team in Laguna has been helping to rehabilitate some of the families in Tagumpay through training in livelihood skills. Some of the men learnt agricultural skills at the Goducate Model Farm, while the women learnt skills such as soap and detergent making, decorative handicraft, and sewing.

We were fortunate that a former mayor of Bay generously offered us, for free, 2000 sq m of his land in the district of Tagumpay, to be used as a community farm. Five men who were trained at the Goducate Model Farm helped develop this community farm.

The early part of this year was spent planting. By March the workers were starting to harvest lady’s fingers and some string beans. The bulk of the string beans (79 kg) were harvested in the first 2 weeks of April. have had a good harvest of string beans. Between April 1 and 12, 79 kg of beans were harvested, and what was not used for personal consumption was sold on the market. Pechay will be harvested soon. Leeks and mustard will be planted soon.

By now the people displaced by the severe Habagat floods have left the evacuation centers and are in their own homes, some of which had to be completely rebuilt. The longer-term plan is to use this farm for training others in the community in backyard farming.