Azucena Zelaya Antunez doesn't think of nutrition as only a health issue, but also a political force. In developing countries, like her native Nicaragua, good nutrition can give women the energy to take charge and assume a leadership role in their communities. "We're already seeing changes!" she said during a visit to church offices in May. "Many women are making their own decisions and growing new foods, giving them an income."
Antunez is a program coordinator for Soynica, a 25-year-old non-governmental organization in Nicaragua. She has a degree in business administration and joined Soynica in 1994 to work in communities promoting and teaching preparation techniques for soy, which was introduced to the country a quarter century ago. Presbyterian World Service & Development helps fund Soynica's programs.
Currently, Antunez works with 400 poor farmer families, teaching them about health and nutrition, breast-feeding, hygiene, new agricultural techniques and food security. Since the typical farmer's diet usually consists of corn, beans and sorghum, new additions are a welcomed and necessary change. A diversified diet not only benefits their health, but leads to increased income from selling cash crops of fruits and vegetables. "We've helped some children improve their nutritional status," said Antunez, "and families have changed their eating habits. The soil condition has also improved and we've been working on water collection with wells and tanks.
"I like working with the people on the countryside, and sharing with them my knowledge and learning about their cultural ideas. I love being able to share with women and to be able to journey with them towards positive change."
Empowering women — who are traditionally disadvantaged in Latin American countries — remains Antunez's main goal. Although Soynica does work with men, programs tailored to women's needs are given top priority. "There are many women who never left their homes — and if they did, their husbands didn't know — but now they will come out to the workshops," said Antunez. "And many women are trying to give their children a better life, beginning with pregnancy."
She said women are gaining enough clout and self-confidence to petition things from their mayor's office to benefit their families or community. They're also helping improve the structure of their homes from knowledge they've gained from Soynica's programs. "But we still need to work on ourselves as women," said Antunez, "and that's why Soynica has recently elaborated on its strategy on gender, to help us continue with that empowerment." – AM
