Project News

Nearly half a year has passed since the Project's second internal workshop when we established this year's Annual Plan of Activities for each group.  Each of these activities are being carried out in the 14 farmer groups.

Therefore, we decided to hold the Project's Third Internal Workshop on September 29 (Monday) and October 6 (Monday) in order to monitor and evaluate the implementation of the Plan of Activities made previously, and also to identify the important activity issues for the future (the chart below shows the themes of discussion for the workshop).

Like the previous workshops, all the Project staff, from the 3 Japanese experts and Project Coordinator to the secretary, participated with enthusiasm in the discussions.  In the photos it appears that everyone is sitting quietly, but in reality we had very constructive and animated interactions.  On the first day, Ms. Goto, in charge of our Project in the JICA Panama office, also accompanied us.

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Themes of Discussion for the Third Internal Workshop of the Alhajuela Project

September 29 (Monday)
8:00 1. Opening address
8:10 2. Explanation of the themes of discussion for the day
8:20 3. Advancement of group activities and pending issues
3-1 Group No.1:
- Evaluation of the advancement of group strengthening activities; Identifying the important issues for future activities.
- Evaluation of the advancement of technical extension activities; Identifying the important issues for future activities.
- Advancement of environmental education activities; Identifying the important issues for future activities.
3-2 Group No.2
3-3 Group No.3
10:00 – 10:15 Refreshment Break
10:15 – 12:00 (Continue the discussion by group)
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 3:00 (Continue the discussion by group)
3:00 – 3:15 Refreshment Break
3:15 – 4:00 (Continue the discussion by group)
4:00 Closing of the first day
(On the first day, the discussion was finished up to and including group No. 8)

October 6 (Monday)
8:00 1. Explanation of the discussions for the day
8:10 2. Advancement of group activities and pending issues
2-1 Group No.9
2-2 Group No.10
2-3 Group No.11
10:00 – 10:15 Refreshment Break
10:15 – 12:00 (Continue the discussion by group)
2-4 Group No.12
2-5 Group No.13
2-6 Group No.14
12:00 – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 1:30 3. Review the discussions
1:30 – 1:45 4. Perspectives on an "Exit Strategy"
1:45 – 2:00 5. Preparation of the "Extension Guidebook"
2:00 – 2:30 6. Report on Training in Japan
2:30 – 3:00 7. Regular weekly meeting
3:00 – 3:15 Refreshment Break
3:15 – 4:00 (Continue the regular weekly meeting)
4:00 Closing of workshop
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(Photo 1:left) Participants listen to the explanation given by Project Coordinator, Mr. Eric (front right).
(Photo 2: right) Explanation given by Japanese experts Mr. Mori (left) and Mr. Kajifusa (right).

(Photo 3: left) Participants with material in hand during a discussion.
(Photo 4: right) The three people in the foreground are the Japanese experts.

(Mr. Isao SAKAI, Chief Advisor / Rural Development)