We are delighted to welcome the incoming YPARD Philippines Mentoring Program Coordinator: Maggie Guia M. Del Valle
Maggie is a food security researcher from the University of the Philippines Los Banos. For the last two years, she has been working on a project that helps rice-insufficient communities in the Philippines address local food security issues through the institutional adoption of the rice-corn mixture as the food staple. The rice-corn mixture is a physical blend of white rice and of Quality Protein Maize (QPM) Var 6, a genetically enhanced variety of white corn. Being a part of the Community Innovation Studies Center of the College of Public Affairs and Development, she facilitates research activities and dialogues with participants among them farmers, government officials and other stakeholders. Coming from a family of farmers and now a development practitioner, Maggie hopes to contribute to the creation of a future where farmers live comfortable and dignified lives, and where Filipino families will have access to sufficient and nutritious food every day.
Before working in agricultural development through research, Maggie taught in a public elementary school in the lakeside community of Malaban, Binan, Laguna as a Teacher Fellow of Teach for the Philippines. Through this, she was exposed to the challenges faced by the poor in peri-urban communities and by the educational system in the Philippines.Inspired by her experiences as a teacher, she continues to advocate for education equity through projects and activities she initiates with her colleagues and friends. Currently, Maggie heads the Content Team behind the Zookal app, a free reviewer app that caters to young professionals and university students who need to take licensure and entrance exams but do not have the resources to get into review centers or to purchase reviewers and books.On weekends and on her spare time, she teaches at the Sunday school of her local church and volunteers in non-formal education programs for the youth.
Maggie is thrilled to take up the role of the YPARD Philippines Mentoring Coordinator. She says;
"As an education advocate, I share YPARDs hope that the youth will drive change in the world in the coming decades. Working as Mentoring Coordinator gives me the privilege to help experts in agriculture transfer their knowledge, talent and skills to a new generation of agriculture practitioners and scholars. Witnessing the youth learn and grow is great, but participating in the process is priceless. I look forward to learning a lot from the mentors and mentees, as well as from her colleagues in YPARD. I believe that if we truly want to fuel sustainable and inclusive development in agriculture, we need to actively bring people together and find venues for cooperation and partnership. The Mentoring Program is one such venue, and eventually, its fruits will transcend YPARD and will expand to the entire agricultural sector of the country and of the world."
We couldn't agree more! Looking forward to our continued engagement.
Welcome on board Maggie!