Mand Home Makers Complete EFNEP Program Training

by Amy Levendusky

On March 24, 2006, twenty-five homemakers from Mand graduated from the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) training provided by the College of Micronesia-FSM Cooperative Extension Service. This training was initiated upon the request of the Island Food Community of Pohnpei, as part of the Mand Project.

Mrs. Welsihter Hagilmai and Ms. Meriam Prens of COM-FSM Land Grant led the 10-day training course which focused on development of home gardens and how to use locally grown vegetables and other local foods in new, innovative and healthy recipes. Each homemaker was given a food recall at the beginning of the training to find out what types of foods they were eating and then also at the end of the training to evaluate whether the training program had had an impact on their food choices.

During the training, the homemakers were asked if they had a garden and if they could bring in samples of the vegetables growing in their gardens. Many of the participants already had their own home garden due to their involvement in the Mand Project where they had been given planting materials and instruction. Those that did not have gardens were encouraged to start one. Homemakers were then given cooking demonstrations on how to use their own vegetables from their gardens in healthy and delicious recipes.

Guest speakers were also included in the program. Augustine Primo, extension agent from COM-FSM Land Grant, gave a presentation on how to develop a nursery and how to make seedlings (i.e. Chinese cabbage) in a disposable cup. He then demonstrated how to transfer the seedling (when it is big enough) to the area where it will grow until harvesting time. Dr. Elizabeth Keller from the Department of Health spoke to the group about diabetes prevention and control. Dr. Keller advised the homemakers to eat less fat, salt, and sugar, to eat more locally grown foods including local vegetables, and to get enough exercise.

The graduation ceremony was a joyous occasion with the presentation of certificates and a lively performance of a local foods song, composed by the workshop graduates. The refreshments were all served on home-woven plates and presented an amazing variety of local food dishes, including those that were learned during the workshop.

The 25 graduates were: Sanihser Abraham, Rekihna Abraham, Asipa Albert, Elehne Edward, Maria Edward, Alice Fritz, Ihser George, Sihmer Henry, Lohla James, Nelihser James, Serly James, Almera John, Cathlina Johnson, Mersiel Johnson, Melissa Jose, Mesihner Jose, Belmihna Keller, Naneth Moses, Estel Pedrus, Lesihna Pedrus, Joanna Peter, Lini Pony, Ramona Rosario, Ehla Samuel, and Rosiana Semes.

IFCP would like to extend its appreciation to the Cooperative Extension Service, College of Micronesia-FSM for holding their program in Mand. We would also like to give a special thanks to all the homemakers of Mand who participated in the program.