Monthly Archives: August 2012

Nutrition Month in the Philippines

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She’s not Giada de Laurentiis, but she sure does give a great lesson! This chef is teaching community members how to incorporate more vegetables into their diets.

In its 38th year, Nutrition Month, held every July, is a nationwide celebration of healthy eating in the Philippines. There is a theme each year, and this year, Nutrition Month was used to highlight the importance of eating vegetables as part of a healthy diet.

The communities where IIRR works are plagued by malnutrition, so the activities that coincide with Nutrition Month are particularly useful to help families gain an understanding of the benefits of vegetable consumption, as well as  how to properly grow and cook these vegetables.

IIRR staff and other organizations presenting information about healthy eating (including that student-designed poster).

To make vegetables more exciting, IIRR hosted community members, NGOs, and government agencies to partake in a series of workshops about vegetable nutrition, growing and selling produce, and some exciting cooking lessons from a local celebrity chef.  Here are some photos to highlight nutrition day!

Local medical students perform check-ups and speak with community members about nutrition.

Meet the IIRR Staff

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Yitaktu Tibebu is IIRR Ethiopia’s Gender Specialist and she is especially passionate about bringing quality education to girls around the world. 
1. How long have you worked for IIRR and what do you do in your position?

I just started with IIRR a few months ago as a Project Officer. I work with the Pastoralist Education Program and the Economic and Social Empowerment of Youth Project and I help write reports, work on monitoring and evaluation, and work on project proposals. Since I am a gender specialist, I also make sure gender issues are taken into account in all of projects.

I also work as a trainer for other IIRR staff and development professionals, and I work on documentation to share our field experience with others, especially as it relates to gender.

2. What’s your favorite part about working with IIRR?

I just feel that “I am at home” and that I am in the right place for my academic career. I really like working towards the betterment of the poor and being a Project Officer gives me the opportunity help people directly.

3. Where did you go to college/university/training school?

I completed my Master’s degree at Addis Ababa University at the Institute of Gender Studies. I also have a Bachelor’s of Law from the same university.

4. What is your favorite thing to do in the city where your IIRR office is located?

I really like hanging out with my family, going to church, and volunteering.

5. What book/magazines/blogs are you currently reading?

Since I’m new to IIRR, I am reading a few of our publications about integrating gender into development projects.

6. Where is the next place you’d like to travel?

I want to travel to the Goro Dola, Adola, Silti, and Dillo districts, and to the Pastoralist communities of the Borena and Guji Zones.

7. What advice do you have for someone who wants to make a difference in the world?

Everyone has the potential to be effective in every task that s/he wants to accomplish or is assigned to perform. Education and experience are also critical to be inspired!