WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2015 41 effectively join the dots between people and strategy. Change for women working in aquaculture will gain momentum once we have united an engaged network of people and adapt existing tactics.” We will start our Indigenous Network through arrangements in Australia and the Schools and Students Network. The Schools and Students Network has already started, with events at Marine Science Magnet H.S., Groton, CT, USA and Huon Valley Trade Training Centre, Huonville, Tasmania, Australia. Establishing such networks requires time and patience to organize and coordinate communication, but these networks will be a driving force in AwF. Networks have to resist the initial pressure to set too lofty an agenda that might be too difficult to achieve initially. Tempering expectations and keeping the aims and outcomes realistic is essential until we find our feet. Partnerships and Linkages We have joined the Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA), which is strongly linked with USAID through the Farmerto-Farmer program. In alignment with the mission of AwF, VEGA’s overall focus of programs is to build sustainable enterprises that contribute to prosperous economies. VEGA’s 36 programs are located in 28 countries and we will continue to work with Kevin Fitzsimmons and the University of Arizona on Farmer-to-Farmer programs. AwF is a non-voting member of VEGA at this time, primarily to see how this might work for us, but we are the only entity in the alliance that is specifically involved in aquaculture. We believe that we can create linkages with some of the larger members of the alliance that implement projects of their own, and at other times in partnership with other members. We are also members of the Alliance Against Hunger and Malnutrition, based at FAO in Rome. They have a global group of partners with whom we have communication and with whom we will explore any mutual opportunities for collaboration. Naturally we are a strong affiliate of WAS and highly regard that connection. For WAS conferences, we continue to organize sessions on Development, Welfare and Poverty Alleviation and encourage our volunteers to engage and participate in that program session. The connections to all these groups will enable us to continue to expand our horizons, engage with more people and ensure that we have a sustainable long-term organization. AwF Australia We have established Aquaculture without Frontiers Australia Limited and are open to establish AwF chapters in other countries. The aim is to build around the central model established in the USA but enable the organization to take root in other countries. The organization will connect Australia’s aquaculture skills, latent resources and enthusiastic volunteers with opportunities to make a difference in the lives of disadvantaged people in Australia and abroad. It will also promote and support the core mission of developing responsible and sustainable aquaculture to alleviate poverty and malnutrition and enhance local food security. The inaugural meeting of the Board of AwF Australia (Norman Grant, Katherine Hawes (Chair), Mark Oliver, David (DOS) O’Sullivan, Roy Palmer (Executive Director), Emma Thomson and Meryl Williams) met recently in Sydney. One of the first tasks is to raise awareness of the organization and to engage with like-minded organizations and individuals to create projects and programs that will assist in improving the nutrition and health of disadvantaged people and foster social and economic development. The Board is aware that there is much to be done in the areas of indigenous and Pacific Islands aquaculture, boosting the status of women in aquaculture and engaging with schools and students in the region. It will be rolling out plans on these issues in the future. Deakin University will partner with AwF Australia to improve outcomes in disadvantaged communities using sustainable aquaculture farming. We plan to hold training or short-course workshops at Warrnambool using Deakin and AwF networks. Deakin Associate Head of the School of Life and Environmental Sciences Giovanni Turchini said “We are excited to partner with AwF…. The partnership will provide a platform for aquaculture professionals to come together and volunteer their services to achieve these objectives. We are keenly anticipating the opportunities this will provide for Deakin students to undertake student placements and research projects with the support of AwF around the world.” Deakin’s main aquaculture activities in Warrnambool, Victoria are very close to the birthplace of local aquaculture by indigenous Australians many thousands of years ago. We will inaugurate the partnership with an Indigenous Symposium in the first half of 2015 to know how we can best assist Australian indigenous people with aquaculture activities. Closing Thoughts: An Appeal Where we are today is far from the original ideas that our founder had more than ten years ago, but AwF is moving into an exciting and sustainable era. Of course this will not be possible unless we continue to receive support from people and organizations in aquaculture. Contributions can take the form of money or the donation of valuable time, experience and know-how. We welcome all ideas to assist us in fulfilling our mission. Fundraising is never easy. The competition is intense because there are very many good causes. Our work is worthy of support because of the enhanced potential for beneficial outcomes regarding nutrition, food security and alleviating poverty and hunger. The work of AwF promotes aquaculture as a positive force for development. Notes Roy Palmer, Aquaculture without Frontiers Email palmerroyd@gmail.com Old water tanks at the Aquaculture Learning Center in Tancol, Tamaulipas, Mexico.
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