Niki applied to one of our open volunteer roles that she had seen on a partner site. She wanted to apply her passion for writing for a good cause. Since our work is quite technical, Niki helped us massage our messaging to help us connect with readers like you!
What drew you to The Harvest Fund’s mission?
You had me at elevating women economically. The gender gap is a global issue that must be addressed strategically and proactively. The Harvest Fund is doing just that, and combining female empowerment with another important issue—sustainable agriculture. I believe that we can still save our living planet. Educating about and incentivizing earth-friendly farming practices is one of the ways we can fight climate change.
What inspired you the most after learning more about our women farmers? (or share anything that inspired you about our model or approach)
Incomes and yields just about doubling in the first year of participation in the program is just incredible. It's well-known that women tend to reinvest their income back into their families on a greater scale, so the impact of that increase is a rising tide that floats all boats. I'm also amazed by the ingenuity and leadership exhibited in these cooperatives in a place where women have less access to education—their entrepreneurial spirit and creativity is unstoppable!
If you were to be a farmer, what would you grow and why?
I suppose I am a farmer on a very small scale. My container garden is squash, watermelon, peppers, tomatoes, peas, cucumbers and herbs in the summer. Right now, my winter garden is arugula, lettuces, carrots and herbs. Thinking about the question on a larger scale, I would grow the three sisters: corn, squash and beans. These plants help each other survive while also being delicious, nutritious staples.
You’ve obviously got a knack for writing so share an insider tip with our audience!
When writing website copy, do a brain dump, then take a step back and look at ways to streamline every single sentence. Look at your verbs and seek action verbs over passive voice whenever possible. Headlines should grab attention and subheaders should summarize what the reader will learn in the body copy without being redundant in wording. The call to action should clearly tell the reader what to expect or what they'll learn about when they click through. Storytelling and emotive writing are more likely to grip your reader than technical copy, so even if you're writing about something technical, do your best to tie in why it matters on a humanity level.
Wondering how you, like Niki, can join The Harvest Fund's volunteer program? Apply here; you'll have the opportunity to tell us about your idea for a pro-bono project. We oftentimes have needs for graphic designers, digital marketers, accountants, writers, SEO experts and Excel modelers. All volunteer roles are remote and can be performed anywhere where you have computer and internet access. Volunteer today to empower an African woman farmer!