Meet Some Recently Elected RIF Fellows

Cristiane Pedote in action with Edgard Gouveia
Source: Cristiane Pedote in action with Edgard Gouveia

Farouk Jiwa is establishing secure and sustainable ways to increase the income levels of rural farmers in East Africa. His organization, Honey Care Africa, is not just helping subsistence farmers supplement their income through beekeeping. Farouk has partnered with civil society organizations to provide alternative equity financing, and the result is a financially sustainable cycle of investments in community development.

Bibhu Kalyan Mohanty is developing an industry of natural herbal and plant-based medicines in India, an industry that supports women’s self-help groups, local herb and plant producers, and organic farmers.  With the organization Sambandh, Bibhu is promoting the Healing Heritage Producers Compay and the Home Herbal Garden programs.  Bibhu’s impact includes the wider availability of medicines, preservation of oral tradition, and increased revenue for local healers and farmers.