Con-Res Alumni Laurie-Jo Jones has been in South Africa for the past several weeks working with orange farmers in the town of Citrusdal (north of Cape Town). No - she hasn't given up on the conflict resolution world to take up the life of a citrus farmer. Laurie-Jo is working with the Farmer-to-Farmer program, teaching organizational and development skills to farmers. Most of these farmers are from previously disadvantaged groups who have been the recent beneficiaries of agricultural lands through the Government of South Africa's land reform program. As such, this program is teaching organization, management, and other important skills to these farmers with the goal of improving their productivity and income.

Laurie Jo says that she had really good responses from her trainee's - about 150 in all- despite working with less than ideal conditions and resources."I have to be
really creative and improvise and make the best out of the situation" she says.
She added: "there's much work to be done! My organizational management and conflict resolution skills are definitely coming in handy!"