2010 UPDATES: • Status of Film • Outreach Strategy • Interactive Elements

The indigenous women of Central America unify to spread the lost knowledge of an ancient Maya food source in order to put an end to hunger, poverty, deforestation, and gender inequality.

The people of Central America, for many generations have suffered the sorrows of poverty, hunger and malnutrition. In 2001, Erika Vohman, an American biologist, founded the Equilibrium Fund to launch the Maya Nut Program, a grassroots approach to creating change through the empowerment of women. The Maya Nut Program provides a new paradigm of rainforest conservation, which focuses on women as caretakers of the family and the environment. This pioneering program uses a locally abundant tropical rainforest resource, the Maya Nut (Brosimum alicastrum) to help rural Central American communities solve problems of deforestation, poverty, malnutrition, unemployment, dependence on export markets and exclusion of women. Seeds of Inspiration follows the transformational stories of key women characters living in La Bendicion, who have emerged as leaders of the Maya Nut Revolution.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has".
˜ Margaret Mead

Women are the primary beneficiaries of the Equilibrium funds programs because experience has shown that improving conditions for women, results in improved conditions for the entire family. Indeed, women participating in the Maya Nut program are healthier, have higher self-esteem and are more concerned with rainforest conservation and reforestation. These women gain confidence that they can solve family and community problems without outside help.

In the beginning, Erika worked with the women to create the first Maya Nut recipes. They created savory dishes from the fresh Maya Nut such as burgers, tamales, tortillas, and soup; And with flour from the roasted seed, the women brewed fresco, baked bread, pancakes, and cookies. After this great success, the women took on leading workshops all across Central America to educate other communities. The film will explore the dynamics of women taking on leadership roles, and for the first time bridging the gender gap and becoming financially independent.

Training rural women about the Maya nut has made them champions of rain forest conservation and reforestation, as well as entrepreneurs who turn Maya nut products into income. Training empowers women to educate others in neighboring communities, subsequently spreading the wealth. The dramatic transformation of the womens self-esteem and independence is astounding. They are now opening bank accounts, and many are going back to school to learn to read and write.

Focusing on the mother/daughter relationships, the film will show how the Maya Nut revolution is impacting the next generation of women. The mothers who are now modeling a new behavior represent a paradigm shift for women in rural communities. This underlying and powerful theme will be explored through the relationship of mothers who teach and inspire their daughters, passing along the torch to the next generation of young women who will perpetuate this movement. By focusing on the future generations that will perpetuate the legacy of the Maya Nut, this ancestral knowledge that was once lost, can be kept alive. Through this program, the children learn first hand the powerful contribution that each individual can have over their personal well being, and the well being of society as a whole.