MAPs ACE pilot testing in Rodrigues (Mauritius)
Pilot testing within the MAPs Academy – Medicinal and Aromatic PlantS ACademy for female Entrepreneurs in Africa (MAP´s ACE) project was carried out from 19 to 23 March 2026 on Rodrigues Island, Mauritius.
The pilot programme combined theoretical training with practical demonstrations and concluded with the awarding of certificates to participants who successfully completed the training.
An important part of the activity was also the collection of structured participant post-training feedback, which will support comparison with previous pilot testings implemented in Kenya and South Africa and contribute to the further refinement of the MAP´s ACE training methodology.
The training was delivered under well-prepared organisational conditions and received very positive feedback from participants, confirming the relevance and quality of the programme content.
The sessions were led by Dr. Astrid van Ginkel and Dr. Bhavish Jugurnath from the University of Mauritius. The training materials were developed through international cooperation with Prof. Ákos Máthé (Hungary), Karen Swanepoel (SAEOPA, South Africa), and Esther Ngina (Herbspice Market, Kenya). The overall coordination of the programme was ensured by Gabriel Adamek on behalf of NGO No Gravity, Slovakia.
This pilot testing represents another important step in strengthening the transferability of the MAP´s ACE approach and in supporting women’s entrepreneurship in the field of medicinal and aromatic plants.
More photo documentation is available in the Galleries section. Link to MAP´s ACE POST on LinkediN.