La Plata it is:)
The switch to Argentina was smoothly handled by the FSD staff and I am set to fly out of Columbus at 5pm on September 28th. My new organization is basically a non-profit journal that likes to get its hands wet in community development initiatives. A far cry from an NGO that focuses on greenhouse agriculture in isolated Andean villages, but heck, I can always do Bolivia in a few more years (maybe while i'm running away from debt accrued in graduate school!).
I'll be living in La Plata, which is a city about 45 miles to the southwest of Buenos Aires. My job detail is vague right now as the workplan will be developed during my first week with the organization, but I know i'll be working on something to do with the following:
- helping with an international semiar on climate change
- creating a GIS and maps about rural agricultural villages
- following up on some sustainable agriculture initiatives implemented by the World Bank
- investigating Yerba Mate production in the province of Misiones
Follow the tenish week internship at my new blog:
http://stanichinargentina.blogspot.com
Friday, September 26, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Bolivia No More
I am sad to say, I have decided to withdraw from the Bolivia program. Not knowing whether or not the political turmoil is anywhere near being resolved, sketchy information about my flight status from American Airlines, and Bolivia's ever increasing distrust towards the USA left me a bit unsettled. The withdraw of the Peace Corps from Bolivia tipped my swelling unease into a loss of patience and I decided to look for other options. Fortunately the Foundation for Sustainable Development (FSD) has plenty of other programs in Argentina and Nicaragua so I am checking into what is available and should know my alternative placement in a few days. A program in La Plata, Argentina (just southeast of Buenos Aires) looks promising.
Antsy in Columbus...
Antsy in Columbus...
Friday, September 12, 2008
Over-rested in Columbus
September 10th was supposed to be the big day, out of the US and into Bolivia! Wrong. I made it to the airport and checked in with US Air no problem, then jaunted over to check in with American. The clerk gave me apprehensively surprised look and notified me that my flight was canceled due to civil unrest, grrrr.
What exactly does this mean? Well, the departments (comparable to a state) of Santa Cruz, Beni, and Pando do not want to be part of the country any longer, and the rest of Bolivia thinks they are being absurd, so there is a lot of tension. A rough sketched big picture is as follows...
Over the last few hundred years Bolivia has been run by various elite circles that do a good job keeping wealth to themselves. The past ruling classes have not put the interests of the majority first and subsequently there has arisen an abysmal rich-poor gap. Let me emphasize that distribution of wealth is very uneven. The country is roughly composed as follows: 60% indigenous, 30% Mestizo (Euro-indians), 10% European descent. Not surprisingly the European Bolivians have most of the money and have dominated the political system for most of Bolivia's history. Recently the Indigenous majority has realized success in organization and demanding representation in government, and they managed to suprize the world by electing an indigenous coca farmer, Evo Morales, as Bolivia's president in 2006.
Morales has made some significant changes since taking office, one of the bigger ones being the nationalization of many internationally owned and opperated gas/oil extraction opperations. He essenttially told foriegn investors to re-write their contracts so that Bolivia gained a substantially higher return on thier natural resource exports, or they would no longer be allowed to opperate in country. Large scale socialist reforms are a big part of his ticket and he is adamant about redistributing wealth from the wealthy 10-30% to the impovershed indigenous 60ish%. One of the main targets of this reform policy is the natural gas wealth in the Eastern Bolivian lowlands.
The lowlands consist of multiple departments (Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando) that are fairly wealthy due to the large natural gas reserves in the region. The classic scenerio of few very wealthy people owning most of the land still exists throughout much of these departments, so Morales has decided to break up the land and doll it out to the poor. Morales also wants more of revenue from the natural gas to fatten federal coffers (for infrastructural improvments of some sort) instead of individual's wallets. As you might imaine, those who are profiting immensely off this land are not happy with such redistribution of thier wealth. The peoples of Santa Cruz and Pando are especially outspoken about such reforms and have proposed that they should be granted autonomy from Bolivia. Morales and his supporters (most of the Andean poor) don't respect such wishes so there has been a bit of a stand off over the past few months.
It heated up on September 9th when a natural gas pipeline blew up and a bunch of anti-government protests sparked in Santa Cruz. Morales sent troops in to quell the civil disorder but that doesn't seem to have done much. Various roits have arisen throughout the eastern part of the country since then, and law enforcement has effectively lost much sway over public order in a small number of places. Morales, wary of past seperatist movements in Nicaragua and Guatemala that were instigated by the USA, kicked out the US embassador on charges of helping to incite the riots (Chavez followed suit in Venezuela). Hondorus, Ecuador, Venezuela and Cuba openly support his decision. In response the US has kicked out Bolivia and Venezuela's ambassadors; they have not taken kindly to Chavez's threat to send troops to Bolivia if Morales turns up dead any time soon (neither has the Bolivian government).
Things turned tragic yesterday. In Pando anti-Morales protestors stormed into some pro-Morales reform policy demonstrators and shot 8 of them dead. Some 40 were injured. The dead were all indigenous and the shooters are supposedly part of some rampaging youth group that is unchecked by law enforcement. Morales responded by imposing Martial Law on Pando.
The situation's rapid and volitale shift has directed international attention to country. Much of Central and South America support Morales and his opposition to the country's division. The UN secretary general has offered to mediate discussions between opposition leaders and dialouge seems to be soon in comming as the governer of Pando has offered to to meet and discuss the situation with the Bolivian President.
More on this as it develops.
As of right now I am scheduled to leave for Bolivia on the 18th (my rescheduled flight for the 13th was canceled) and I'm sittin here in Columbus partaking in an enthralling combination of setting up my grad school application, transplanting plants, and twiddling my thumbs...
What exactly does this mean? Well, the departments (comparable to a state) of Santa Cruz, Beni, and Pando do not want to be part of the country any longer, and the rest of Bolivia thinks they are being absurd, so there is a lot of tension. A rough sketched big picture is as follows...
Over the last few hundred years Bolivia has been run by various elite circles that do a good job keeping wealth to themselves. The past ruling classes have not put the interests of the majority first and subsequently there has arisen an abysmal rich-poor gap. Let me emphasize that distribution of wealth is very uneven. The country is roughly composed as follows: 60% indigenous, 30% Mestizo (Euro-indians), 10% European descent. Not surprisingly the European Bolivians have most of the money and have dominated the political system for most of Bolivia's history. Recently the Indigenous majority has realized success in organization and demanding representation in government, and they managed to suprize the world by electing an indigenous coca farmer, Evo Morales, as Bolivia's president in 2006.
Morales has made some significant changes since taking office, one of the bigger ones being the nationalization of many internationally owned and opperated gas/oil extraction opperations. He essenttially told foriegn investors to re-write their contracts so that Bolivia gained a substantially higher return on thier natural resource exports, or they would no longer be allowed to opperate in country. Large scale socialist reforms are a big part of his ticket and he is adamant about redistributing wealth from the wealthy 10-30% to the impovershed indigenous 60ish%. One of the main targets of this reform policy is the natural gas wealth in the Eastern Bolivian lowlands.
The lowlands consist of multiple departments (Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando) that are fairly wealthy due to the large natural gas reserves in the region. The classic scenerio of few very wealthy people owning most of the land still exists throughout much of these departments, so Morales has decided to break up the land and doll it out to the poor. Morales also wants more of revenue from the natural gas to fatten federal coffers (for infrastructural improvments of some sort) instead of individual's wallets. As you might imaine, those who are profiting immensely off this land are not happy with such redistribution of thier wealth. The peoples of Santa Cruz and Pando are especially outspoken about such reforms and have proposed that they should be granted autonomy from Bolivia. Morales and his supporters (most of the Andean poor) don't respect such wishes so there has been a bit of a stand off over the past few months.
It heated up on September 9th when a natural gas pipeline blew up and a bunch of anti-government protests sparked in Santa Cruz. Morales sent troops in to quell the civil disorder but that doesn't seem to have done much. Various roits have arisen throughout the eastern part of the country since then, and law enforcement has effectively lost much sway over public order in a small number of places. Morales, wary of past seperatist movements in Nicaragua and Guatemala that were instigated by the USA, kicked out the US embassador on charges of helping to incite the riots (Chavez followed suit in Venezuela). Hondorus, Ecuador, Venezuela and Cuba openly support his decision. In response the US has kicked out Bolivia and Venezuela's ambassadors; they have not taken kindly to Chavez's threat to send troops to Bolivia if Morales turns up dead any time soon (neither has the Bolivian government).
Things turned tragic yesterday. In Pando anti-Morales protestors stormed into some pro-Morales reform policy demonstrators and shot 8 of them dead. Some 40 were injured. The dead were all indigenous and the shooters are supposedly part of some rampaging youth group that is unchecked by law enforcement. Morales responded by imposing Martial Law on Pando.
The situation's rapid and volitale shift has directed international attention to country. Much of Central and South America support Morales and his opposition to the country's division. The UN secretary general has offered to mediate discussions between opposition leaders and dialouge seems to be soon in comming as the governer of Pando has offered to to meet and discuss the situation with the Bolivian President.
More on this as it develops.
As of right now I am scheduled to leave for Bolivia on the 18th (my rescheduled flight for the 13th was canceled) and I'm sittin here in Columbus partaking in an enthralling combination of setting up my grad school application, transplanting plants, and twiddling my thumbs...
Monday, June 16, 2008
Project Overview
Hello all,
In early September I will be leaving the States to embark on a service-internship project in the rural Bolivian Andes. The project will focus on Bolivian montane agriculture and is managed by a Bolivian non-governmental-organization that focuses on rural community development. I will be working to improve production in organic greenhouses that provide food to children who attend rural boarding schools. My time will be divided between developing more effective greenhouse management plans, researching and implementing alternative organic fertilizer and vegetable options, and teaching students how to establish and maintain organic greenhouses when they return to their own communities. Establishment of working greenhouse production models in schools such as the ones I am to work with has shown to be an effective way of teaching students about how sustainable agriculture is inextricably linked with food security.
My project in Bolivia can range anywhere from 2-10 months, as the length is contingent upon how much money I can raise for the trip. I have decided to pay for the initial two months, but to allow for any extension I must raise money through foundation based grants and through personal donations from friends and family. I would love to extend my trip so that I can invest my energy as much as possible into the project, but I need your help. A donation of $125 will extend my trip (includes room, board and logistical costs) by approximately one week, and if I extend my trip past 6 months, my weekly costs will drop to $60/week. Donations of any size will be of great help and I sincerely appreciate your support.
As an additional means of raising funds, I will dedicate some time on my cross-country bicycle trip this summer to asking for donations. If you'd like to follow us on bike trip, check out our touring blog:
http://bikists.blogspot.com/
For more information about the project and funding, read the "The Program" and "Funding" sections below.
In early September I will be leaving the States to embark on a service-internship project in the rural Bolivian Andes. The project will focus on Bolivian montane agriculture and is managed by a Bolivian non-governmental-organization that focuses on rural community development. I will be working to improve production in organic greenhouses that provide food to children who attend rural boarding schools. My time will be divided between developing more effective greenhouse management plans, researching and implementing alternative organic fertilizer and vegetable options, and teaching students how to establish and maintain organic greenhouses when they return to their own communities. Establishment of working greenhouse production models in schools such as the ones I am to work with has shown to be an effective way of teaching students about how sustainable agriculture is inextricably linked with food security.
My project in Bolivia can range anywhere from 2-10 months, as the length is contingent upon how much money I can raise for the trip. I have decided to pay for the initial two months, but to allow for any extension I must raise money through foundation based grants and through personal donations from friends and family. I would love to extend my trip so that I can invest my energy as much as possible into the project, but I need your help. A donation of $125 will extend my trip (includes room, board and logistical costs) by approximately one week, and if I extend my trip past 6 months, my weekly costs will drop to $60/week. Donations of any size will be of great help and I sincerely appreciate your support.
As an additional means of raising funds, I will dedicate some time on my cross-country bicycle trip this summer to asking for donations. If you'd like to follow us on bike trip, check out our touring blog:
http://bikists.blogspot.com/
For more information about the project and funding, read the "The Program" and "Funding" sections below.
Monday, May 26, 2008
The Program
I have just been informed of my acceptance into the Foundation of Sustainable Development’s (FSD) internship program in BOLIVIA! FSD is an organization based in the United States which offers a variety of volunteer or internship opportunities in various development organizations throughout the world. Please visit the FSD website for more information on their mission.
http://www.fsdinternational.org/about
WHEN - I will be starting up on September 13th, 2008 and finishing as late as July 18th, 2009. The final date is contingent upon how much money I can generate through fund raising and foundation-based grants. The longer I am working in the country, the better I will be able to integrate into the Bolivian culture and ensure proper development of a sustainable program.
WHERE - I have been tentatively placed in the non-governmental organization (NGO) Centro de Promocion Rural "Jesรบs Maria" (CEPRUJEM), in Cochabamaba, Bolivia. CEPRUJEM works in three rural Bolivian villages through and there respective boarding schools to create development models that other regions of Bolivia can implement with limited funding and resources. The models focus on integration of primary and secondary schools with public health, community support services, agricultural development and the maintenance of organic greenhouses. I will be participating in the management and maintenance of greenhouses.
WHAT - I will be working in the "Organic Agriculture Cultivation" program of CEPRUJEM.
This program was created as an “organic production model”, designed for boarding schools to utilize a resource for student meals as well as teach students more about food, nutrition and agriculture. CEPRUJEM has installed many greenhouses about the three villages they work that have resulted in a large system of production. These greenhouses create high quality organic produce and provide food for the students who reside at the schools. These greenhouses also serve as training centers for local youth, where they can participate in intensive participative agriculture lessons once a week. Students that participate in this program spend one day per week learning from a technician in the classroom and another day of the week working hands on in the greenhouse. Community members are also welcome to participate in the maintenance and technical training in farming and agriculture that takes place in the greenhouses. The ultimate goal is to have students bring their knowledge back to their homes and communities where they can construct their own greenhouse and cultivate their own produce. In most communities, there is very little production other than corn, wheat and potatoes—so integrating other nutritious vegetables is essential in the battle against malnourishment.
Interns in this program:
- Work in the greenhouses, assisting in the cultivation and harvesting processes.
- Produce and utilize organic fertilizers.
- Design a structured work plan for greenhouse and production activities.
For more detailed information on the CEPRUJEM and their other programs, please visit: http://www.fsdinternational.org/node/view/438
HOW MUCH - I will work with the program a minimum of 8 weeks, but if funding allows, I will remain in Bolivia with CEPRUJEM for up to 44 weeks. 8 weeks in the Bolivian FSD internship program will require $3,300 (which I am paying for out of my own pocket). Additional time becomes considerably cheaper as 42 weeks requires a total of $6,650. This fee includes housing with a host family, three meals per day, all operational fees required by CEPRUJEM, FSD internship training, and health insurance. This fee does not include air-fare, which will cost about $1,400 round trip (which I will also cover). When the costs of all factors are added together, the minimum I need to generate for a two month program will fall around $5,500. Any extra money that I generate will be directed toward my extension with the program.
Funding
Participants in FSD's internship program must provide their own funding for this opportunity. It may be surprising that I am required to pay and am not being paid for such service work, but keep in mind that this is a service based internship that focuses on providing development resources to the poorest country in South America, CEPRUJEM has no resources to allocate to the developed world, and FSD exists to allocate resources from the developed to the developing world. The fees paid to FSD go directly to funding my expenses:
1. Room and Board
2. In-Country Support and Administration
3. Program Maintenance
4. Health Insurance
5. Legal and Logistical Costs
It is these fees that the host organizations cannot afford to pay. FSD makes every effort to ensure that these costs are minimized. By funding my own trip I will benefit a host organization most effectively while gaining the experience of a lifetime.
Because I need to generate all funding for the project, any financial assistance would be of great help. Since FSD is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID/EIN: 56-1938284), those who file taxes in the United States may claim any donation made out to FSD (in my name) as a tax deduction.
1. Room and Board
2. In-Country Support and Administration
3. Program Maintenance
4. Health Insurance
5. Legal and Logistical Costs
It is these fees that the host organizations cannot afford to pay. FSD makes every effort to ensure that these costs are minimized. By funding my own trip I will benefit a host organization most effectively while gaining the experience of a lifetime.
Because I need to generate all funding for the project, any financial assistance would be of great help. Since FSD is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (Tax ID/EIN: 56-1938284), those who file taxes in the United States may claim any donation made out to FSD (in my name) as a tax deduction.
If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation, you can pay through the FSD website via PayPal, or you may write a check payable to the Foundation of Sustainable Development, with my name ("Nicholas Stanich") in the check's memo. Please be sure to include your return address so that FSD may acknowledge your contribution. All checks must be in US dollars.
In order to contribute directly to FSD through PayPal. Please follow the following instructions:
1. Visit the website address is: http://www.fsdinternational.org/?q=donate
2. Locate the phrase “To pay internship/volunteer application fees, program fees, or to make a donation toward a participant's program fees” and click the icon “Make a Donation” This will take you to the FSD PayPal site.
3. At the top of the main page, enter the amount of your payment.
4. Scan down the page to a series of credit card icons (Visa, Mastercard, AmEx, etc.), located below the phrase “Don't have a PayPal account? Use your credit card or bank account (where available).” Click “Continue”
5. Enter your credit card information on the following page.
6. Click “Review Order and Continue”
7. On the following page, you can choose to “Continue by Logging In” (if you have a PayPal account, enter your email and password) or “Continue Without Logging In” (if you do not have a PayPal account. You are not required to create an account to complete the transaction.) Select how you will proceed and click the appropriate link.
8. You will have a chance to review your payment details before completing the transaction. IMPORTANT: Below your payment details, you will see a small link that says “Purpose of Payment.” Click the “+” to expand a text box. Enter the purpose of your payment, noting where the funds should be directed (Write - "Program fees – Nicholas Stanich project in Bolivia.") Completing this step ensures that the payment is assigned to the correct recipient.
9. Once you have included comments on the purpose of your payment, click “Pay now”This completes your payment. Please save a copy of your PayPal receipt. You may be asked to provide the receipt to FSD for verification.
If you would prefer writing a check, please mail it to:
Foundation for Sustainable Development
517 Potrero Avenue, Suite B
San Francisco, California 94110, USA
Again, please be sure to include my name and your return address on both mailed and paypal contributions!
If you are interested in making a donation directly to me (without tax-deductible receipt), you may do so through my PayPal button on this site, or by mailing a check directly to me at:
2615 Open Bay Ct.
Galena, OH 43021
2615 Open Bay Ct.
Galena, OH 43021
Please feel free to contact me with any concerns or questions.
Thank you!
Nick
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)