tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32835871294259351802024-03-19T03:59:11.203-07:00Explore. Serve. Understand.Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-61026888299096706742010-06-22T22:16:00.001-07:002010-06-22T22:16:52.194-07:00"No, I don't want to bathe with cold water." Notes from WVU's Mexico Service-Learning CourseThanks again to Kat Stackel, WVU-Amizade Course Facilitator, for contributing from the road: <br />
<br />
Here goes my last e-mail from Mexico, and hopefully I can try to encompass our entire experience so far. I think that I should preface this e-mail by saying that Mexico is HUGE and every place is so different that it is difficult to give an explanation of "how it is," and better to remind you that our experience has been limited to two parts of a very diverse country. In the words of a student I'm traveling with, "my stay in Guanajuato has made me question my previous classification of Mexico as a poor, developing country lacking the infrastructure necessary to maintain safe and healthy conditions." For the last week I've been questioning my assumptions of Latin America in a new way. I know that my experiences in the Peace Corps and otherwise are the backdrop of my knowledge and this is something different.<br />
<br />
To start, we finished our volunteer projects in Puerto Morelos on 6/14. The kids at the pre-k center were an absolute delight. I think that my students would say they learned more from the kids than they actually taught them. Their Spanish went from zero to about 2.0 pretty fast.. with them having a great, big vocabulary for directing students to learn and play, and a working knowledge of enough Spanish to ensure their survival. <br />
<br />
Our favorite project was completing a video translation for the visitors' center in that town. It was an 8-minute video about the reef national park and the history of the settlement. At first we were confused on how we would go about this project since I am the only one who could understand the video. Well, my English-translation skills are mas o menos when it comes to sentence construction, and with a grammar expert in the group, it turned out to be a very inclusive project for all. We translated all of the text, timed the video perfectly, and re-recorded all of the audio in English. It was fun, frustrating, hilarious and completely satisfying.<br />
<br />
We were sad to say goodbye to the Puerto, but we think we'll be back. Actually, all 5 of us ended up taking a parasitic souvenir from the place, which wrecked the beginning of our stay in Guanajuato, but left a special memory in our hearts for forever. Dignity was lost, but things could only go uphill at this point!!<br />
<br />
We arrived in Guanajuato at the level of "fist" on a scale of fist, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (think hands). Two got sick first, then two more, and then our "MVP" who lasted until the 3rd day. We were out of commission for about 4 days total and the Mexican mothers were having a field day with suggestions for our improvement. With my help, the students learned some new and very important vocabulary:<br />
<br />
No, no quiero bañarme con agua frio... No, I don't want to bathe with cold water<br />
<br />
No, no quiero tomar bicarbonato con limón...No, I don't want to drink baking soda with lime<br />
<br />
No, no quiero sopa de verduras... No, I don't want vegetable soup<br />
<br />
Last one- very important. <br />
<br />
Since we've recovered, we are discovering how different Guanajuato is from the Puerto. We are up at 6,700 feet and north of Mexico City, and our homestays were arranged with some pretty wealthy people in the area. In contrast, we are volunteering with some extremely disadvantaged groups. Most of the beginning of work was filled with heartbreak and guilty feelings. We are moving past that somewhat and getting down to what needs to be done. <br />
<br />
Our project here is to work with an NGO called Arco Iris, and a convent, battered women's shelter, and girls' orphanage. Arco Iris is a group of Mexican, American and Canadian women that work with the latter 3 groups. The latter 3 are all inter-connected yet separate at the same time. At the convent, we've been doing some serious spring cleaning for a group of nuns that are elderly and need a lot of help. I am always hesitant to use this word when talking about volunteering, because it has a lot of implications and the power structure is skewed, but, they need helping hands. <br />
<br />
We are also working with the children of the women's shelter. Pretty much, these children were taken out of their homes because of death threats against their mothers, and they are currently at risk of being kidnapped by other family members. They were taken out of school, relocated, and are not able to re-register until the next full year begins. They do not have their friends, other family members, many of their possessions, etc. We are playing with them, working with them to express certain values (given by their group leader), and for those that care to learn- teaching English. <br />
<br />
In the girls' orphanage, we are simply spending time with a group of 30 girls that is otherwise only attended to by the two very busy people that run the orphanage. The girls range in age from 4-17 and it is clear that they all have very different needs. We are happy to take a few hours to just play with them. Simple things like coloring books, sidewalk chalk and jump ropes can really change a child's day and so that's how we went armed. I love watching my Amizade group remember all of their games from camp, and the girls are loving learning them. <br />
<br />
This is how we will continue our last week in Mexico, with slight interruptions for certain (ahem), World cup games, never to be missed (the hum of those horns can be heard at any time from any place here in GTO). Also, we are going to be attending a special ceremony for some of the girls and will hopefully get to visit another much bigger orphanage before we depart. It's been a great learning experience.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading about our adventure. The rest of the pictures (so far) have been added to this album:<br />
http://picasaweb.google.com/k.stackel/MexicoWAmizade2010#<br />
<br />
- By Katherine StackelEric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-74551669166511500352010-06-06T17:19:00.000-07:002010-06-06T17:26:34.673-07:00WVU - Amizade Latin American History Service-Learning Course Rolling in Mexico!A GUEST POST from Katherine Stackel, Amizade's Facilitator for the WVU-Amizade Latin American History course taught online by Dr. Evan Widders, and including excellent cultural experience and service opportunities in Puerto Morelos and Guanjuato. Take a look: <br />
<br />
Amizade site coordinator Luis (*see below) and I have been leading the students around and getting everybody ready for our month in Mexico. Since the first day things have been great. We are staying at Luis's family's inn, a 10-room hotel on the beach. It is rustic yet beautiful, and it has been very interesting to learn more about this region. I've traveled through the Yucatan peninsula before, but the other times what I saw was a little different. <br />
<br />
We are working on a couple of different service projects. First, we are teaching ESL in a kindergarten across the highway on "the other side" of Puerto Morelos. This community is divided in a sense, because half of the town is located on the side of the highway with the beach (the highway runs parallel to the beach). On "the other side" you can definitely see what a difference it makes when community members do not see the good impact of tourism, i.e. money. The houses are much bigger on this side, and although I would call this a sleepy town, there are still various small, and professional, tour companies here. Many people speak at least some English. The schools on this side, since they are visible to tourists, are in better financial situations because they receive many more donations than those on the other side. <br />
<br />
On the other side most of the houses are "casas de interes social" (social-interest houses: built by the government for people with no savings/money. These citizens can get these houses by agreeing to pay a small-ish monthly fee for the following 15 years-- though people in town say that the fee is actually quite exorbitant compared to what the houses are actually worth-- credit options for the poor... always a debate-able theme...). Luis and his family, and Amizade, have worked on the other side of the highway for years. <br />
<br />
Because of this project our days have been filled with hours of planning. Kids learn so fast! We have been having fun trying to remember all of the songs that helped us learn things when we were children. Songs we have sung so far are "one little, two little, three little indians," "hokey pokey" (to learn body parts), "head, shoulders, knees and toes," an invented song about colors, among others. There is no shame in this work. The kids love to see us make fools of ourselves. They love learning English and have been really good about participating. But I think their favorite activity is dragging us around the playground. There's an album at the end here. <br />
<br />
Other than that we spent a good part of today translating a video for the tourist information center in town. <br />
<br />
Basically, Playa del Carmen and Cancun's mega-tourism infrastructures have destroyed much of the ecosystem in this part of the country. There is not sufficient infrastructure for controlling these resorts. Puerto Morelos is located almost directly between the two. Giant building projects have destroyed reef areas, caused flooding, sewage problems, and are not really providing jobs for people in this area or (for the most part) in the cities where the operations are located. It seems that most of the workers in these big places come from other areas of the country, or other countries in the world. This is not to say that the region doesn't gain from this tourism. The transportation systems (highways, airports, etc) are phenomenal- which can be of great help. Having such large, important projects in the area has also brought high schools and even a university to the area. There is a give and take happening, but it is definitely happening more on the latter end. <br />
<br />
Puerto Morelos is an extremely organized community dedicated to changing that. In 1995 the community got together and gained enough support to get national park status for their area. They are protecting 21 km of reef, and some great mangrove areas that are important for fish hatching and bird migration. They got government support to limit the amount of development that is happening in the area. They continually lobby against plans to continue developing the town (and especially limit its tourism operations) until they are able to achieve proper sewage and water control. The workers at the tourist information center (and many hotels involved in these projects) volunteer their time for these efforts. You can sense a big culture of conservation and it is very refreshing. They are also careful of how they talk about the mega-tourism operations. Their idea is to learn from them and continue working towards positive change and better regulations. <br />
<br />
At night we have 2-hour long classes based on academic service-learning articles, and the students' overall experiences and how they compare to the stereotypes that we brought to the country. We are analyzing our own way of life as well, and how it relates or absolutely does not relate to what we find during our experience. We will continue working on these and other projects (eg. cleaning out and preparing for organic gardens, etc) until June 15th, when we head to Guanajuato in the central hills. We have other service projects planned for that time. I am lucky to be traveling with 4 very open-minded, well-behaved and somewhat reserved (and observant) college students. We are learning a lot from our Mexican partners and we know that we are all very lucky to be having this experience in paradise!<br />
<br />
Here is a short album of everything so far: http://picasaweb.google.com/k.stackel/MexicoWAmizade2010#Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-86892148592878030542010-05-27T07:19:00.000-07:002010-05-27T07:19:58.245-07:00Farleigh Dickinson University Students Report on their Amizade Navajo Nation ExperienceCheck out THIS Feedback. And many thanks to Jackie Chua for sharing the team's feedback with us at Amizade! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b>Kadi Cisse </b>"Life changing experience" </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b>Anassa Tulloch </b>My life went beyond the stereotype.</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b>Christina Marie Holowinski </b>"I would do this every spring break. I am so glad I got the opportunity to make a difference in someone's life. Even though we only spent just a few days with the kids, I know I have made great bonds with the people I met. It was definitely a life changing experience.</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b>Olga Fridman </b>"I gained a lot more than I expected and never imagined that I would have the opportunity to experience such a fascinating and surreal culture."</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b>Angel Rose Santiago </b>" The best thing I ever did with my life, hands down."</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b>Simone Hawkins </b>"Arizona was beyond amazing. I learned to lead with my heart, something i couldnt have learned anywhere else." </span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b>Kevin Celisca </b>"Its an experience you have to have in your college career."<br />
"The people, the culture, and the way of life changed how I see my own life."</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b>Stefania Trelles </b>"College is a time for new experiences. Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is an experience no one should go with out. Although it was only a week, ASB not only allowed us to make a difference in the lives of those on the Navajo Nation but also gave us the chance to reflex on our own lives. Whether we were climbing to the top of a Canyon, playing games with Navajo kids, herding sheep, or bonding around the bonfire, each moment of ASB changed us more than we could have ever imagined. "</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b>Jordan DeGroat </b>"my experience on the spring break trip to tuba city will always have an imprint on my heart and mind. The experience completely changed my perspective on how precious the life given to me is here in New Jersey. It is also comforting and inspirational to see first hand a selfless society in the United States that are proud of who they are, where they live, and the kindness they share with others. I will never forget the friendships and new cultural views I have taken away from the Navajo Nation and would not have to think twice if given a similar opportunity like this in the future."</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b>Ludger Sparks Deryce </b>One word extraordinary…..I had one of the most amazing times in Arizona. It is the ultimate college experience, a life changing experience. It helps with setting new goals in life and refreshing your memory with the old priorities. The Alternative spring break should be an ongoing program at FDU for the years to come; it is an experience that could only benefit the school in the long run and shape student character in the process.</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b>Caroline Malia </b>What we learned in a week was more than I will ever learn from books or class lectures. The culture and tradition made me appreciate my own culture and everything I take for granted. The trip left me thinking what else can I do and learn. I would go back in a heartbeat just maybe with more sunscreen! Thank you to everyone who helped us and please continue to support other trips!</span></span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"><br />
</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><b>Madeleine Morales </b>One of the very many memorable moments that stood out for me while on this Alternative Spring Break in Arizona, was the enthusiasm, flexibility and positive attitude that everyone in our group had every morning. We had somewhat of a basic schedule everyday, but there were a few days that we had to make changes. Tracey, the site director complimented us every day at how well we all adapted to the activities planned each day. When we're in school we have our routines and at times feel uneasy about not sticking to them. Going on trips like these allow students to take a break from hectic schedules to get to know other students and learn about new cultures.</span></span></span></span>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-37030956127996144032010-03-16T06:39:00.001-07:002010-03-16T06:39:51.881-07:00Amizade Plays Role in Haiti Forum at West Virginia University<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Aftershock: Knowing Haiti Now</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The Earthquake in Context—History, Politics, Culture</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">a public forum</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b>7:00 pm</b><b></b></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b>March 23, 2010</b><b></b></span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Ming Hsieh Hall (Oglebay G20)</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">The January 12 earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince launched Haiti into the world’s spotlight with scenes of unimaginable suffering. Too often, those are the only media images to come out of Haiti. And they leave us with more questions than answers: Why did the buildings fall so easily? How can Haiti be rebuilt? Will international aid do good? Does the Haitian political system work? And, amidst dire conditions of poverty and disaster, how do the Haitian people manage to show such resilience and faith?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">This forum aims to answer these questions and more by putting the earthquake in context. Panelists from across the university will discuss Haitian history, US-Haiti relations, the economics of development, and media response to the earthquake. There will be plenty of Q&A with the audience following the presentations. Haitian music will play as we serve refreshments following the discussion.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Panelists</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><u><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Karleen Jones West (Political Science)</span></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">"The Impact of Colonialism on Haiti's Development"<span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><u><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">James Siekmeier (History)</span></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“US-Haitian Relations in Historical Context”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><u><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Kayode Ogunfolabi (English)</span></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">"Surviving the Kingdom of this World, Or Transgressing the Margins of Imagination" </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><u><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Eric Hartman (Amizade and International Studies)</span></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">“The Solutions are Small, The Effects are Large: Locally-Driven Development”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">Moderator</span></strong></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><u>Gwen Bergner</u> (English)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;">"Haiti in the US Imagination"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Exhibitor</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><u><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Michael Vercelli (Music)</span></span></u></div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: small;">"Survival Instincts: African Musical Influence in Haitian Vodou Tradition</span></div></span></div>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-33364402934036362822010-03-12T11:10:00.000-08:002010-03-12T11:10:23.172-08:00Yes, We will Offer a 2010-11 Winter Break Ghana Service-Learning Course!<object height="432" width="576"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/609478548083" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/609478548083" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="576" height="432"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<a href="http://amizade.org/service_learning/courses/titles/development_social_change_the_gold_coast.html">Click here for more information on this past winter break's course</a>.Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-83952953530755750802010-03-06T06:55:00.000-08:002010-03-06T07:05:27.416-08:00Tanzania: Water Access Updates from the FieldMany thanks to Stephanie Vickery and Brandon Cohen for putting together the paragraphs I'm simply pasting below. And thanks to Stephanie, Brandon, the All People Be Happy Foundation, and the many, many other Amizade volunteers and essentially good people who are volunteering, serving, and extending themselves to build a better world.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KxRHKSm8TRdJXAgzPYDEdMI7iUbpqDGDxixDqEZbxDXUuraE2H5y_7LBTas_ytoC509J056r5yXmYFz-hxB_eCg_utl2Kcw7KRyhYUJXGatFNvKNxQjlLW0q1zN_AZXqE836TibeZQg/s1600-h/chonyoyo+tank+approaching+completion.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2KxRHKSm8TRdJXAgzPYDEdMI7iUbpqDGDxixDqEZbxDXUuraE2H5y_7LBTas_ytoC509J056r5yXmYFz-hxB_eCg_utl2Kcw7KRyhYUJXGatFNvKNxQjlLW0q1zN_AZXqE836TibeZQg/s400/chonyoyo+tank+approaching+completion.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The community has decided to shift gears in their approach this year, and are using Amizade/APBH volunteers and funds in three new ways: (1) quality of construction (2) quantity of water-drinkers, not water-tanks (3) use of family labor and local materials. The real big news is in the construction of the Chonyoyo Water Tank, which will soon be able to provide hundreds of people with year-round access to clean water!</span><br />
<div><br />
</div><div><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><div><b>Chonyoyo</b><span style="white-space: pre;"><b> Tank:</b></span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Prior to the commencement of the 2010 Amizade spring semester program in Karagwe, Tanzania in Spring 2010, Amizade signed a partnership with Mavuno - the leading water tank experts in the district. This partnership has yielded a significant amount of materials (such as cement) and volunteer labor to allow for the construction of a massive, 300,000 L water tank in the village of Chonyoyo. The manual labor that has gone into this project is almost unbelievable: a hole, deeper than 5 meters, dug entirely by hand! The gutters feeding water into the catchment area run along the roof of a very large, food storage building which is also approaching completion. The plan is for this storage structure to enable farmers to transform their wasted surplus into profit, and to provide food for purchase during the rainy seasons- after harvest has long passed and people are struggling to put well rounded meals together. The vision also involves the purchasing of communal farming machinery to be stored at the building. The water from this project will provide an incredible amount of relief for the community in the very near future, literally providing several hundred people with access to clean water, as well as nurturing the unfolding of the master plan: </div><div><br />
</div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> Working in conjunction with Amizade staff, </span>Mavuno recently sent an application to the U.S. Embassy in Tanzania for funds to build a dormitory with the capacity for 240 female students at the secondary level. Funds have already been secured through the relationship between Mavuno and German Engineers Without Borders for two smaller tanks which will provide the dormitories with water. Meanwhile, the huge tank Amizade/All People Be Happy Foundation has helped to fund, will provide water not only to community members in the village, but will also meet the needs of what will be the teacher's quarters and the administration building (set to follow the construction of the the dormitory.)</div><div><br />
</div><div><b>Rukole Tank:</b></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>For the first time, Amizade is embarking upon a family sized water tank made of all local materials! With the expertise and direction of Mavuno, which has installed nearly 500 water tanks since their initial tank in 1993, the spring semester group and Joseph Baraka of Mavuno have worked together to select the recipient of a 6, 285 L tank. This is more than twice the size of the 3,000 L plastic tanks Amizade and All People Be Happy Foundation gifted in the past. The model that this NGO employs begins with referencing its list of applicants who have applied to Mavuno specifically for a water tank. After visiting three applicants and assessing the composition and needs of each family, a 60 year old woman by the name of Verdiana, and the three orphans she is raising in the village of Rukole, were chosen as this semester's beneficiaries. There are two young boys, Franky and Faston, ages 2 and 3, and a 7 year old girl, Bertina, enrolled in her first year of primary school. The water that is used by this family until the tank is completed and filled with rainfall, continues to be fetched from a natural source which involves one heck of a journey. The trip is typically made one to two times per day, taking 3 hours for each roundtrip, and involving mountainous terrain which would be challenging for anyone- especially for very young children and an elderly woman like Verdiana. </div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Amizade has provided the funds for cement, gutters, nails, and labor costs, while the family has gathered stone, sand, water (fetched with the help of neighbors) and aggregate. This model has been proven to foster a sense of ownership and responsibility, and is a fertile avenue for direct empowerment as it engages the families in the installation of the tank, and enables them to see that in addition to receiving this assistance, they are capable of improving their own situation.<br />
<br />
If you want to make a difference and support this effort, <a href="http://www.amizade.org/resources/walkwalk2010.html">take part in the 3rd Annual Water Walk for Women's Rights</a> in Morgantown or Pittsburgh, take part in a <a href="http://www.amizade.org/service_learning/courses/titles/life_stories_and_politics_of_rights.html">service-learning course</a> or <a href="http://www.amizade.org/volunteer/open_volunteer_programs/titles/water_rights_education_rural_tanzania.html">volunteer program</a> with Amizade in Tanzania, <a href="http://www.amizade.org/store/donations.html">or simply donate directly.</a></div></span></div>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-38848885802349887152010-02-17T07:51:00.001-08:002010-02-17T07:51:00.883-08:00WVUToday: WVU students in Ghana help raise $1,500 to build library<a href=http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2010/02/17/wvu-students-in-ghana-help-raise-1-500-to-build-library-over-winter-break>WVUToday: WVU students in Ghana help raise $1,500 to build library </a><br /><br />Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com">ShareThis</a>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-27611037674349431632010-02-10T20:41:00.000-08:002010-02-10T20:43:38.603-08:00"Bring a Friend" Amizade Study Abroad Scholarship Program<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b></b></span><br />
<b></b><br />
<b></b><br />
<b><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Always wanted to do study abroad, but uncertain about going alone? </b></span></li>
</ul><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Ready to make a difference, but want someone with you through the experience</b>? </span></b></span></li>
</ul><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><b>Amizade is offering $350 scholarships for students who take the plunge, see the world, jump into the adventure, and make a difference - <u>together</u>. </b></span></b></span></li>
</ul></b><br />
<div><br />
</div><div>Programs offered this summer include: </div><div><br />
</div><div><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><a href="http://amizade.org/service_learning/courses/titles/remembrance_history_genocide_prevention.html" style="color: #2a5db0;" target="_blank"><b>Never Again: Remembrance, History, and Genocide Prevention</b></a> in Germany / Poland: 3 History, 3 Service-Learning Credits; Challenging Learning; Service to support historical landscape preservation and Holocaust Remembrance. </li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><a href="http://amizade.org/service_learning/courses/titles/reform_revolution_modern_latin_american_history.html" style="color: #2a5db0;" target="_blank"><b>Reform and Revolution: Modern Latin American History</b></a> in Mexico: 3 History, 3 Service-Learning Credits; Consideration of the last 60 years of Latin American History; Service in cooperation with local schools; travel through Guanajuato and along the Caribbean Coast. </li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><b><a href="http://amizade.org/service_learning/courses/titles/literature_and_politics_northern_ireland.html" style="color: #2a5db0;" target="_blank">Peace, Reconciliation and Identity: Literature and Politics</a></b> in Northern Ireland<a href="http://amizade.org/service_learning/courses/titles/literature_and_politics_northern_ireland.html" style="color: #2a5db0;" target="_blank">:</a> 3 English, 3 Service-Learning Credits; Consideration of the role of literature in shaping identity; Service in cooperation with local youth organizations. </li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><b><a href="http://amizade.org/service_learning/courses/titles/life_stories_and_politics_of_rights.html" style="color: #2a5db0;" target="_blank">Local to Global: Life Stories and the Politics of Rights</a> </b>in Tanzania: 3 English, 3 Service-Learning Credits; Literary Ethnography as an important technique in gathering the stories of women in rural Africa; Service in cooperation with a Women's Rights organization and a sustainable development organization. </li>
</ul></span><br />
<div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Taking advantage of the </span></span><b><i><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Bring</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">a</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Friend</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">programs is easy - simply write, "</span></span><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Bring</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">a</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">Friend</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">: YOUR </span></span><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">FRIEND</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">'S NAME" at the end of the "Background Information" section of your Amizade application. You'll immediately receive the $350 scholarship against your program fee - and your </span></span><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">friend</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;"> will receive the same (for </span></span><span class="il" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;">a</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #eeeeee;"> total of $700 between both of you) when he or she indicates your name in the same way. </span></span></span></b></div></div>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-86632866739878989392010-02-08T08:44:00.000-08:002010-02-08T08:44:06.667-08:00We Stand for Human Rights - Amizade Responding to UgandaAs many people are already aware, the Ugandan Parliament has proposed Anti-Gay legislation that <a href="http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/obama-calls-for-civility-at-prayer-breakfast/?scp=1&sq=obama%20uganda&st=cse">President Obama recently and rightly called "odious" and "unconscionable."</a> The proposed law further marginalizes the gay community in Uganda and <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/world/africa/04uganda.html?scp=1&sq=uganda%20gay&st=Search">threatens to hang homosexuals</a>.<br />
<br />
As a global nonprofit organization that emphasizes global citizenship and respecting all individuals' rights, we felt we had to do whatever we could to make our commitment to fundamental human equality clear. Amizade re-routed our Tanzania semester faculty and students to arrive in Northwest Tanzania via Kigali, Rwanda rather than via Kampala, Uganda. We did this because it is safer for all of our students and because we will avoid providing visa fees, airport taxes, and other incidental monies to a government that threatens to persecute a community.<br />
<br />
Previous incidents of systematic violation of human rights make abundantly clear: <br />
<br />
<ul><li>Stand up early. </li>
<li>Stand up often. </li>
<li>Remain standing. </li>
</ul><div>Other nonprofit organizations, universities, and travel companies proceed through or work in Uganda. Frequently safari companies move through Kampala, as well as rafting companies interested in the upper portion of the Nile. If you're interested in expressing your support for human rights and ensuring your funds don't go to persecute the homosexual community in Uganda, it's time to take your business elsewhere. Spread the word. </div><div><br />
</div><div>And of course, just as soon as the Members of Parliament who are advancing this horrible bill take it off the table, we'll be happy to work in Uganda again. Most Ugandans are kind and welcoming. And based on the Ugandans I've met, I'd bet most are - like so many people in so many countries around the world - outraged and upset by the hate-mongering some of their representatives are advancing right now. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Let's stand against hate and for EVERYONE's fundamental human rights, together, now. </div>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-25934398788784674062010-01-18T07:24:00.000-08:002010-01-18T07:24:40.981-08:00Globetrotting with Amizade: Worldwide Traveler Posts from Brazil<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
Lee Spangler has just completed the Brazil portion of his <a href="http://amizadeeric.blogspot.com/2009/11/oregon-man-to-volunteer-around-world.html">round-the-world Amizade experience</a>. He chronicled <a href="http://leesamizadeadventure.blogspot.com/2010/01/santarem-part-3.html">life and challenges</a> in and around the Amazonian community where Amizade works, his <a href="http://leesamizadeadventure.blogspot.com/2010/01/day-in-nature.html">trip through the jungle</a>, and <a href="http://leesamizadeadventure.blogspot.com/2010/01/work-in-progress.html">Amizade's ongoing efforts with volunteers and community members there in Santarem</a>. <br />
<br />
A few photos linked from <a href="http://leesamizadeadventure.blogspot.com/">Lee's blog </a>appear below.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHFWCSULt-t8G6dX3nwRVclxwuvzN3kUfDHMYbK7ouWURWV5mhglDUyoL-G0Xvu3xLSQSBdWE0YoYondJWvolTLevr_1RIduoPr_WuZJzg9LaHumErLTAINHprrR6SAWhu4Lh8hTgMjA/s1600/DSCN4652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyHFWCSULt-t8G6dX3nwRVclxwuvzN3kUfDHMYbK7ouWURWV5mhglDUyoL-G0Xvu3xLSQSBdWE0YoYondJWvolTLevr_1RIduoPr_WuZJzg9LaHumErLTAINHprrR6SAWhu4Lh8hTgMjA/s400/DSCN4652.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Above: Amizade's Site Director Geli Oliveira-Weiss with local children in Santarem.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivn5nEBJyYuiV1qwKWsNcai08-soXwCMLjqxz0yQOpN2djkIuTWtaSppGIkwZniCCXp8iFbMUz4_TxG-F8vP5TwVbqacUH8ahqCKGwFHkmQaXvEgTyzt0bfOcRHVt8QHJSVzuuJu9X8Zo/s1600/DSCN4648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivn5nEBJyYuiV1qwKWsNcai08-soXwCMLjqxz0yQOpN2djkIuTWtaSppGIkwZniCCXp8iFbMUz4_TxG-F8vP5TwVbqacUH8ahqCKGwFHkmQaXvEgTyzt0bfOcRHVt8QHJSVzuuJu9X8Zo/s400/DSCN4648.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Above: A community center underway through Amizade efforts in Santarem, Brazil. The community centers provide young people with desperately needed, safe and productive learning spaces after school. Many thanks to the <a href="http://www.wfu.edu/wowf/2009/20091221.service.php">recent volunteer group from Wake Forest University!</a> <br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">And below, photos from the jungle, the nearby rivers, the city, and local food!<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxbMDLBfAycejgf7cRUwKvk4HRc68JwxfyAk9Cjs_ZO1ktCCX2SptPF_tLhPvlaY6ZztBXVylP9ZpOU_ISZOKkvxw2KpWr4D_AoSfY31k_XnyxiXsBNR1A1umTUQ-TgEaSJzD9YgkaD0/s1600/DSCN4720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxbMDLBfAycejgf7cRUwKvk4HRc68JwxfyAk9Cjs_ZO1ktCCX2SptPF_tLhPvlaY6ZztBXVylP9ZpOU_ISZOKkvxw2KpWr4D_AoSfY31k_XnyxiXsBNR1A1umTUQ-TgEaSJzD9YgkaD0/s400/DSCN4720.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbQZf8FBlUxQe0cD4ctRoHk7lwCi0mcNxQvMLhpfp6uoRcrC1bwIt4tQWTS3NwgLwEPp7dYMzJsv9S8PArrTaF_wpMo1Dh8ISz4lcY11a4jxiAKjY9iyIwAG8hfz_CwPsvQTuy4mN1Z0/s1600/DSCN4670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbQZf8FBlUxQe0cD4ctRoHk7lwCi0mcNxQvMLhpfp6uoRcrC1bwIt4tQWTS3NwgLwEPp7dYMzJsv9S8PArrTaF_wpMo1Dh8ISz4lcY11a4jxiAKjY9iyIwAG8hfz_CwPsvQTuy4mN1Z0/s400/DSCN4670.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmHWUBlTt-G5UT0HChYDIw7lyPdO-e-y4f7-dJG_MfmO1ebeZ2TyYLNZhHeU_rhY3LenY0KPMOAUdPSMxzc7fttbL51ahqUA60_hZRA6315sYgA6p1jRZcc74hOsaSePgPcqjiGI2GV0/s1600/DSCN4761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBmHWUBlTt-G5UT0HChYDIw7lyPdO-e-y4f7-dJG_MfmO1ebeZ2TyYLNZhHeU_rhY3LenY0KPMOAUdPSMxzc7fttbL51ahqUA60_hZRA6315sYgA6p1jRZcc74hOsaSePgPcqjiGI2GV0/s400/DSCN4761.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtTVwu6AtwvYAUGo4mTATABPMWQaAbMqxxOLp_C2PbQIBt4pi4rWZM6I_nOmDL_IgIOYuLjHJfhp6qZGvTkT9XFUWb9dXcZdcb8ksm4ARpVyZjPT2A0lqHo0dPGVwOwY-3q42PGKzC7k/s1600/DSCN4624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtTVwu6AtwvYAUGo4mTATABPMWQaAbMqxxOLp_C2PbQIBt4pi4rWZM6I_nOmDL_IgIOYuLjHJfhp6qZGvTkT9XFUWb9dXcZdcb8ksm4ARpVyZjPT2A0lqHo0dPGVwOwY-3q42PGKzC7k/s400/DSCN4624.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-36244445593820460172010-01-07T05:19:00.000-08:002010-01-07T05:19:24.519-08:00Amizade Ghana Students Successfully Raise Funds for Library Desks and ChairsI've been pleased to learn that students on <a href="http://amizade.org/service_learning/courses/titles/development_social_change_the_gold_coast.html">Amizade's Ghana Winter Break course</a> - while studying international development, helping with the construction of a rural community library, and touring Ghana's Gold Coast - chose to raise funds for desks and chairs for the library building. By describing what was needed, writing a compelling email home, and sharing the situation with their friends and family, these students raised nearly $1,500 in just a few days.<br />
<br />
The funds raised will fundamentally help create educational opportunities for children and adults in the rural community of Jukwa, where Amizade is helping complete the first public library. The Ghana group is doing great and inspiring work - recognizing that they can make a difference and that our choices matter everyday. I think that's Amizade's ethic - we can make a difference and build a better world if we choose to work carefully, connecting people across cultures through community-driven development.<br />
<br />
The world has many challenges - and the world is also what we as a global community make it. That's the ethic expressed in this video below, which is my personal favorite in <a href="http://www.nafsa.org/publicpolicy/default.aspx?id=16649">NAFSA Student Diplomat Video Contest</a>. Take a look:<br />
<br />
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LD04U8oIHT0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LD04U8oIHT0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-75880071168862504272009-12-29T15:22:00.000-08:002009-12-29T15:23:20.878-08:00Amizade Exposed Photos are UP! - Your Chance to Vote!For the second year, Amizade has arranged a photo contest around the categories of:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol><li>Global Citizenship</li>
<li>Landscape and Beauty, and </li>
<li>Black and White</li>
</ol><div>The photos have been submitted and they are ---- absolutely beautiful. To see all the photos and cast your votes, <a href="http://www.amizade.org/photocontest/index.php?album=2009-2010-amizade-exposed">click here</a>. A few examples from the contest follow:<br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amizade.org/photocontest/cache/2009-2010-amizade-exposed/black-and-white/black-and-white3.jpg_595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://www.amizade.org/photocontest/cache/2009-2010-amizade-exposed/black-and-white/black-and-white3.jpg_595.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amizade.org/photocontest/cache/2009-2010-amizade-exposed/black-and-white/DSC_3237.jpg_595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://www.amizade.org/photocontest/cache/2009-2010-amizade-exposed/black-and-white/DSC_3237.jpg_595.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amizade.org/photocontest/cache/2009-2010-amizade-exposed/cultural-immersion-and-global-citizenship/africa-1-158.jpg_595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://www.amizade.org/photocontest/cache/2009-2010-amizade-exposed/cultural-immersion-and-global-citizenship/africa-1-158.jpg_595.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amizade.org/photocontest/zp-core/i.php?a=2009-2010-amizade-exposed%2Fcultural-immersion-and-global-citizenship&i=Bolivia-An-Odyssey.jpg&s=595" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.amizade.org/photocontest/zp-core/i.php?a=2009-2010-amizade-exposed%2Fcultural-immersion-and-global-citizenship&i=Bolivia-An-Odyssey.jpg&s=595" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amizade.org/photocontest/cache/2009-2010-amizade-exposed/landscape-and-beauty/Ghana-boats.jpg_595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://www.amizade.org/photocontest/cache/2009-2010-amizade-exposed/landscape-and-beauty/Ghana-boats.jpg_595.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amizade.org/photocontest/cache/2009-2010-amizade-exposed/landscape-and-beauty/DSC_3010.jpg_595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://www.amizade.org/photocontest/cache/2009-2010-amizade-exposed/landscape-and-beauty/DSC_3010.jpg_595.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
</div><div><br />
</div>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-47551462960140946242009-12-16T17:30:00.000-08:002009-12-16T17:36:02.433-08:00Study Abroad with Amizade Improves Employability<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">In</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.frontiersjournal.com/documents/TrooboffVandebergRaymonFRONTIERSJOURNALXVWinter2007-08-pdf.pdf">an authoritative study published in the </a><i><a href="http://www.frontiersjournal.com/documents/TrooboffVandebergRaymonFRONTIERSJOURNALXVWinter2007-08-pdf.pdf">Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad</a></i><i><a href="http://www.frontiersjournal.com/documents/TrooboffVandebergRaymonFRONTIERSJOURNALXVWinter2007-08-pdf.pdf">,</a></i> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">researchers interviewed 352 firms, organizations and agencies across a wide range of industries throughout the United States to investigate how studying abroad impacts a student’s employability. The study concluded that employers’ value the intercultural/global competence and skills learned from studying abroad and that studying abroad can have a positive impact on a person’s employability. </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Specifically, employers highly value experiential-learning programs with service learning and internship components. </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">The study found that the following opportunities make students more attractive to employers:</span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">·</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">4-10 week summer service learning program </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">·</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">14-18 week semester program with classes outside university </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">·</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">14-18 week semester service learning program </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Qualities that Employers Recognize are Enhanced by Study Abroad Include:</span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">-</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Listens and observes well</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">-</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Flexible, adapts well</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">-</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Curious; wants to discover more</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">-</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Non-judgmental toward other world views</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">-</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Willing to take risks and to learn new things</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">-</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Recognize own world view is not universal</span></span></li>
</ul><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Personal Skills that Employers Realize are Enhanced by Study Abroad:</span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><ul><li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">-</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Works well under pressure</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">-</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Analyzes, evaluates, interprets well</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">-</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Communicates effectively in intercultural situations</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">-</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Understand global economic and political trends</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">-</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Well-informed re: world events/history</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">-</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Effective socializing/doing business elsewhere</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">-</span><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Knowledgeable re: other history/culture</span></span></li>
</ul><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">By participating in an Amizade service learning study abroad program, students gain these prized skills for future employment. </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Amizade empowers individuals and communities through worldwide service and learning. We offer programs in nine countries, and those programs range from semester long service learning courses, short term individual internships. </span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Many thanks to Amizade Intern Laura Hoch for summarizing the information featured above! </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%;">*Tooboff, Stevan, Michael Vande Berg and Jack Rayman. “Employer Attitude Toward Study Abroad.” <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad</i>. h<span style="color: black;">ttp://www.frontiersjournal.com/documents/TrooboffVandebergRaymonFRONTIERSJOURNALXVWinter2007-08-pdf.pdf.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
</div>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-27892774101752230042009-12-14T19:01:00.000-08:002009-12-14T19:01:35.166-08:00What Do Human Rights Mean to You? - Blog Contest!!!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana, arial, helvetica; font-size: small;">The Pittsburgh Human Rights Network will be sponsoring a<b> <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1260845450968">monthly blog contest for the next three months</a></b><a href="http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/412361/b9b0892be3/TEST/TEST/">.</a> Each month’s winner will get either a $50 gift card or a $50 donation to a charity of their choice. The only rules are that the blogs be posted in the Pittsburgh Human Rights Network’s blog section and that they have something to do with human rights as envisioned in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.<br />
<br />
<b>The Details</b>:<br />
Month 1 – December 10, 2009 – January 10, 2010<br />
Month 2 – January 11, 2010 – February 10, 2010<br />
Month 3 – February 11, 2010 – March 10, 2010<br />
<br />
Members of the Board of Directors and staff of Global Solutions Pittsburgh are not eligible for this contest. Winners will be selected within one business week of the end of each month and will be selected at the sole discretion of the staff of Global Solutions Pittsburgh. Winners will be notified via email at the address listed with their Pittsburgh Human Rights Network membership. Winners will be give a choice of several different gift cards or an equivalent donation to a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.pittsburghhumanrights.org/events/human-rights-day-blog-contest">Pittsburgh Human Rights Network</a><br />
</span>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-73177972475009932102009-12-08T07:52:00.000-08:002009-12-08T07:53:25.213-08:00Fall 2009 Bolivia Semester Photos on Flickr!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9AgSIhQjrYK2_nk26add4gwRjz5Sw5CklLDYafsHfqxR_V0na07Qjz2ditPbJMiJ76bjTcKNI5H7WGICNFrbcTmUj3-MqAHiINAr7tKJDoWDObHkZKupGGM7GWTewxJfObOEUiI9U78/s1600-h/DSC_0162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB9AgSIhQjrYK2_nk26add4gwRjz5Sw5CklLDYafsHfqxR_V0na07Qjz2ditPbJMiJ76bjTcKNI5H7WGICNFrbcTmUj3-MqAHiINAr7tKJDoWDObHkZKupGGM7GWTewxJfObOEUiI9U78/s400/DSC_0162.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTU_APgd0ME-xGgf51mBKTEoID4oDPpA7FhDKWvxqocmntHtkpuQ9XJeIuAPH1ipI7BmYLIpMMvEDkotwWcWeR5ygvd03N-1fZmb0KW10ligLDeZUhPNTS1U-CeP7KdJHm-LNdWemk2aI/s1600/weenta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTU_APgd0ME-xGgf51mBKTEoID4oDPpA7FhDKWvxqocmntHtkpuQ9XJeIuAPH1ipI7BmYLIpMMvEDkotwWcWeR5ygvd03N-1fZmb0KW10ligLDeZUhPNTS1U-CeP7KdJHm-LNdWemk2aI/s320/weenta.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericmhartman/sets/72157622829125439/">The photos are available here</a>. There aren't photos from the orphanages because there is a specific Bolivian law against showing photos of orphans online or for promotional purposes - the only exception being if the children aren't identifiable, as in this photo to the right, taken by a friend who was volunteering with us briefly in Cochabamba.<br />
<div><br />
</div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ericmhartman/sets/72157622829125439/">Enjoy the photos of Cochabamba, La Paz, Parque Tunari, and the surrounding areas</a>. </span></span><br />
</div>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-33364855645776983852009-11-26T02:18:00.000-08:002009-11-26T02:18:16.884-08:00Thankful for: Safe Programming, Community Outcomes, Excellent Academics, A Few Features of the USThis Thanksgiving Day I chose to take the opportunity to reflect upon what I'm thankful for in Amizade and more broadly. As you'll see, I'm thankful for:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol><li><a href="http://amizadeeric.blogspot.com/2009/11/thankful-for-15-years-of-safe.html">Amizade's 15-year Safe Programming Record</a></li>
<li><a href="http://amizadeeric.blogspot.com/2009/11/thankful-for-15-years-of-amizade.html">Countless exceptional community efforts completed around the world</a></li>
<li><a href="http://amizadeeric.blogspot.com/2009/11/thankful-for-way-service-learning.html">The way in which global service-learning enhances student learning</a> </li>
</ol><div>Mostly, I'm thankful for the people around the world who make Amizade work: the community partners, the volunteers ranging in age from the early teens to late eighties, Amizade donors and foundation partners, Amizade staff, faculty members, and interns. Of course, I'm thankful for my friends and family and all the support they offer Amizade and me personally. And - I took this Thanksgiving Day to reflect upon what I'm thankful for in the United States of America. Here's an extended version of the <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09330/1016436-109.stm">essay published today in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette</a>: </div><div><br />
</div><div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;">From Abroad: Thankful for the American Experience</span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">A friend from Singapore once told me that if he ever got the chance to visit the United States he wanted to have an American breakfast at a truck stop at 4am. His vision struck me. He managed to gather into one wish the unique American approaches to breakfast (waffles), work (where else so many 24-hour truck stops and diners?), and wide-open spaces. </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Thanksgiving is also uniquely American, and this year, as I connect American volunteers with community development projects around the world and prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with my American Students and their Bolivian host families, I’m taking a moment to consider what I’m thankful for in The United States of America. Thankfully, we have: </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Water:</span></u></b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> The vast majority of citizens of the United States can turn on tap water in their homes and drink it, unfiltered. This is a daily miracle. Nearly 1 billion people around the world (that’s more than three times the population of the United States) do not have access to safe water. And the vast majority of people who do have access to safe water do not have it flowing directly into their homes on a continuous basis. </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Public Education: </span></u></b><span style="color: #eeeeee;">The United States invests in people. The effort to provide accessible and strong public education is nearly as old as the country. That effort has been unequal, unfair, and subject to continuous contestation. And it should be an area of argument – it is where we make or break the future of individuals and the future of the country. Looking around the world, the message is crystal clear: countries that invest in their people flourish economically, support democracy, and respect freedoms. </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Democracy:</span></u></b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal...” Putting this radical idea to paper in 1776 put many lives at risk, and as the ideal was expanded to include women, African Americans and other minorities, more lives were risked, more advances were made for human freedom and human dignity, and our American Experiment grew ever closer to the ideals it espoused. Blood is spilled everyday over precisely what democracy is and who has the right to define it. We do well to remember that our foundational understanding of democracy derives from the radical idea that each individual has inalienable rights, and “among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Work Ethic:</span></u></b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> In fairness, people work hard all around the world. That was one of my first impressions of Africa – men and women were moving crops, hauling water, exerting themselves continuously. And there are doubtlessly millions of lazy Americans. But – our culture is associated with obsessive and excessive concern with work. We’ve even produced a substantial self-help literature on how to escape the work obsession, how to achieve better balance, how to escape the ostensibly unhealthy hyper-focus on achieving the American dream. Reality check: One doesn’t take every weekend and holiday off and fly to the moon. One doesn’t take a siesta everyday and also play a primary role in creating the financial architecture of the world as we know it. One doesn’t sleep early and wake late and support the steady flow of ideals of freedom and democracy around the world. Hard work yields dividends. For those who don’t agree, see “Contemporary China.” </span><b><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Timeliness:</span></u></b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> Scandinavians and Germans are slightly more obsessive about time than Americans, but much of the world tends to be far more laidback. Timeliness helps us get things done (see work ethic). </span><b><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Freedom and Open Spaces:</span></u></b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> I’m well aware that there is a substantial subset of the population that complains that “The American West,” “The Frontier,” “Freedom,” and the “Rural American Dream” are all in one way or another mere mythologies. And to anyone in that subset I say, stop reading, go west, and experience your beautiful country. Breathe in Dwight D. Eisenhower’s internationally unique achievement – The American Highway System. Zip past acres upon acres of sunflowers in Kansas; grab a six-pack and hang out with rural Nebraskan kids floating up and down on the backs of oil derricks, drinking and talking about eight-man-football as the sun drops below the plains. Then, somewhere in the massive and intimidating Rockies, throw a tent and sleeping bags into the back of a pickup and drive a full day over dirt roads deep into one of our numerous National Forests to camp. American Freedom is fundamentally intertwined with the freedom to move and to experience; to see and to learn on your own. Now go. </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Diversity</span></u></b><span style="color: #eeeeee;">: There is always room for improvement; there is always need to become better at accepting one another, but America has accomplished a functioning multicultural democracy to an extent unmatched elsewhere and unparalleled in history. This is a beautiful thing. It’s also an effective thing – history shows us that strong societies are adept at incorporating and adapting ideas from other cultures. I was in Washington DC several years ago on July 4</span><sup><span style="color: #eeeeee;">th</span></sup><span style="color: #eeeeee;">. The National Symphony Orchestra was playing, Tony Danza was emceeing, the capitol building was in the background, and all around me this multicultural menagerie was celebrating the same set of ideals, the same shared purposes and commitments to individual human dignity. It was radical and beautiful and becomes more diverse and therefore more dynamic every single day. </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Volunteer Military:</span></u></b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> The United States Military is the strongest and most capable military in the history of the world. This is due to many factors, but one primary among them is the decision a generation ago to ensure that our service men and women would only be enlisting voluntarily. Our strength and power sometimes makes us a target – and our volunteers step forward to put their lives at risk, anonymously. War – and the effort to create stability that follows it – is horrible and profoundly complicated. That should never prevent us from honoring the men and women who volunteer to keep us safe, who serve under the direction of our elected officials, who prevented further genocide in Bosnia, who toppled the oppressive Taliban regime, and who continue to risk their lives on behalf of American Security and American Ideals. </span><b><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Pancakes, Waffles, Hamburgers, French Fries and Fusion Food:</span></u></b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> For a country so rich in history, we’re poor in our own unique culinary traditions. But the sweet, syrup-topped, simple and affordable breakfast foods – pancakes and waffles – those are all ours. Yum. And burgers – made with ground beef, which for some inexplicable reason is hard to recreate elsewhere around the world – are our own form of magic. Most interesting is that in America one can experience the fine foods and culinary traditions from almost any corner of the world, anytime. </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Incentives for Honesty:</span></u></b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> James Madison laid this out for us in </span><i><span style="color: #eeeeee;">The Federalist Papers, </span></i><span style="color: #eeeeee;">“If men were angels, no government would be necessary… In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men … you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.” Throughout our history, we’ve continued to work at that project – the project that is simultaneously enabling human freedoms to the fullest extent possible while also acknowledging human vices and limitations – in government or in the private sector. I see too much corruption and graft in my work around the world, but it’s helpful to remember that good behavior is built with institutional reform over time. The lending crisis has shown us another area where we need to better control excessive impulses while still providing people opportunity to access credit; that is a current project. Our institutions have and should continue to be built with an eye toward simultaneously expanding individual freedoms and incentivizing honest practice and fair play. </span><i><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></i><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Philanthropy:</span></u></b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> Yes, other developed countries spend a greater portion of their budgets on social welfare at home and abroad. But Americans give from their own pockets in a way that is not matched elsewhere. Individual involvement tends to lead to greater oversight, which has led to the development of thousands of dynamic and responsive nonprofit organizations and social sector movements. It has also led to a hyper-production of small and mid-size global nonprofit organizations like the one I direct. While organizations of this size are not able to address issues for everyone in a country or region, they are more deeply connected with individuals in the specific communities where they work. Their size permits them to be more responsive to community members’ real lives and concerns. </span><b><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span></b></span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Desire: </span></u></b><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Humans have desire, so I of course cannot claim that emotion as uniquely American. Yet I will suggest that the American Story, the American Mythology, the American Dream and American Ideals are tied up with the notion that we can do better, again, and again and again. We dare not relax until the project is complete. We continue to build a better society. We work to redress the excesses of past generations. We are now concerned with ensuring our society becomes sustainable. We need to cooperate with other countries and people around the world – to ensure greater access to inalienable rights for every man, woman, and child. We continue to want to improve the human experience – and we continue to work toward the goal of expanding individual human freedoms in our own country and around the world. </span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">For these things and for so much more, we should be profoundly thankful. Throughout world history, few peoples have broadly had the opportunity to experience long lives. Few peoples have had the opportunity to voice and hear internal debate in the run up to free and fair elections. No other peoples have had the opportunity to hop on a motorcycle and cruise across a continent on smooth and well-manicured roads, stopping at truck stops along the way at any hour of the day or night for fast, efficient service and savory food. I am thankful to be an American in the world today. We have a lot of problems. We have a lot of disagreements. We create injustices. We attempt to redress them. We mess up and sometimes we fail. Today, pause. Be thankful for the broad contours of this American reality. Tomorrow, let’s get back to work making it continuously better. </span><br />
</div></div><div><br />
</div><div> </div>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-47668454440929523092009-11-26T02:02:00.000-08:002009-11-26T02:02:41.719-08:00Thankful for: The Way Service-Learning Courses Enhance Understanding and Deepen LearningFor a full decade, and for five years through cooperation with West Virginia University, Amizade has been offering global service-learning courses around the world. The courses' key features are rigorous academics, intercultural immersion and exchange, community-driven service, reflective inquiry, and exploration of global citizenship. Importantly, all of the courses and instructors are approved through a <a href="http://amizade.org/service_learning/courses/application.html">thorough process developed in cooperation with WVU</a>, to ensure that every course offered through the partnership meets the standards of a Research 1 University in the United States. Amizade's many years of experience in this area have provided it with the opportunity to offer <a href="http://www.servicelearning.org/events_jobs/slconf_events/index.php?action=detailed&event=883">global service-learning professional development conferences</a> and to present on the topic at universities and events as diverse as Bucknell University, Cornell University, Winthrop University, the conferences of The American Political Science Association, The International Service-Learning Research Organization, and <a href="http://www.vtcampuscompact.org/2008/Fost_Glo_Cit_Post/globalcitizenshipdirectorylinks.php">Vermont Campus Compact</a>. What is perhaps most interesting, about Amizade-WVU global service-learning courses, however, is how they enhance student learning.<br />
<br />
Here in Bolivia, on one of our <a href="http://amizade.org/service_learning/courses/upcoming_courses.html">semester programs that integrate study of international development with history, language, and local service placements</a>, one of my students recently suggested that what she most hoped to communicate about her experience was - she searched for the phrase ..... its complexity. The other students agreed: it's one thing to study international development and Latin American History on campus. In the safety of their campus classrooms and individual experiences, students can easily embrace or reject the a-new-world-is-possible musings of Jeffrey Sachs or development-aid-is-dead diatribes of William Easterly. But when those arguments are considered in light of the stark reality of living and working in a developing country - their certainties disappear in the face of continuously challenging and contradictory information.<br />
<br />
Students have the opportunity - and deep challenge - to understand theoretical arguments in the context of inescapable empirical realities. It leaves them with truths that are in many ways less certain, less comfortable, and far more realistic. In addition to providing this challenging academic experience, global service-learning courses provide students with a clear and unmistakable opportunity to make a difference. Amizade-WVU programs also dispel the myth that our knowledge, our actions, and our ethics are held in separable spheres. Global service-learning demonstrates the inextricably intertwined nature of what we do, what we believe, and how we understand the world.<br />
<br />
I'm thankful for the challenges and deep understanding global service-learning catalyzes in students and faculty. For a brief, volunteer-produced video on our service-learning semesters, click below.<br />
<br />
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WrcZupEOKHk&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WrcZupEOKHk&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-64653218223677646322009-11-26T01:19:00.000-08:002009-11-26T01:19:46.333-08:00Thankful for: 15 Years of Amizade Volunteers Making a DifferenceFifteen years ago, Dan Weiss organized a group of friends for a volunteer project in the Brazilian Amazon. The group saw things they had never before imagined and made a difference in a way they hadn't previously thought possible. When he returned to the United States, Dan founded Amizade - using the Portuguese word for friendship - to provide people who want to make a difference around the world with the opportunity to do so through <a href="http://amizade.org/volunteer/open_volunteer_programs/index.html">volunteer programs</a>. Since that time, Amizade has connected thousands of volunteers with community-driven service programs around the world - and also expanded to offer <a href="http://amizade.org/service_learning/courses/upcoming_courses.html">academically rigorous service-learning programs</a> in cooperation with West Virginia University. Volunteers and students join our programs from across the country and around the world, and collectively, they have:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Built classrooms, a children's center, a kitchen, community centers, and offices with Pastoral do Menor, <a href="http://amizade.org/volunteer/open_volunteer_programs/titles/development_and_change_in_brazil_amazon.html">a Brazilian organization that supports children's educational opportunities</a> and safety.</li>
<li>Provided thousands of hours of tutoring at schools in the Navajo Nation <a href="http://amizade.org/volunteer/open_volunteer_programs/titles/tutoring_learning_culture_in_the_navajo_nation.html">while learning in-depth about Navajo life, history, and culture</a>. </li>
<li><a href="http://amizade.org/volunteer/open_volunteer_programs/titles/thanksgiving_of_service_rural_jamaica.html">Cooperated with an exceptional community development organization in rural Jamaica</a>, The Association of Clubs, to provide children with tutoring support, computer skills classes, photography and videography workshops, and educational and fun summer camp experiences. </li>
<li>Raised awareness, improved understanding, and completed historical landscape preservation at and around Auschwitz in ongoing efforts to support <a href="http://amizade.org/volunteer/open_volunteer_programs/titles/remebrance_history_genocide_prevention.html">Holocaust Remembrance and Contemporary Anti-Genocide Programming</a>. </li>
<li>Learned about and supported efforts to address severe poverty, hunger, and homelessness in Washington, DC. </li>
<li>Provided volunteer support in health clinics and hospitals and also <a href="http://amizade.org/volunteer/open_volunteer_programs/titles/experience_the_gold_coast_ghana.html">nearly finished construction of the first library in the area in Jukwa, Ghana</a>. </li>
<li>Built an orphanage and school <a href="http://amizade.org/volunteer/open_volunteer_programs/titles/service_and_development_in_the_andes.html">classrooms in Cochabamba, Bolivia</a>, while also providing thousands of hours of direct service with children in orphanages and a Center for Children with disabilities.</li>
<li>Supported youth programming and built a peace labyrinth in Northern Ireland, <a href="http://amizade.org/volunteer/open_volunteer_programs/titles/peace_and_reconciliation.html">all while learning more about the Peace and Reconciliation process there</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://amizade.org/volunteer/open_volunteer_programs/titles/preserving_the_american_west.html">Ensured the environmental preservation and historical restoration of the OTO Dude Ranch</a>, the first guest ranch in the American West, in Gardiner, Montana. </li>
<li>Beautified a school and <a href="http://amizade.org/volunteer/open_volunteer_programs/titles/teach_english_along_mayan_riveria.html">supported English as a Foreign Language learning along the Mayan Riviera</a>. </li>
<li>Cooperated with organizations and individuals in Pittsburgh, PA, to enhance literacy and numeracy tutoring programs for newly arriving refugee populations. </li>
<li><a href="http://amizade.org/volunteer/open_volunteer_programs/titles/water_rights_education_rural_tanzania.html">Increased water access and improved basic women's rights in rural Tanzania</a> by cooperating with local organizations to install water harvesting systems, an effort now marked every spring in Pittsburgh and Morgantown with the Annual Water Walk for Women's Rights. View the video from a previous year's water walk below. For more information, or to get involved in the 2010 Water Walk, email Laura Hoch in Pittsburgh (Laura@amizade.org) or Anna Phillips in Morgantown (Anna@amizade.org). </li>
</ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: monospace; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-1993544857387861506&hl=en&fs=true" style="height: 326px; width: 400px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: monospace; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><ul><li><span style="font-family: monospace; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; white-space: normal;">Amizade volunteers have completed all of these things and much, much more, and I'm thankful to be part of these Amizade efforts! </span></span></span></li>
</ul></div>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-39325803908538081552009-11-25T14:40:00.000-08:002009-11-25T14:40:12.088-08:00Thankful for: 15 Years of Safe ProgrammingFor 15 years, Amizade has been safely connecting individuals with volunteer and service-learning programming around the world. We have been able to do so safely and securely throughout that 15-year period, because<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul><li>we've followed the best practices articulated by <a href="http://www.nafsa.org/">NAFSA: The Association of International Educators</a>,</li>
<li>we've been rigorous in our review of sites, potential homestay families, and service partners,</li>
<li>we've stayed up to date with State Department and local news media whenever there are concerns in an area, and, </li>
<li>most importantly, because we hire, work with, and trust our very competent and committed local site coordinators. </li>
</ul><div>Amizade is very thankful for the competent and committed people with whom we work around the world, and the role they have played in ensuring volunteer and student safety, consistently, for 15 years. </div>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-56688710133948685532009-11-24T07:13:00.000-08:002009-11-24T07:14:15.056-08:00Oregon Man to Volunteer Around the World with AmizadeA fantasy volunteer globe-trotting community-driven service expedition that few have imagined and even fewer have completed. Lee Spangler, a 63-year-old retired individual who keeps a <a href="http://benddailyphoto.blogspot.com//">daily photo blog</a> in his hometown of Bend, Oregon, is only about a month away from embarking on a three-month journey during which he will serve and learn with Amizade in Brazil, Bolivia, Tanzania, Jamaica, and the Navajo Nation. Lee has <a href="http://leesamizadeadventure.blogspot.com/">already started blogging</a> in preparation for his experience, mentioning the <a href="http://www.salon.com/travel/feature/2000/03/18/why/">beautiful Pico Iyer travel essay</a> that's part of the Amizade Journal.<br />
<br />
Lee's journey also demonstrates a substantial commitment to giving one's time, energy, and resources in efforts to support communities worldwide. That commitment brings to mind another striking and important essay featured in the Amizade Journal, Princeton Philosopher Peter Singer's "<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/17/magazine/17charity.t.html?_r=1">What Should a Billionaire Give - and What Should You?</a>"<br />
<br />
Check out <a href="http://leesamizadeadventure.blogspot.com/">Lee's Amizade Adventure blog</a> and sign-in as a follower. It's sure to be an adventuresome several months!Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-85637307640776101222009-11-15T17:26:00.000-08:002009-11-15T17:29:55.667-08:00Amizade Places 3rd in Rural Development Contest; Development Successes & Inspiration<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thank you all for voting! </span><a href="http://arc.peacecorpsconnect.org/contest"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Amizade placed third</span></a><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> in the November Africa Rural Connect contest for innovation in rural development efforts. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Two articles appeared in the </span><i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">New York Times </span></i><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">today that are directly related to Amizade success and rationale. One featured a region in Afghanistan that is seeing development success at rates unparalleled elsewhere in the country: <i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1258333396715">"</a></i></span><span style="line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/world/asia/13jurm.html?em">If there are lessons to be drawn from the still tentative successes here, they are that small projects often work best, that the consent and participation of local people are essential and that even baby steps take years."</a> </i>In other words, the successes in this region suggest what Amizade has found to be true over the past 15 years - development efforts that are locally-driven are the development efforts most likely to meet with success. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">On another page, Nicholas Kristof profiled <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/opinion/15kristof.html?em">a woman who went from being a Cattle herder in Zimbabwe to now pursuing a PhD at Western Michigan University</a>. As Kristof correctly pointed out, while this woman's story is inspiring and unique, her kind of talent and drive are not in short supply in Africa; what is in short supply is opportunity. That is why Amizade continues to work to support access to water, to education, and to opportunity. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 22px;">Thank you all for helping us bring more water access to rural Africa by voting in the online contest! </span></span>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-38729987592602880112009-11-13T11:58:00.000-08:002009-11-13T12:16:54.506-08:002nd Annual Amizade Exposed Photo Contest!<span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #500050; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><br />
<div><div><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Amizade is thrilled to announce the </span></span></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">2nd Annual </span></span></b><i><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Amizade Exposed</span></span></span></b></i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> Photo Contest</span></span></b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">! </span></span></span><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><br />
</div></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Showcase your photography skills and share your Amizade experiences! Prizes will be awarded to top winner of each of the following categories: </span></span><br />
</div></div><div><div><div style="color: #500050;"><ol><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Landscape/Beauty,</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Cultural Immersion and Global Citizenship, and </span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Black & White. </span></span></li>
</ol><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Photo entries may also be used in the 2010 Amizade Calendar, on the Amizade Website, or in other outreach materials!</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
<br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Official Rules:</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">1. All returning Amizade Global-Service Learning students, volunteers, group leaders and faculty are encouraged to enter the Second Annual </span><i><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Amizade Exposed</span></i><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> Photo Contest.</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">2. Images must have been photographed by an Amizade program participant, leader, faculty member, community member, or community partner.</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">3. Applicants agree to allow the use of their photo submission for Amizade Global Service-Learning & Volunteer Program promotional purposes and in related Amizade publications.</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">4. The top five winners will be displayed in West Virginia University’s Cultural & Arts Center. Top prizes will be awarded in each category.</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">5. Photos will be judged by an open vote between December 23 and January 10, 2010 from all who access the Gallery on Amizade’s website ( </span></span><a href="http://www.amizade.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;">http://www.amizade.org/</span></u></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> ) on the basis of their content and quality.</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">6. Winners will be announced on January 15, 2009.</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
<br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Submission Guidelines</span></u><span style="color: #eeeeee;">:</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">There will be three categories in which participants may compete:</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><ul><ol type="1"><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Landscape & Beauty</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Cultural Immersion & Global Citizenship</span></span></li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Black & White</span></span></li>
</ol>
</ul></span><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Individuals may submit up to </span><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;">three</span></b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> (3) photos in </span><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;">each</span></b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> category.</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Photos must be submitted by December 15, 2009 at midnight.</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"></span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Voting will take place through the Amizade website between December 23 and January 10, 2010.</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
<br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Any submissions missing required information may be eliminated from the competition.</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Winners will receive recognition, a unique prize and a set of greeting cards hand-painted by individuals at Amizade’s Community Partner Site in Cochabamba, Bolivia, The Ceoli Center for People with Disabilities.</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: Times;"></span></span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></b></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><b><span style="color: #eeeeee;">To enter:</span></b></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Email a digital copy of the photo(s) to: </span></span><a href="mailto:anna@amizade.org" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><u><span style="color: #eeeeee;">anna@amizade.org</span></u></span></a><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Include your name, email address, location/date of photo, and a brief description of the photo (no more than 3 sentences).</span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="color: #eeeeee;"><br />
</span> <span style="color: #eeeeee;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">We look forward to seeing your photos! </span></span></span><br />
<div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span><br />
</div></div></div></div>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-29532056407384529212009-11-09T08:04:00.000-08:002009-11-09T08:04:14.974-08:00Extremely Affordable Study Abroad: Amizade Cooperates with WVU to Ensure Access to Global Service-Learning for Everyone<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><div>Yes, it is true, it is possible to study abroad affordably - <b>sometimes for even less than the cost of studying on campus</b>. We want to make global service-learning as affordable and accessible as possible for all students. Though our semester costs are already below the average of semester college costs for out-of-state students, we have also worked to provide special opportunities for WVU and WV students. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Amizade is pleased to be nearing its 5th year of partnership with West Virginia University, through which we cooperate to offer <a href="http://amizade.org/service_learning/courses/application.html" style="color: #2a5db0;" target="_blank">academically-rigorous</a>, community-based, safe and secure <a href="http://amizade.org/service_learning/courses/upcoming_courses.html" style="color: #2a5db0;" target="_blank">global service-learning semesters and break programs</a>. </div><div><br />
</div><div>Three global service-learning semesters are currently offered through the partnership, and <b>special scholarship opportunities apply to WVU students! Additionally, WV Promise Scholarships may be applied.</b> Opportunities include: </div><div><span style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><a href="http://amizade.org/service_learning/courses/titles/indigenous_politics_service_development_andes.html" style="color: #2a5db0;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3333ff;">Indigenous Politics, Service, and Development in the Andes</span></a> in Cochabamba, <b>Bolivia</b>, which offers credits in Spanish, Political Science, and History. </li>
</ul><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><a href="http://amizade.org/service_learning/courses/titles/development_and_change_in_brazil_amazon.html" style="color: #2a5db0;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3333ff;">Amazon to Atlantic: Development and Change</span></a> in <b>Brazil</b>, which offers credits in Political Science and Portuguese. </li>
</ul><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><a href="http://amizade.org/service_learning/courses/titles/international_justice_identity_sustainable_development.html" style="color: #2a5db0;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3333ff;">International Justice, Identity, and Sustainable Development</span></a> in rural <b>Tanzania</b>, which offers credits in Philosophy, Swahili, and Political Science. </li>
</ul></span><div>Amizade anticipates continuing to offer these semester programs in cooperation with WVU indefinitely. </div><div><br />
</div><div><a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09294/1007093-298.stm" style="color: #2a5db0;" target="_blank">According to the College Board</a>, the average semester cost of college attendance for an out-of-state student at a public institution this academic year is $13,370, including room, board and costs. <b>ALL of the Amizade-WVU semester programs cost less than that national average. </b>Additionally, through the Amizade-WVU partnership: </div><div><ul><li style="margin-left: 15px;"><b>Amizade guarantees special scholarships for WVU students</b> participating in semester programs. The minimum scholarship provided to a WVU student entering a semester programs is $1,270. </li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;"><b>WV Promise Scholarship Funding may be applied</b> to semester programs. <span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></li>
</ul></div><div>Amizade is committed to making global service-learning as affordable and accessible as possible. </div><div><br />
</div></div></span></span></span>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-82410317374442307312009-11-07T16:42:00.000-08:002009-11-07T16:42:36.365-08:00Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Helps in History Class<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZEVUnmH_pDCcBYpAjPtlc696WzNX_DnTAFfItcXAgg9FWcE-FLdxr3-gJDNoEIWz7RuVEzrt7h37r1_RnDBoSd0IXNnkjGavE9Ctxqat_CIebZZKChHfeyFAGpWjgTbubwFsI1Z0E6oC/s1600/bol+3+209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZEVUnmH_pDCcBYpAjPtlc696WzNX_DnTAFfItcXAgg9FWcE-FLdxr3-gJDNoEIWz7RuVEzrt7h37r1_RnDBoSd0IXNnkjGavE9Ctxqat_CIebZZKChHfeyFAGpWjgTbubwFsI1Z0E6oC/s200/bol+3+209.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>Populism. This is an important concept in the study of Latin American History, particularly during the last 60 years. The term is debated, but it tends to indicate a President who has a charismatic linkage with the people, who continuously suggests that he (it has always been a him, so far) knows the will of "the people" and he will exercise it against or in spite of "the elites" - usually at whatever cost.<br />
<br />
President Chavez didn't actually come to class to talk with us about populism, but he was in Cochabamba for a recent <a href="http://www.economist.com/world/americas/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14444403">ALBA summit</a>. One of the Bolivia Semester Students, Bridget Winstanley, happened to be in the crowd as he left the conference hotel. He was connecting with the crowd when he saw her and said, in Spanish, "Where are you from?" Bridget froze. Chavez's rhetoric, and for that matter Bolivian President Evo Morales' rhetoric, has definitely not been US-friendly. He tried again, "You, white woman, where are you from?" Still frozen, Bridget was nudged into action by a few friends.<br />
<br />
<i>Los Estados Unidos </i>- The United States, she told him. Ah! "<i>Viva Los Estados Unidos!</i> - Long Live the United States!" Chavez said. And then, in English, he exclaimed, "You are my sister!"<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Connecting with the people, whoever the people are, whatever the rhetoric necessary, and not necessarily with any deep or consistent ideology - that's also populism, as President Chavez demonstrated. As it happened he was on the way to a rally in Cochabamba's stadium, where he proceeded to denounce the United States and refer to Americans as gorillas. Bridget blogs about this meeting and other class- and experience-related questions, including a recent post wrestling with the meaning of indigenous identity - on <a href="http://bridget-bridgetinbolivia.blogspot.com/">Bridget-in-Bolivia</a>. Actually several of the students are posting interesting blogs, all of which are linked on the right, along with the blog of Amizade Santarem, Brazil Long-Term Volunteer Coordinators Val Hess and Nathan Darity.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://theaccommodation.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/img_0987.jpg?w=600&h=450" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://theaccommodation.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/img_0987.jpg?w=600&h=450" width="200" /></a><br />
</div>Val recently made an interesting, speculative post about the <a href="http://theaccommodation.wordpress.com/2009/07/06/i-have-a-minor-allergy-to-soy-protein/">encroachment of soy farming</a> into the Brazilian Amazon. Her post was extremely prescient as the New York Times seemed to follow her with a related, very popular, and controversial <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/31/opinion/31niman.html?scp=1&sq=soy%20brazil&st=cse">editorial by a livestock rancher</a> suggesting local meat consumption may have less of an impact on the environment than vegetarianism, because of the environmental impact of soy farming.<br />
<br />
Thank you, Mr. Chavez, for providing us with such a vivid example of populist political behavior. Thank you, Bridget and Val, for such interesting posts, and for the related pictures I linked from your sites.Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3283587129425935180.post-81977782976479709342009-10-26T18:28:00.000-07:002009-10-26T18:30:53.498-07:00Get Paid for Your Spring Semester Stories from Abroad<span style="color: #373737; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #373737; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br />
<div><a href="http://www.glimpse.org/correspondents/"><img align="left" alt="Get paid for your stories from abroad. The Glimpse Correspondents Program. Supported in part by National Geographic Society." border="0" src="http://media.glimpse.org/adserver/clients/GlimpseHouse/Get-Paid-For-Your-Stories-From-Abroad.png" /></a><br />
</div><a href="http://www.glimpse.org/correspondents/"><br />
</a>Eric Hartmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00417905975550672536noreply@blogger.com1