Esta es una pruebita!... :D No significa NADA!... hehehe

CEDER

June 16th was our first meeting with a potential partner, CEDER. CEDER is an organization that develops social projects to be implemented in southern Peru. Its vision translated into English is “CEDER is an NGO that has the capacity to initiate and to lead politics and programs for sustainable human development. It has local and global references in its action areas as well as strategic partners who are in charge of socio-economic development.” It’s mission—also translated into English—is “ CEDER is an NGO that identifies, builds and approves projects about sustainable human development for people with a lower quality of life that have the initiative and potential to develop. CEDER’s main priorities in its lines of work are agriculture, education, population and decentralization projects.” Okay, so that translation might be confusing, but Spanish and English don’t translate precisely. I now have more respect for all those translators out there who have the challenge of retaining the same meaning of thought expressed in a different language! If you want to test your Spanish, here’s the website for CEDER: http://www.ceder.org.pe/

It’s amazing to see such a well organized agency born in Peru working to better the lives of their people! And some of the people that run this organization worked with AIESEC! We have now established the opportunity to meet with the president and talk institution to institution! I can’t wait to meet the president of CEDER. He might be running to be Arequipa’s mayor soon too. If we can not raise internships with this NGO in the short-run, we can certainly incorporate them into our learning network somehow. The most obvious way would be at Arequipa’s National Congress, but maybe there’s a way to stretch the learning network even further to incorporate AIESEC’s global members on the AIESEC.net forums.

Pictures!!!!

I am HTML challenged, and Blogger for somereason is not posting the odd pic I'd like to display...the wonders of technology...

You can check out the pics I have here (start at then end and work your way to the begining because the old ones are at the end!)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/85825965@N00/

AIESEC and the United Nations

It was my pleasure to attend a city conference that introduced Arequipa’s program for the Sustainable Cities Program (SCP), a United Nations initiative being implemented in over 30 cities worldwide http://www.unhabitat.org/programmes/sustainablecities/ The SCP program aims to implement better urban management that will protect the environment while promoting development, using the environmental planning and management approach (EPM). This program was started in 1991 and is similar to the UN initiative to localize Agenda 21. (An FYI: Agenda 21 is a document that provides a framework for reducing environmental damage.) The first phase of the SCP ended in 2001 and the second runs form 2002 to 2007.

The SCP aims to adapt it to the unique environmental and developmental challenges faced by each city. One of the first things I noticed in Arequipa was the poor air quality. It’s really smelly and its one of the reasons I stopped my morning runs outside and opted for the indoor elliptical trainer instead. The city reeks of pollution form the many combis and 15 000 taxis on the streets, which is made worse by the fact that Arequipa is surrounded by mountains. Deteriorating air quality has spurred more health problems. In addition to the poor air quality the pueblos jovenes (urban slums) behind the airport do not have access to affordable transportation. A technical group has been formulated to tackle this issue and one of the first steps that the government is suggesting is adding a rout of busses already used in Rome that do not pollute. The route will also go right past the airport thus providing the poor there with access to the city centre.

Another unique challenge that Arequipa faces is the great loss of Agricultural land. Arequipa is a city that is unique in America in that it combines its land uses. Over the recent past, however, uncontrolled, and unmanaged urban sprawl is threatening this diversity. Evidence that this loss of green area is damaging the environment is witnessed by decreasing natural humidity, ventilation, capacity of rain absorption and natural oxygen production.
To gather information on these challenging issues Arequipa faces, the city will adopt the Environmental Management Information System (EMIS). This is a powerful computer information system that uses advanced satellite technology to track the changes that are happening to this city. It will empower the city to make sound decisions based on a full technical understanding of the problem. The EMIS will not be a substitute for the technical working groups of experts in the field, but rather serve as a complement.

The Sustainable Cities Program in Arequipa is also meant to incorporate the population. Arequipa has therefore devised Consulta Urbana, and is the first city it Latin America to utilize this approach. Consulta Urbana aims to join together key actors in the public and private sector who will talk about the issues facing the city and work to develop solutions for them. This approach is hoped to promote a model for better management of the city that is participatory, as these groups must further refine the framework for the SCP.
PACTO URBANO was signed at the end of the meeting with the city. With this pact the city of Arequipa and the signatories including government officials of Arequipa and citizens present at the conference (and me!!) bore witness to the goals outlined in the SCP for Arequipa. We signed a document explaining Arequipa’s commitment to:

-To assure the support of all the agents and actors who apply for performing a role in promoting the focus of this project (like AIESEC for instance!)
-To Identify and revise the important problems of the city
-To Reach a common and better understanding of the environmental problems the city faces
-To ensure that all sectors remain focused on the environmental problems

It was incredible to witness this UN program in action, even if I understood only bits and pieces—thankfully I had Betoalonso translating for me! The videos I watched on the other hand where very easy to understand with a virtual reality model of Arequipa and environmentally friendly busses gracefully gliding up and down the city, or the rapid progression of urbanization over the last fifty years, and retreat of green space. After the presentations from the city, we talked with two government officials—one thought at first that I was the “funding” as I was all dressed up in my one and only over-priced suit. The conversation with these men led by Betoalonso was positive, and the they both encouraged us to write to the mayor to become participants in the project. Excelente!!

To me this is an incredible because the UN, Arequipa’s government and an established environmental management NGO, Gestón Ambiental para el Desarrollo make this a credible project that seems likely to churn out results. The next step is to write to the mayor about AIESEC, and I have the privilege of being responsible for the first draft of this letter. It will then be revised by the PBOX team and translated into Spanish. The objectives will be to obtain meetings with people working on the SCP. So far I see various degrees of potential. AIESEC could perhaps raise trainees to help facilitate dialogue with the community. Or AIESEC Arequipa could be given partner status and then create a learning network on AIESEC.net with the new resources being a partner of the SCP provide. Personally, I hope there is a potential in both areas! It would be incredible to provide young people with the ability to work with so many diverse actors—not to mention the UN-HABITAT in partnership with UNEP (United Nations Environmental Program).

AIESEC and the UN do have a history together, particularly here in Latin America. In January 2005 UNICEF partnered with AIESEC. Eithel, in fact, did his internship in the Dominican Republic with UNICEF. He worked on a team that created a children’s council for a Dominican city. These children will share their ideas and concerns with the municipal government. Reading the AIESEC-UNICEF partnership document gives me great faith in the potential of AIESEC to hear its value expressed in such eloquence: “AIESEC on its part promotes leadership and the development of its members by means of professional experiences in organizations that permit them to enrich their formation process. Through these experiences AIESEC permits the contact between students and development programmes, as well as greater knowledge of the social realities, and the awareness of the existing initiatives to support human rights.” I like that part! This document was signed after AIESEC partnered with UNICEF in the Dominican Republic with a positive outcome.

Another example of the partnership between AIESEC and the UN is a long-running one that has happened five times over already! In partnership with the United Nations Development Program, 30 trainees annually come to work with the United Nations for 8 weeks for PEACE: Teaching Tolerance. The students are actively involved in campaigning for the Millennium Development Goals to youth in schools throughout Poland. AIESEC also had a representative to the UN last October attending the World Programme of Action for Youth. The General Assembly produced a the World Youth Report 2005. You can download it here: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/ga60.htm. Brodie the president of AIESEC International for the 2005-2006 term recorded this experience: http://ai.myaiesec.net/2005/10/aiesec-at-united-nations.html.

Well I’m off to begin a week of letter-writing to the mayor, learning Spanish, formulating and recording a networking strategy for the project and enjoying this city!

Chau y cuidate,
Vera

Learning about AIESEC

Coming to Peru has been a learning experience on many levels so far. Not only am I acquiring depth of knowledge about this city and its people’s views, I’m learning about this institution that I am a part of: AIESEC. To begin this story, I will go back one year, to a time when I did not have clear goals, and was highly critical of an organization that on first impression thought was best suited for McMaster’s commerce students. Now, I am coming to realise the full meaning of the branding phrase that AIESEC is “The International platform for young people to discover and develop their potential.”

1. Global Network of Friends: Coming to a country and knowing that you automatically have friends away from home is an amazing experience. Seeing that the AIESECers in other countries are just as dedicated as the Local Chapter that you come from is muy chevere. For instance, Johanna is volunteering six hours a week to teach me Spanish, the Executive Board spends several hours in meetings, and every one has school. This organization is enabled because of the contributions of its student volunteers. Only the people working on the Member Committies in the 95 countries AIESEC is present in and the people of AIESEC International make this their full-time job. The fact that so much gets accomplished in that rare commodity, free time, for all students of higher learning institutions says something of this orgnization’s members’ commitment. Here in Arequipa they have won the best Local Chapter award several years in a row too!

The energy and enthusiasm of AIESECers that I have met continues to impress me, and I know there are still so many accomplishments that I am unaware of that add value to the organization and have a positive social impact. Once of the first AIESECers that impressed me was Fred who did an internship in South Africa, establishing opportunities for young people with a commerce background to train people in South Africa to imbue them with skills they need to manage HIV/AIDS clinics.

Here in Arequipa, I have been thoroughly inspired by the charisma and spirit of Eithel (I am living with his family). He has begun work on a social project in a poor region of la Sierra that in order to impart technological knowledge to farmers in order to increase their livelihoods, and thus provide access to education and health care. His work ethic and desire to help the poor create a better live for themselves is tremendous. Getting to talk with people through AIESEC that share similar goals in life—or in fact the same goals—is a rewarding opportunity. The people I meet are my favorite part of this organization!

2. Something for everyone: There is no single path to follow in AIESEC. You have an idea of where you would like to be in the future, and you align that with the learning framework that AIESEC can provide. A commerce student very interested in sales can get involved in Corporate Development (sometimes called Sales, or Marketing by some LCs) working on creating relationships with externals in the private, non-profit, and public sectors. Any student who wished to increase their confidence talking with corporate executives might choose to do the same.

A student from the political science interested in working with a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), or even in CIDA (Canada’s International Development Agency) who is one of AIESEC Canada’s main partners gains the business background, and confidence that is necessary to pursue these objectives. (Hmmm does this sound like anyone I know…)There are also learning networks on AIESEC.net that allow you to talk to AIESECers all over the world, and hear the opinions of students all over the globe on current political issues broadens your world view (and at times introduces you to informative information, such as a free documentary on Islam on Google video).These are just two examples, and a CEED really helps you appreciate AIESEC’s potential. Everyone will have their own goals and be able to discern how AIESEC can provide them with an opportunity to grow.

3. Something that a lot of people could benefit from: For a lot of people AIESEC encourages you to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. Whether it is giving extemporaneous presentations, meeting with CEOs, living in another country for a few months to one year, or working on any project for AIESEC with barriers that must be overcome.

4. Leadership opportunities in another country: Thousands of kilometers away from home, and for several months, working with AIESEC full-time as a CEED, or participating in AIESEC’s Global Internship Program which is one of the main components of the AIESEC experience. The four types of internships AIESECs offers: Developmental, Management, Technological, and Educational also ensure that the exchange component of the AIESEC experience aligns with whatever a member’s goals might be.

Oh, yeah, the parties are fun too.

Elections in Peru

There were many purple fingers Sunday June the 4th, as all legal-age voters in Peru went to the polls—and if they didn’t return with an ink-stamped finger, they risked a hefty fine. Compelled to vote many trudged to the polls for their civic duty with greater reluctance not particularly feeling keen on Allan Garcia, or Ollanta Humala.

The distaste for either candidate originates with the fact that Garcia had his chance in office in the 1980s and managed to leave the economy a mess with his radical economic reforms, while Humala has a military background, but is notably lacking a political background. In fact, Humala formed a political party just prior to this election, and Peruvians who understand the first thing about the current structure of the Global Political Economy understand that Humala is bad news with radical left-leanings (hence his lack of support among the more educated in Peru).

In Arequipa, Humala won the election as he generally had more support in the South of Peru. The popularity of Humula—though he may be unfit to govern the country—points to the cold trend that the poor in Latin America are not seeing the benefits of economic growth. Under former president Alejandro Toledo, the economy of Peru grew, but this growth did not reach the poor rural populations in la Sierra (the Andes) and la Selva (the Amazon basin).

These populations are physically isolated, and lack investments in infrastructure such as roads and schools. Humulla’s popularity came from people who are fed up with the macroeconomic structures that deny Peru’s government the resources it needs to provide these areas with the wealth created through Peru’s strong economic growth. It is a complicated situation and I’m not afraid to admit I do not fully comprehend all the complexities, though my guess after taking Global Political Economy is that the lack of resources might have to do with debt servicing which has hurt many economies in Latin America, and inadequate international funds for development. This is the story I have heard from many Peruvians I have talked to: Peru does not lack the knowledge of what it must do for the poorest people, but it does lack the means. With Allan as the new president, there will not likely be a repeat of the record-setting inflation that occurred during his first term in office, but the outlook is not clear. Will his actions work to make obsolete the comment I have heard: “The people of Peru are very good at being poor,” or will the trend started with Toledo continue.