Volunteers Jessica and Kirsten interviewed some students who received support for their graduation projects from conBolivia.
ConBolivia is an NGO that supports different efforts in Bolivia, and faithfully supports students at the College. Here is what Jess and Kirsten wrote:
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Victor Hugo Belmonte is from El Alto and came to Carmen Pampa to study Agronomy because he likes plants and people. His senior project is about the drying time of coffee beans. He chose this project because he wanted to create a more efficient way to dry coffee, a problem in our Cloud Forest area. He is very pleased with his results so far: he has found that using the tarp cuts down drying time and therefore cuts down costs. He is currently in the writing stage of his project. He wants to thank conBolivia for the help at a time when he really needed it.
[Andy wrote about Victor Hugo last August – see his interview
here.]
Maria Esther is originally from Caranavi, a town four hours from Carmen Pampa, but now lives in Carmen Pampa with her family. She chose to study Agronomy at Carmen Pampa because she thinks it is practical and useful. She is studying the
in vitro cultivation of orchids with coconut juice (that liquid in the coconut), potato flour, banana flour, and tomato juice to see which would be best in the lab. She chose this project because this type of flower is disappearing in the countryside and she wants to increase the production of all types of orchids. In order to do this, she says that it is important to find a way to keep the prices low. She is currently writing up her research. After she graduates, she wants to continue to study, focusing on lab work. She wants to work in the lab with endangered plants and teach people about the environment and how to prevent extinction of plants. She wants to thank conBolivia for the financial support that helped her to quickly finish her fieldwork.
[Katrina talked to María Esther last August – see her interview
here.]
