Fiesta de Ayni

On May 16th, the Carmen Pampa Fund organized an event in Minnesota to thank supporters of the College. It was an amazing time of seeing old friends, meeting new ones, and feeling that energy that comes with being part of something that transforms the lives of worthwhile young people.

Here is a photo of the founder of the College, Sister Damon, with students who recently graduated from South Dakota State University, and others who are interning at immersion schools in St. Paul and Sioux Falls.

(Photo by Veronica Calles)

New position

The mass that kicked off the school year was a special one for me: I was named Director General of the College! I am excited about the coming years as there will be many challenges, and many exciting developments to report.

I want to thank everyone for their incredible support since the College was founded 20 years ago by Sister Damon; and over the last 14 years since I have been involved with the mission of this incredible place.

Luis Miranda

Luis Miranda graduated from the Veterinary department in December of 2011, and since then he has been working in Villa Unificada in the Municipal Office of the Alto Beni as project coordinator. He successfully set up a business with his family with funds from FONADAL, the European aid agency. To help farmers struggling to manage their grants, the mayor hired him to help other farmers organize their businesses financed through FONADAL.

Recently he started working as a consultant on the side for the Fondo Indígena, a government-run fund for rural development. "Rural development depends on rural people starting and managing businesses," he explains. "But most farmers lack the skills to do that. My job is to help them get started, and help them along the way." And that is why we are here: to give people the skills to help themselves. 

Photo: Luis poses next to the vet office on campus during his visit to the College today.

Freddy Gutierrez

I went to the bank in Coroico on Saturday, and was glad to see one of our recent graduates, Freddy Gutierrez. He successfully presented his thesis in December. Here he is, after his presentation, being sworn in as a graduate of the College.

Freddy is the manager at the Coroico branch of Prodem, a bank that specializes in making small loans to farmers to support economic growth in rural areas. The bank has around 1200 clients, 75% rural, and is able to give loans that allow farmers to improve their production, or expand a small business.

Freddy is from Caranavi, a small town three hours from the College. Being from a rural area himself, he has the on-the-ground knowledge necessary to help farmers make good decisions about how to invest their loans and improve their situations.

Much success to you, Freddy! You are in our thoughts and prayers.

Short course graduates

2005 graduate of the College Fortunato Velasquez organized a short course through Ecotop, an organization that promotes agroforestry in the tropics, for 28 farmers. The farmers worked for 6 months learning the principles of agroforestry and ecology, and then planted agroforestry systems on their own land to demonstrate their competence.

Today was their graduation. The Director of the Agronomy program, Nicanor Cuba, reminded the graduates of this program to put their knowledge to practice for all to see. As leaders from communities from all around the area, we are sure that their neighbors will follow their example.

Photo: Short course graduates with Ag director Nicanor Cuba (first row, far right), Fortunato Velasquez (to the left of Nicanor) and Ag department coordinator Yris Patzi (first row, second from left).

University and Territory

The Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación para la Agricultura (IICA) is an organization that supports agricultural development throughout the Americas. The College began collaborating with them two years ago, and one of the fruits of our work together is a project called "University and Territory." This project takes advantage of the region's best traits and the College's abilities to use these traits to help people life more dignified lives.

The project, which focuses on organic coffee and vegetable production, hog and chicken husbandry, and tourism, is in its early stages, but the concept of looking for synergies between territories and their institutions was highlighted in a Small Farmers/Food Securities conference in December. Fr. Freddy del Villar represented the College in Washington at IICA Day 2012.

"My message for this audience is that we need to listen to young people and give them the opportunity to have a decent, integral education that promotes the right values," said Fr. Freddy at the conference. 

There will be more to come about the University and Territory project, as the College works to bring development to people both through its students, and directly through its extension projects.

New student orientation

Today young women and men came from little communities near and far to participate in the Semana de Inducción -- new student orientation -- and prepare for the placement exam that will be given Friday and Saturday. I spoke to many of the parents who came along to get their children settled and get a feel for what it is like to be a university student. They were all grateful for the existence of the College. One father said, he wants his daughter to study para ser alguien en la vida ("to be someone in life"). I went into a classroom, and they were so QUIET!

If they are anything like students from previous years, that won't last.

Photo: Graduate of the College Rubén Pari reviews some math problems that will be on the entrance exam.

Three more grads!

Last week the College graduated three more students -- two from our little community of Carmen Pampa, and one from around the corner. Juan Ortega researched the incidence of parasites in elementary school students in his home community of Nogalani, on the other side of Uchumachi mountain. He discovered that 100% of the students had at least one parasite (most commonly the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides), and around half the students had two or more parasites. These infections weaken students, divert nutrients from their bodies, and make learning more difficult. Treatment is easy, and very inexpensive.

Photo: Juan with his parents, wife and son. 

Deysi Tintaya, daughter of José Tintaya, one of the men from Carmen Pampa who supported the College from its start, presented a business plan for egg production in the community of Carmen Pampa.

Photo: Deysi with her parents, José and Gertrudis, and Godparents, Filipe and Juana. 

Julio Monrroy, son of Donato Monrroy, another great supporter of the College since its founding, presented a plan to raise edible snails in Carmen Pampa. Both of these plans take advantage of an initiative of the Bolivian government, the Banco de Desarrollo Productivo, to give low-interest loans (6.0%) to farmers who demonstrate viable agricultural projects in rural areas.

Photo: Julio, flanked by his wife Maritza (a graduate of our vet school) and his mother and father, Goya and Donato. 

 At the end of Julio's presentation, Donato spoke touchingly of the mission of the College, and his satisfaction at his son's success. He concluded his comments with the saying, "Soy rico, pero sin plata" ("I am wealthy, but without money").

It reminds me of something that Sister Damon used to say to all of us: poverty is not about money, it is about options. When you have more options, you are rich because you can decide how to live, and you choose to live according to your values. The College offers options to the poor -- and those options make so much more possible.

Fourth of July

The College is very fortunate to have the support of the U.S. government, through USAID and other programs at the Embassy. Members of student government at the College and a few others were invited to the annual Aniversario de la Independencia de Estados Unidos de América on the 4th of July.

Photo: Communications Specialist Carlos Gallardo, Assistant to the Chargé Megan Gallardo, Owner of Gravity Assisted Mountain Biking Alstair Matthew, and tourism student Luis Arnaldo Molina. 

It was great to see all of the people who make help make the College a success, namely the Chargé d'Affaires John S. Creamer and his people: the foreign aid workers, cultural and business atachés, and foreign exchange coordinators.

Photo: Director General of the College Fr. Freddy, student body president Elmer Gonzalez, agronomy student Hector Quispe, Commnications Specialist Carlos Gallardo, pre-university student Miltha Alvarez, and nursing student Ana Gabriela Piza.

It was a beautiful day, too, and nice to have some good old American comfort food, especially apple pie!

Maestro Luis Alfredo Gavilano

This weekend, the College was honored with a visit by musician and composer Luis Alfredo Gavilano, who gave a talk about the Bolivian composer/artist Alfredo Dominguez.


Photo: Luis Alfredo Gavilano, during a concert at Rincón Munaypata (photo by Hye-Jung Park)

Alfredo Dominguez, an amazing self-taught Bolivian artist, is known mostly for his original music for the guitar, with many recordings and public performances, but also for painting and poetry. Maestro Luis Alfredo played some of his music to demonstrate the creativity of Dominguez and his representations of Bolivia.

Young people here, as everywhere, are drawn to popular music, even American pop -- you can often hear Justin Bieber and Jennifer Lopez coming from our students' dormitories. It was great to see them fascinated by a Bolivian artist that reflects so much of their history, of the past of their mothers and fathers.

__________________


Here is a biography of Luis Alfredo Gavilano, and some of his music. Here is a biography of Alfredo Dominguez (in Spanish).

Busy few days

It was a very busy few days at the College. The nurses had their capping ceremony, here with their class president giving thanks to the people who have helped them in their efforts to become professionals...




...and a grad from the College gave a talk about the new agricultural law, the Community-based Revolution of Agricultural Production law, passed in 2011. Juan Carlos Ballivián works for the Ministry of Land and Rural Development, and talked to over 100 agronomy students who were curious about the future of Bolivian agriculture.




New graduate Eddy Pampa also defended his research project about erosion control in coffee fields, and will be working as a rural credit agent here in the yungas where he grew up.




The La Paz Sur chapter of the Rotary Club also came by for a visit, interested in seeing how the College's recycling program is coming along (Rotary financed our recycling center in the community of Carmen Pampa), and see how we can collaborate in the future.




It was an amazing few days.

Recycling

There is a foundation in La Paz dedicated to helping communities recycle, Fundación para el Reciclaje (FUNDARE). They provide information about recycling, help you organize your efforts, and actually pick up your recyclables and give you educational supplies in return.




Last Tuesday, Mario Aguayo from FUNDARE's Programa Hormiga came to give a talk and set up the program. It is part of a bigger effort to keep campus and the community clean, lead by Sister Jean Morrissey and a small group of dedicated students and community members. A group of students at Siena College and the Universidad Privada Boliviana are also contributing to the effort as part of their on-line Rural Sustainability in Latin America class.




Keeping communities clean requires a lot of education, reminding people of their history of love for Mother Earth and respect for themselves. I remember the Do Not Litter campaigns of the 1970s in the U.S., signs encouraging people to report cars who throw trash from their windows on the highway, and Iron Eyes Cody in the Keep America Beautiful public service announcement shedding a tear because of the pollution.

It is a process. But it is one that we are doing full-force right now at the College. Keep us in mind as we raise consciousness.

Great guest speaker

Bolivia is full of incredible professionals who want to share their experiences with young people excited about change. I have come to this conclusion recently as the College puts together a speaker series of influential people in Bolivia. Our first speaker is a testament to this.

Mr. Osvaldo Vega de la Torre is the retired Chancellor of the Universidad Tecnológica Boliviana, a former Director of Business Administration at the Catholic University of Bolivia and the state university Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, and author of some important books about the Bolivian university system.

He gave a talk last night to students working on their research proposals, undergraduate theses that are required for graduation in most majors. "The key is choosing a topic you love, because it will dominate your life for a long time," he said.


Photo: Mr. Vega de la Torre and Dr. Claudia Cerruto with her Research Proposal Writing class.

This morning, he gave a workshop about the statistical analysis program SPSS, with a real example of how students and professors perceive the role of university professors.

We are glad that professional Bolivians are contributing to the College, and look forward to more collaboration with Mr. Vega de la Torre, and other Bolivians with so much to share.

The Alumni Come Together

Yesterday, 30 alumni of the College had their second meeting of the Alumni Association that they formed in December of last year. They debated the role that the alumni can play at the College, and proposed bylaws.


Photo: President of the Association Javier Álvarez leads the second meeting of the College's Alumni Association.

"We can do a lot to improve the quality of education at the College," said the Association's president Javier Álvarez. "Offering internships, promoting job opportunities, giving talks at the College, helping current students in need, working to promote the good name of our university home."

We are glad to support this graduate initiative, and wish them much success at their next meeting in May.

Betty Pari

Tourism student Betty Pari defended her research project last week, an inventory and evaluation of the restaurants in our nearby town, Coroico.

"We have some great places in Coroico," she said, "but we have some work to do, too. Some training in customer service and organization is needed."

Betty's two sisters and brother all graduated from the College. "My parents' dream that their children all become professional became real today," said Betty's sister Wilma, between tears.



Photo (L to R): Vice Director Hugh Smeltekop, Director General Fr. Freddy del Villar, new grad Betty Pari, Ecotourism Director María Esther Estévez, Betty's sister Wilma, and ecotourism professor Grecia Blanco.

¡Felicidades, Betty!

Another visit from the U.S. Department of State

We were fortunate to receive another visit from the U.S. Department of State, this time from Mr. Kevin Whitaker, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs. He came to Bolivia to negotiate the terms of the agreement between the U.S. and Bolivian governments. Their Joint Committee released this statement today.

The visit started with the arrival of the visitors to the sounds of the Saya, the traditional Afro-Bolivian dance performed by our students. The visit included two Bolivian Vice Ministers.


Photo: Afro-Bolivian students at the College perform the Saya for the guests as they arrive.


Photo: Director of the College Fr. Freddy introduces two community members as the visitors listen. (L to R: Fr. Freddy del Villar, Bolivian Vice Minister of Coca and Rural Development Dionicio Nuñez, USAID/Bolivia Director Wayne Nilsestuen, Chargé d'Affaires John S. Creamer, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere Kevin Whitaker, USAID Bolivia Officer Gretchen Ruethling, Economic Officer Geoffrey Schadrack and Narcotics and Law Enforcement Director Mark Wells)

The officials from the U.S. and Bolivian governments had a private meeting, then met with producers from all over the region.

After that, the College had a lunch where some students and graduates spoke about their experiences. "One area where you can't go wrong is investing in people," said Mr. Whitaker, responding to the students' comments.


Photo: Agronomy student Myrna Torrez talks to the visitors during lunch.

We are glad for the visit, and happy to represent the good works of the U.S. in Bolivia.

Pig extension

The College does workshops for many groups -- here a senior in our vet department, Raymundo Semo (on left, blue shirt), is holding a training for farmers from the community of San Jerónimo who are going to start raising hogs. College graduate Jhonny Ramírez (on right, green jacket) is leading the group.




As farmers start to diversify with new activities, the quality of life for the families increases -- and we close in on our mission of improving lives directly though extension programs.

Visit from the Department of State

Today we were honored with a visit from Simon Henshaw, Director of the Office of Andean Affairs of the U.S. State Department. His visit was to catch up on Bolivian affairs and to see what the U.S. government has accomplished -- and we are proud to be considered one of their successes.

Mr. Henshaw, here with education student Moeni Rodríguez, toured the new women's dormitory that USAID funded...



...and met with other students on campus. Here he is with an education student Eva Álvarez and USAID/Bolivia Director Wayne Nilsestuen.



We are grateful for the help of USAID, a helping hand from all of the American people.

Inaugural mass of 2012

Today was the inaugural mass for the new semester. The president of the Catholic University of Bolivia, Fr. Hans van den Berg, was the special guest. The bishop reminded everyone present that we are all missionaries, called to serve God through our actions, in search of justice for humankind, each with his of her special gifts.




It was an incredible day -- all of the students are back, and excited about becoming professionals.

New semester 2012

The new semester is upon us!

Wednesday was our faculty meeting, where new and old faculty meet to talk about the new semester. Here Dr. Martin Morales, a past director of the vet department, talks to the faculty about what it means to be a member of the family of the College.




Today and Monday are registration days. Here students line up to get registered in the system...






...and administrators get them all signed up!




We ask for your thoughts and prayers these days as everyone comes back to college.