Here Mauricio contemplates a question put to him by his defense committee. Good job Mauricio!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Coffee control
Coffee borer (Hypothenemus hampei) is the worst insect pest for coffee plants in the cloud forest ecosystem where our farmers eke out a living. New graduate Mauricio Colquehuanca -- our first this year! -- defended his research project about how the biocontrol the fungus Beauveria bassiana grows at different levels of humidity. He discovered that this pest-killing fungus will not grow at all above 75% humidity, and even better as the humidity increases. This information helps us improve how we mass produce the fungus effectively in the lab, to help farmers control this devastating pest.
Here Mauricio contemplates a question put to him by his defense committee. Good job Mauricio!
Here Mauricio contemplates a question put to him by his defense committee. Good job Mauricio!
Friday, January 09, 2009
More SDSU
Collaborators with the College are in Carmen Pampa to help us design a system of land restoration that will help farmers in the region make use of degraded land in their communities. Here are some more pictures from the visit.
Our visitors did workshops about land restoration and how to measure success. In this photo, our faculty, some students and visitors from South Dakota share lunch.
Here South Dakota State professor Dr. Neil Reese explains the fine points of plant pressing to our student Vicente Manrique as volunteer Kate interprets.
Dr. Tom Schumacher from South Dakota State University explains the importance of organic matter in a restoration demonstration in the field.
Karla Witt from Sisseton Wapehton College, volunteers Kate and Sam and the head of tourism Jose Luis took on some young men from Carmen Pampa in B-ball -- and won!
Our visitors did workshops about land restoration and how to measure success. In this photo, our faculty, some students and visitors from South Dakota share lunch.
Here South Dakota State professor Dr. Neil Reese explains the fine points of plant pressing to our student Vicente Manrique as volunteer Kate interprets.
Dr. Tom Schumacher from South Dakota State University explains the importance of organic matter in a restoration demonstration in the field.
Karla Witt from Sisseton Wapehton College, volunteers Kate and Sam and the head of tourism Jose Luis took on some young men from Carmen Pampa in B-ball -- and won!
Saturday, January 03, 2009
South Dakota
Visitors from South Dakota arrived a few days back.
Here they are arriving at the airport.
Here we are enjoying New Year's dinner at the Hotel Esmeralda.
I will write more soon -- after getting some sleep!
Here they are arriving at the airport.
Here we are enjoying New Year's dinner at the Hotel Esmeralda.
I will write more soon -- after getting some sleep!
Cochabamba
I visited Cochabamba for a day just after Christmas, and spent the day with Brother Ignacio, a Franciscan friar. Brother Iggy is the director of a project that provides health services to some underserved communities outside of the city.
Three students from the College now work in this project, two nursing graduates Willie and Genoveva, and a vet student Félix.
Here we are at lunch.
These young people were chosen by Brother Iggy to study at the College because they were already serving their communities, volunteering in the clinics that the Franciscans run around Cochabamba.
And they are back at it now. Brother Iggy describes the nurses as invaluable to the rural health services they are providing, and Félix needs just a few more months to finish his fieldwork, researching the parasites in sheep where he is working. This is the kind of success we expect from our students.
Three students from the College now work in this project, two nursing graduates Willie and Genoveva, and a vet student Félix.
Here we are at lunch.
These young people were chosen by Brother Iggy to study at the College because they were already serving their communities, volunteering in the clinics that the Franciscans run around Cochabamba.
And they are back at it now. Brother Iggy describes the nurses as invaluable to the rural health services they are providing, and Félix needs just a few more months to finish his fieldwork, researching the parasites in sheep where he is working. This is the kind of success we expect from our students.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Christmas in Carmen Pampa
Christmas in Carmen Pampa is always an event. It starts with buying Christmas gifts. Last week, Sister Jean and Sarah and I went to La Paz to find suitable gifts for 300 children for about a dollar a kid – and we found them! Toy cars were 25 cents each, plastic farm animals the same, little purses with spangles 30 cents, colorful barrettes 20 cents each, little stuffed animals a dollar a piece, and notebooks for school rounded out our purchases. We loaded up two huge bags into a taxi to the bus station, glad to have the shopping out of the way. A big Gracias! to Kimberly Lane for the donation of gifts.
On the 23th, Sister Carmen taught the children in the community a traditional dance to do during mass to celebrate the baby Jesus arriving at the church, and Sister Jean had the gifts bagged up.
Father Alejandro came to celebrate mass on the eve of the 24th, and it was beautiful: the children dancing, the presentation of the Christ Child, and two baptisms.
Here community people are lined up to have their infant Jesus figures blessed to take home for adoration.
After mass, students from the college handed out the gifts and everyone shared hot chocolate and bread to celebrate together.
On the 25th, we had a nice lunch with the college students who stayed here to work (many students can’t afford their tuition, so the school gives them work over vacation, and they spend Christmas with us).
Photos from Sister Jean and Mary.
On the 23th, Sister Carmen taught the children in the community a traditional dance to do during mass to celebrate the baby Jesus arriving at the church, and Sister Jean had the gifts bagged up.
Father Alejandro came to celebrate mass on the eve of the 24th, and it was beautiful: the children dancing, the presentation of the Christ Child, and two baptisms.
Here community people are lined up to have their infant Jesus figures blessed to take home for adoration.
After mass, students from the college handed out the gifts and everyone shared hot chocolate and bread to celebrate together.
On the 25th, we had a nice lunch with the college students who stayed here to work (many students can’t afford their tuition, so the school gives them work over vacation, and they spend Christmas with us).
Photos from Sister Jean and Mary.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Science Fair
I wrote this a while back and finally got some photos to post with it (thanks, Mary).
_____________
The college had its Jornada Científica last night, the school science fair where students from the different departments do small science projects to share with their fellow students. Professionals from the Escuela Militar de Ingenería and the Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud came from La Paz to judge the event.
The most dynamic student was a young man named José Luis Chipana, who grew corn and barley forages in germination boxes with different kinds of fertilizers. He won first place in the junior division.
Three groups from our pre-university studies program also participated. One group grew hydroponic lettuce, using plastic-lined boxes with the plants poking out of styrofoam floating on nutrient-enriched water. Very clever use of local materials. They won second place, junior division.
The education department had a group of students who administered a test to 260 of our students to identify grammar abilities. Their results showed that most students have trouble with grammar, and they recommended more emphasis on writing in all classes (duly noted!). They were third in the junior division.
The senior level project that garnered the most attention was a study that looked at using a natural fungus, Beauveria bassiana, to control insect pests.
A shout out to our undergraduate researchers! Well done, all.
_____________
The college had its Jornada Científica last night, the school science fair where students from the different departments do small science projects to share with their fellow students. Professionals from the Escuela Militar de Ingenería and the Instituto Nacional de Laboratorios de Salud came from La Paz to judge the event.
The most dynamic student was a young man named José Luis Chipana, who grew corn and barley forages in germination boxes with different kinds of fertilizers. He won first place in the junior division.
Three groups from our pre-university studies program also participated. One group grew hydroponic lettuce, using plastic-lined boxes with the plants poking out of styrofoam floating on nutrient-enriched water. Very clever use of local materials. They won second place, junior division.
The education department had a group of students who administered a test to 260 of our students to identify grammar abilities. Their results showed that most students have trouble with grammar, and they recommended more emphasis on writing in all classes (duly noted!). They were third in the junior division.
The senior level project that garnered the most attention was a study that looked at using a natural fungus, Beauveria bassiana, to control insect pests.
A shout out to our undergraduate researchers! Well done, all.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Last graduate of the year
Esteban Ojeda is our last graduate this year -- he defended his research project on Friday morning, a project about whether growing beans and corn together was better than growing them as monocrops in this region.
Photo: Esteban prepares for his presentation.
Corn and beans are friends, growing better together than apart in most cases. And this was true for our region, too: Esteban calculated that it would take almost twice as much land to grow beans and corn apart than when grown together. His calcualtions also showed that for a modest investment of $85 on a half acre of land, a farmer can earn $825 in the four months it takes these crops to grow -- that's almost 10 as much as the original investment. This is the kind of research that makes a difference for farmers in the area.
Photo: Esteban poses with (L to R) his advisor Felix Choque, the ag department head José Luis Beltrán, the Research Institute's Vice Director Rubén Darío Gómez, the department's botanist Desiderio Flores, yours truely, his father and his brother.
Esteban's father and brother came to the defense. The brother expressed his gratitude for the college taking his little brother in and helping him become a professional; his father expressed siminar sentiments -- in his own indigenous language, Quechua. It is something that the child of a man who didn't finish even elementary school has a child with a university degree. Who says that progress is always slow?
Photo: Esteban prepares for his presentation.
Corn and beans are friends, growing better together than apart in most cases. And this was true for our region, too: Esteban calculated that it would take almost twice as much land to grow beans and corn apart than when grown together. His calcualtions also showed that for a modest investment of $85 on a half acre of land, a farmer can earn $825 in the four months it takes these crops to grow -- that's almost 10 as much as the original investment. This is the kind of research that makes a difference for farmers in the area.
Photo: Esteban poses with (L to R) his advisor Felix Choque, the ag department head José Luis Beltrán, the Research Institute's Vice Director Rubén Darío Gómez, the department's botanist Desiderio Flores, yours truely, his father and his brother.
Esteban's father and brother came to the defense. The brother expressed his gratitude for the college taking his little brother in and helping him become a professional; his father expressed siminar sentiments -- in his own indigenous language, Quechua. It is something that the child of a man who didn't finish even elementary school has a child with a university degree. Who says that progress is always slow?
Thursday, December 18, 2008
End of year mass
At the end of every school year, Catholic University of Bolivia has a mass for the teachers of its rural schools. This year, our director Father Freddy and the Bishop of the Alto of La Paz celebrated the mass together.
Photo: Father Freddy and Bishop Jesús Suarez consecreate the Host.
Monsignor Suarez spoke in his homily about President Evo Morales' call to the Church to help the poor, and how Catholic University took him up on it, founding its first rural school twenty-two years ago, and with the college in its fifteenth year.
Sister Jean organized students from our pre-university program -- they were in charge of the music, playing traditional tunes with pan flutes and Andean recorders accompanied by charrango and guitar. They were excellent.
Photo: Pre-university students playing for mass.
Photo: Father Freddy and Bishop Jesús Suarez consecreate the Host.
Monsignor Suarez spoke in his homily about President Evo Morales' call to the Church to help the poor, and how Catholic University took him up on it, founding its first rural school twenty-two years ago, and with the college in its fifteenth year.
Sister Jean organized students from our pre-university program -- they were in charge of the music, playing traditional tunes with pan flutes and Andean recorders accompanied by charrango and guitar. They were excellent.
Photo: Pre-university students playing for mass.
Instituto Benson
The college has a collaborator in Bolivia, Instituto Benson, who has supported research here since 2000, starting with a Family Production project that looked at how a farm family can live on only 2 acres of land; then a Forage Seed Production project; and most recently the Insect Diversity project that recent graduates Eddy Alarcón and Oscar Claros manage here on campus.
Professor collaborators from Brigham Young University, Dr. Val Anderson and Shawn Clark were here last week, and took the entomology team out to dinner.
Photo: Juan Pedro Salas, a friend from BYU, Oscar Claros, Dr. Val Anderson, Miguel Manrique, Benson Institute Vice Director Gustavo Troche, Eddy Alarcón, Vetzabé Ajllahuanca, Dr. Shawn Clark, Benson Institute Director Elizabeth García, Edwin Zapata, Hugh Smeltekop.
One of our students, Juan Pedro Salas, is working with the Instituto to help farmers on the Altiplano grow vegetables in underground greenhouses called waliaptaphiñas (this means "good harvest" in Aymara). Sarah and I went with him Tuesday to help a farm family finish a greenhouse.
Photo: Juan Pedro helps the family put the plastic roof on the greenhouse, as Sarah Mechtenberg looks on.
Juan Pedro showed us a finished greenhouse back at the Instituto Benson research station. It was a steam bath inside, a big change from the cool, dry air of the Altiplano! The research station in managed by a graduate from the college, Zenón Maquera.
Photo: Inside the greenhouse. You can see how humid it is.
The Instituto Benson also has a small goat herd, managed by our student Magda Colque. Magda will defend her research project early next year.
Photo: Magda and her goats.
We are thankful for Instituto Benson and the opportunities that it has provided us, both for meaningful research and for hiring our students to fulfill the mission of the college, empowering the poor to end poverty, one family at a time.
Professor collaborators from Brigham Young University, Dr. Val Anderson and Shawn Clark were here last week, and took the entomology team out to dinner.
Photo: Juan Pedro Salas, a friend from BYU, Oscar Claros, Dr. Val Anderson, Miguel Manrique, Benson Institute Vice Director Gustavo Troche, Eddy Alarcón, Vetzabé Ajllahuanca, Dr. Shawn Clark, Benson Institute Director Elizabeth García, Edwin Zapata, Hugh Smeltekop.
One of our students, Juan Pedro Salas, is working with the Instituto to help farmers on the Altiplano grow vegetables in underground greenhouses called waliaptaphiñas (this means "good harvest" in Aymara). Sarah and I went with him Tuesday to help a farm family finish a greenhouse.
Photo: Juan Pedro helps the family put the plastic roof on the greenhouse, as Sarah Mechtenberg looks on.
Juan Pedro showed us a finished greenhouse back at the Instituto Benson research station. It was a steam bath inside, a big change from the cool, dry air of the Altiplano! The research station in managed by a graduate from the college, Zenón Maquera.
Photo: Inside the greenhouse. You can see how humid it is.
The Instituto Benson also has a small goat herd, managed by our student Magda Colque. Magda will defend her research project early next year.
Photo: Magda and her goats.
We are thankful for Instituto Benson and the opportunities that it has provided us, both for meaningful research and for hiring our students to fulfill the mission of the college, empowering the poor to end poverty, one family at a time.
First tourism class getting closer
Last Saturday, the first class of ecotourism students successfully defended their research and small business proposals, the OK for them to actually do their research. Each one is studying how resources from her local community can be used to develop tourism activities. Two, Juan Mamani and Mónica Quispe, already have business plans, ready to start small hostals for tourists to see the sites around our mountain Uchumachi. We hope that our first crop of ecotourism students will graduate by early next year.
Photo: Karem Chura, Celia Mamani, Gabriel Chura, Fátima Villca, Department Director José Luis Pinto, Rosa Mamani, Juan Mamani, Mónica Quispe, Yuri Castro, Nelson Mamani, Proposal Writing Professor Rubén Darío Gómez, Luis Ángel Cruz, Professor Ximena Mendoza, Professor Constancio Calsina, Professor Ximena Villa.
Photo: Karem Chura, Celia Mamani, Gabriel Chura, Fátima Villca, Department Director José Luis Pinto, Rosa Mamani, Juan Mamani, Mónica Quispe, Yuri Castro, Nelson Mamani, Proposal Writing Professor Rubén Darío Gómez, Luis Ángel Cruz, Professor Ximena Mendoza, Professor Constancio Calsina, Professor Ximena Villa.
One for the coffee
Last Friday, Victor Hugo Flor defended his research project about adding accelerators to coffee in the fermentation process to speed up processing time -- a good thing during the peak harvest when farmers want to get their coffee processed and dried as fast as possible. He discovered that by adding baker's yeast to the recently peeled coffee reduces the fermentation process by half, and doesn't change the taste.
Hugo's mother, who works at our diocese NGO Cáritas, was at the defense. She was so proud, as were we all.
Photo: Hugo and his mom.
Hugo's mother, who works at our diocese NGO Cáritas, was at the defense. She was so proud, as were we all.
Photo: Hugo and his mom.
Friday, December 12, 2008
High School Graduation
Yesterday was the high school graduation at the San Francisco Xavier High School in Carmen Pampa. The mayor of Coroico was the guest of honor, who oversaw the handing out of diplomas. Here is Father Freddy, invited to hand out a diploma, flanked my the mayor and his wife.
The president of the PTA Norberta Tintaya, older sister of our recent graduate Saida, and mother of graduate Juan Carlos, spoke about the struggles of raising a child in the countryside, but the great joy of seeing her son, and the other graduates, getting one step closer to their dreams. Many of the graduates will join us at the college next year.
When families don't have much money, they often name padrinos -- literally "godparents" -- for different things. I was asked to be the padrino of the graduation cake. I made 3 small pumpkin cakes, frosted in whipped cream, and Leo Lechtenberg made an incredible arch to connect the cakes on the table.
The graduate, Naty Pajsi, stands with confetti in her hair, put there by the people who came to wish her well. Her guests also pin money to her coat, a small contribution to her future. Naty will join us at the college to study agronomy in 2009.
The president of the PTA Norberta Tintaya, older sister of our recent graduate Saida, and mother of graduate Juan Carlos, spoke about the struggles of raising a child in the countryside, but the great joy of seeing her son, and the other graduates, getting one step closer to their dreams. Many of the graduates will join us at the college next year.
When families don't have much money, they often name padrinos -- literally "godparents" -- for different things. I was asked to be the padrino of the graduation cake. I made 3 small pumpkin cakes, frosted in whipped cream, and Leo Lechtenberg made an incredible arch to connect the cakes on the table.
The graduate, Naty Pajsi, stands with confetti in her hair, put there by the people who came to wish her well. Her guests also pin money to her coat, a small contribution to her future. Naty will join us at the college to study agronomy in 2009.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Reciclaje
The Rotary Club A.M. in Des Moines, Iowa, has been helping the college since their visit in 2006. (I took them to eat guinea pig on that visit and they are still with us, so there is no doubt that they are dedicated.) Their latest project with us is a recycling center -- Centro de Reciclaje -- on the lower campus. Here is a picture of foreman Honorato and his asistente Enrique working on the foundation of the entrance to the Centro.
The Grinch
A small group of us went to La Paz to see The Grinch, a musical based on the Dr. Seuss book. A thesis student's husband was the mayor of Whoville -- how could we pass that up?
It was a fun show, with original music, a good script (lots of inside jokes about Bolivian politics) and charismatic actors.
Photo: Whoville!
At the end, we were invited backstage -- it was a really good time.
Photo: Sister Carmen, Sarah, the Grinch, the mayor of Whoville (Carlos), Yoval and Hugh.
It was a fun show, with original music, a good script (lots of inside jokes about Bolivian politics) and charismatic actors.
Photo: Whoville!
At the end, we were invited backstage -- it was a really good time.
Photo: Sister Carmen, Sarah, the Grinch, the mayor of Whoville (Carlos), Yoval and Hugh.
Pedro Mamani
The college was built, brick by brick, with the help of members of the communities nearby. One of these communities is Chovacollo, nestled in the folds of the hill across our valley. One man in particular, Luis Choque, used to regale me with stories about how the whole community, machetes in hand, would cross the valley and make a fiesta of building a better future for their children. Their sweat is literally in the mortar of the college, their contribution to the promise of that better future.
One of Chovacollo's children, Pedro Mamani, defended his research project this Thursday, making good on that promise. He examined whether increasing the temperature of the hog barn by covering some of its windows with burlap would increase weight gain, and it did.
Our newest graduate ran the school's family hog production project, helping local families raise hogs to sell at a better price to the college meat processing plant. I'm not sure what is in store for Pedro now, but I do know that he has a lot to live up to. And I expect him to shine.
One of Chovacollo's children, Pedro Mamani, defended his research project this Thursday, making good on that promise. He examined whether increasing the temperature of the hog barn by covering some of its windows with burlap would increase weight gain, and it did.
Our newest graduate ran the school's family hog production project, helping local families raise hogs to sell at a better price to the college meat processing plant. I'm not sure what is in store for Pedro now, but I do know that he has a lot to live up to. And I expect him to shine.
Friday, November 28, 2008
On the radio -- again!
On Thanksgiving Day, Radio Journalist Jack Rice from WCCO in the Twin Cities interviewed Carmen Pampa Fund Interim Executive Director Sue Wheeler and Interim Program Director Joel Mugge about the college.
Photo: Joel Mugge and Sue Wheeler.
Give it a listen here:
http://www.830wcco.com, and click on the 11/27 Jack Rice Show that says, "The United Nations has rated this school in Bolivia as one of the top seven schools combatting poverty."
Or download the podcast here:
http://www.830WCCO.com/epsiode_download.php?contentType=36&contentID=3131220
Photo: Jack Rice on WCCO.
Photo: Joel Mugge and Sue Wheeler.
Give it a listen here:
http://www.830wcco.com, and click on the 11/27 Jack Rice Show that says, "The United Nations has rated this school in Bolivia as one of the top seven schools combatting poverty."
Or download the podcast here:
http://www.830WCCO.com/epsiode_download.php?contentType=36&contentID=3131220
Photo: Jack Rice on WCCO.
Thanksgiving
Sarah Mechtemberg, Sister Carmen, the volunteers and I had an excellent Thanksgiving Day meal yesterday. Everyone remembered the people that we are thankful for: family, mentors, leaders who help us imagine a better future. And we are all thankful for the opportunities that life offers us, and want to extend these opportunities to other who do not have them. That is a big reason that we are all here.
Photo: Hugh Smeltekop, Andy Engel, Sam Clair, Mary Murphy, Sarah Mechtenberg and Carmen Minga.
(We were also thankful for such a full table: Roasted chicken with stuffing, organic cauliflower and broccoli, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry dressing -- thanks, Tanya! -- and pumpkin pie! Enough for a real Thanksgiving Food Coma!)
Photo: Hugh Smeltekop, Andy Engel, Sam Clair, Mary Murphy, Sarah Mechtenberg and Carmen Minga.
(We were also thankful for such a full table: Roasted chicken with stuffing, organic cauliflower and broccoli, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry dressing -- thanks, Tanya! -- and pumpkin pie! Enough for a real Thanksgiving Food Coma!)
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Something fishy
Don José Tintaya is the man who remembers his father leaving the hacienda in Carmen Pampa after being beaten bloody for disobediance. He was one of the community members who supported Sister Damon as she founded the college. He believed that education could transform our world.
Saida Tintaya successfully defended her research project today, Don José's daughter, the dream made flesh, just one generation later.
Photo: Saida Tintaya awaits the grade on her research project.
Saida studied the effect of water temperature on the production of an amazonian fish, tambaquí, to see whether it would adapt to this climate. She discovered that it will grow under local conditions, but will grow significantly faster in the warmer months.
Saida asked me to thank Sister Damon for inspiring her, and Dr. Michael Brown at South Dakota State University for helping with advice and materials to measure the fish as they grew.
Saida has a small clinic in the Alto of La Paz, where she works with her husband Guido, another student soon to defend at the college. Guido was not there today because he was helping farmers in a far-off community Charazani with a chicken project. We are proud of Saida for her success and her work that benefits people in the campo, fulfilling the college's mission. One person at a time. There has never been any other way.
Photo: Saida stands with (L to R) vet department director Martín Morales, her mother Gertrudis, her statistics advisor Ramiro Ochoa, her father José, Vice Director Hugh Smeltekop and her research advisor Constancio Calsina.
Saida Tintaya successfully defended her research project today, Don José's daughter, the dream made flesh, just one generation later.
Photo: Saida Tintaya awaits the grade on her research project.
Saida studied the effect of water temperature on the production of an amazonian fish, tambaquí, to see whether it would adapt to this climate. She discovered that it will grow under local conditions, but will grow significantly faster in the warmer months.
Saida asked me to thank Sister Damon for inspiring her, and Dr. Michael Brown at South Dakota State University for helping with advice and materials to measure the fish as they grew.
Saida has a small clinic in the Alto of La Paz, where she works with her husband Guido, another student soon to defend at the college. Guido was not there today because he was helping farmers in a far-off community Charazani with a chicken project. We are proud of Saida for her success and her work that benefits people in the campo, fulfilling the college's mission. One person at a time. There has never been any other way.
Photo: Saida stands with (L to R) vet department director Martín Morales, her mother Gertrudis, her statistics advisor Ramiro Ochoa, her father José, Vice Director Hugh Smeltekop and her research advisor Constancio Calsina.
Monday, November 10, 2008
A little bit proud
I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in West Africa, and when I returned to the U.S., I was convinced that I would return to Africa and work there. When Dr. Doug Malo at South Dakota State University said to me, "Hugh, when you finish your studies, we could really use your help in Bolivia," I thought, Why not? I can always go back to Africa next year...
The rest is history, as they say. I fell in love with this place full of young people with dreams way beyond their possibilities, and somehow they reach them -- being a part of that process is an incredible honor. I hope that people who contribute feel that way, too.
My work is different here than it was in my village in Benin. In Africa, I was one man working alongside farmers in a tiny village. Here, I am part of a team, and all of my efforts and multiplied by the efforts of everyone around me. With the support of very few "people on the ground," our students graduate, ready to take on the world.
Though I was promoted recently, I am still involved in the college's Research Institute, our Instituto de Investigación. At a meeting last week, we took a group picture, and every time I look at it, I feel so proud to be part of this. Everyone on our team works really hard, taking on much more than their job descriptions would let on, and working more hours than most jobs would require. Here is the picture:
Photo: (front, L to R) Daniel Choquetarqui, head of labs on Campus Leahy; Daniela Chambilla, head of labs on Campus Manning; Cristina Yujra, library manager on Campus Manning; Olga Jemio, head of libraries; (back) Manuel Loza, research collaborator; Hugh Smeltekop, director of the Research Institute; Rúben Darío Gómez, acting director of the Research Institute
The rest is history, as they say. I fell in love with this place full of young people with dreams way beyond their possibilities, and somehow they reach them -- being a part of that process is an incredible honor. I hope that people who contribute feel that way, too.
My work is different here than it was in my village in Benin. In Africa, I was one man working alongside farmers in a tiny village. Here, I am part of a team, and all of my efforts and multiplied by the efforts of everyone around me. With the support of very few "people on the ground," our students graduate, ready to take on the world.
Though I was promoted recently, I am still involved in the college's Research Institute, our Instituto de Investigación. At a meeting last week, we took a group picture, and every time I look at it, I feel so proud to be part of this. Everyone on our team works really hard, taking on much more than their job descriptions would let on, and working more hours than most jobs would require. Here is the picture:
Photo: (front, L to R) Daniel Choquetarqui, head of labs on Campus Leahy; Daniela Chambilla, head of labs on Campus Manning; Cristina Yujra, library manager on Campus Manning; Olga Jemio, head of libraries; (back) Manuel Loza, research collaborator; Hugh Smeltekop, director of the Research Institute; Rúben Darío Gómez, acting director of the Research Institute
Food Sovereignty
This semester we have a scholar from UC-Berkeley here researching food sovereignty in and around Carmen Pampa. She is Tanya Kerssen, once a grant writer at the Carmen Pampa Fund. We are so lucky to have her, because of her contributions to the college (giving talks, teaching about and leading survey research) and because she has been such an interesting and creative and stimulating person in the volunteer house.
Yesterday Tanya led a survey team in a community across the valley. Here is a photo of Tanya (in blue) walking with her team of student to the community.
Yesterday Tanya led a survey team in a community across the valley. Here is a photo of Tanya (in blue) walking with her team of student to the community.
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