More Bootcamp

The Bootcamp has started up again. More and more students are finishing up, and more are coming down the line. Fortunately, the newer students are better prepared since they haven't been out of school so long...


Photo: José Luis Mamani y Emilio Mamani work on their projects.


Photo: Porfirio Apata takes a break for lunch.

Naturalist born

Today veterinary student Karen Pari defended her inventory of wild birds on the cloud forest mountain that is our backdrop in Carmen Pampa, Uchumachi. She identified over 40 species of birds, tracking where they are visible and when they migrate over a year. Her work is useful for conservation efforts, and will be used by the tourism department to develop hikes on the mountain with visitors.

Karen is the oldest of four children, all of whom are at the UAC: her brother Rubén in education, her sister Wilma in agronomy, and her other sister Betty in Ecotourism.

We are so proud of Karen, a naturalist through and through.

Photo: Karen signs a copy of her project as vet department director Martin Morales looks on.

Two more

Today were two more research project defenses -- and two more graduates!

In the morning was Cristina Mamani, who did her project about using papaya seeds to cure amoebas and nematodes (were effective against Entamoeba histolytica amoebas). Her whole family came from teh community of San Juan de Coripata, 2 hours away in an old truck.



Photo: Nursing director Lidia Cuevas helps Cristina take the nursing oath.

Then in the afternoon, Nancy Chambilla defended her project about improving coffee prodution by adding a fermentation aid to coffee during its fermentation process to improve coffee quality (20 cc per kilogram was most effective).



Photo: New graduate Nancy poses with her husband Felix Bohorquez.

New Year's Trip

I recently went to Charazani, a small town in a valley that descends from the Altiplano northeast of Lake Titicaca. I was invited by a UAC student, Freddy Villca, studying in the education department. Last January I also went to visit a student in his home, and then, as now, the impact has left a big impression.

Freddy grew up in Charazani with his brother Rene, stepfather and three younger half brothers. They were very poor – his two youngest brothers finished high school at a boarding school in La Paz for orphans and families that couldn't afford their children. The mother and stepfather were farmers, though his stepfather had passed away (from a curse, or maybe a heart attack, says Freddy), and his mother is too old to work very much now. Rene was the first to go to the UAC, followed by Freddy and his brother Fernando, then their younger brother Bresne. All on scholarship.


Photo: The small town of Charazani

I arrived in Charazani in the afternoon after an 8 hour bus ride. First we sat and ate some llama meat stew in their little mud-brick, dirt floor kitchen, sitting on little stools. They cook over a fire in clay pots. Guinea pigs, the family’s typical source of meat, squeaked from their cage behind me. Then Freddy, Bresne and I went to a local hot springs and swam, then to fish for trout in the river. Returning home, we had some tea and bread in the kitchen and went to another mud-brick room, their only real room, to sleep. I was on a mattress on the floor, the brothers in one bed, the mom in the other.


Photo: Freddy's mom Lucia over a fire in the kitchen


Photo: Freddy and Bresne fishing for trout

The next day after more tea and bread, we hiked to a Sacred Heart of Jesus statue up on the mountain overlooking the town, and up even higher with a spectacular view of the town and the valley. The town is known for its pre-Colombian terraces and medicine men called kallawayas, experts in medicinal plants and cures, from Incan times. We hiked back down and had chicken stew (I had brought a chicken with me from La Paz), then took a nap – I was exhausted! Later went to see Freddy's corn plot, ate again, then went to sleep. The next morning I left for La Paz.


Photo: Terraces on the hills around Charazani

The visit awoke so many emotions in me. The biggest thing that I felt was gratefulness for the opportunities that I have had that came with growing up in the U.S. I so rarely experience this kind of poverty, material poverty at least. I know intellectually that our students are from poor families, but it is generally out of my awareness. The trip made it so obvious to me that I have lived – and live – an incredibly privileged life.

Freddy and his mom Lucia and brother Bresne were so welcoming and attentive, a kind of sincere welcome and expression of love that was very humbling. It reminds me of the Benedictine idea of welcoming each person as if he or she were Christ, a stricture that I don’t always follow so well. (And the mother didn't really understand anything that I said – she only really spoke Quechua!) And I felt overwhelmed, sensitive and aware: everything was so foreign, the landscape and climate, the language, the customs, the food, the way of life.


Photo: Freddy in the kitchen

Freddy told me funny stories about growing up, herding sheep, playing tricks on the plaza caretaker, fishing and farming; and also about how he left school for three years and drank and got into fights and sunk to a level that I cannot imagine before turning his life around. This profoundly changes how I understand life. Freddy has an incredible openness and excitement about the future, and has overcome so much. I am grateful that he shared his hometown and family and life with me. And grateful for my life and the opportunity to help students like Freddy hold a better future in their hands.


Photo: Freddy, Bresne and their mom at their home in Charazani

Back from break

We are back from our Christmas/New Year holiday break, now all again hard at work to get things organized for the next semester that starts February 12th.

Christmas was incredible, with a Christmas mass full of dancing and joy...


...followed by hot chocolate and PRESENTS! for the little ones (thank you to Kimberly Lane for her donation of gifts for the children, including two bicycles that were raffled off).


(Photos from Lee Lechtenberg -- more here -- I escaped to Cochabamba and spent Christmas with Matt Thibodeau at an orphange where he used to teach.)

The latest

This past Wednesday, Vladimir Torrez, an orphan from the Ciudad del Niño in La Paz, defended his research project about coffee plant grafting to reduce nematode pest infestations. Vladimir is also deaf, requiring more work on his part to succeed. We are so proud of him.


Photo: Vladimir raises a cup of sparkling cider as we toast his success.

The unfortunate part was that his aunt came to see his project defense, and couldn't get past a landslide that was blocking the path (it has been raining cats and dogs all week -- The Wet Season). She arrived later, and we all basked in the success of yet another student from the UAC, now ready to go out and change the world.


Photo: Landslide on the road between Carmen Pampa and Coroico, still causing problems as of today.

Farewell, Fair Volunteers

Three volunteers are parting the month: Our English program coodinator Karen Ohmans, our food program coordinator/English professor/visit coordinator Maria Uchida, and our library and high school volunteer/exchange student from University of Wisconsin-River Falls Christine Selby.

We are sad to see them go, but happy for them as they move into new phases of their lives. Much love and success to all three!


Photo: Christine, Maria and Karen on their last night in Carmen Pampa -- we will miss you!

Feed Our Students!

Some years ago one of the students developed a nose-bleed that would not stop. When Sister Damon took him to the hospital the doctor discovered that he was undernourished. The student did not have money to eat.

She found out there were others, so she began a co-op dinner program. Sr. Damon asked Mr. Bud Roche, one of the owners of the Roche Bros. Groceries in Boston, to donate money annually to the program. Students in the co-op program do all their own food purchasing, preparation, and cleanup. They rotate responsibilities of baking bread each morning, cleaning vegetables, bringing wood and gas for cooking, etc.

The Roche Family and Sr. Damon Nolan's family go back many years. In the '40's, Damon's father bought the meats for his restaurant from the neighboring Roche Brother's Butcher Shop in Roslindale, MA. Years later, Sr. Damon and Sr. Jean Morressey both taught Patty Roch at Mt. Alvernia High School in Boston.

Thursday the kitchen of one of the three co-ops was dedicated to the memory of Patty Roche as a small acknowledgement of the faithful support the Roche Family have given UAC students over the years. Shoppers at the Boston Roche Brother's stores should know that part of their grocery dollar finds its way down to Bolivia.

Photo: Students from Campus Manning at the dedication, with a wooden plaque that reads "Cocina de Patty Roche." GRACIAS!

Another Veterinarian Graduate

Eddy Villca, a vet/animal science student, successfully defended his research project yesterday. He studied how to improve hog feed with the addition of amino acids, and found that with modest additions of methionine and lisine, hog grow bigger. This means higher profitability for farmers who raise hogs semi-intensively, like the ones who raise hogs to sell to the UAC's meat plant. And he got a 86% (distinguished). Good job, Eddy!


Photo: New graduate Eddy Villca.

Virgin of Guadelupe

Wednesday was the Fiesta of the Virgin de Guadelupe, one of the aparitions of the Virgin in the Americas to a Native American, a small boy in Mexico. The story, as told by Luis Dumois on Mexico Connect, goes

Juan Diego was a poor Indian that used to walk around the land that now surrounds Mexico City. He lived in Cuautitlán. One day in December, 1531, he was walking to Tlatelolco, when he heard music, and smelled a sweet perfume coming from a small cerrito, -hill-, nearby. Somebody, in a very affable voice, was calling his name: 'Juanito, Juan Dieguito...'. He climbed the Tepeyac hill and he saw a young woman standing there. She asked him to come closer.

When he was in front of Her he saw how magnificent She was: Her clothes had a light like that of the sun, and She was very beautiful. She said: 'Listen, my little son, Juantzin, where are you going?' And he answered: 'My Lady, Queen, my little girl, I'm going to Tlatelolco, to hear the things from God'. She then told him She was the Virgin Mary, mother of the true God. Then She asked him to go to México, to the Bishop's Palace, to tell him that She wanted a temple built on the Tepeyac for Her.

He promised the Lady to obey Her, and he walked all the way down to México, to talk with the Bishop, Fray Juan de Zumárraga. In the palace, he had to wait for a while, but finally he was in the presence of the Bishop himself. He told him about all the marvelous things he had heard and seen, and then presented to him the request from the Queen of Heaven. The Bishop did not believe him, so he walked back to the Tepeyac hill. And She was waiting there for him. As soon as he saw Her, he said, 'Lady, Queen, my little daughter, my little girl, I went there to fulfill your orders. The Governor Priest was kind to me, he listened to me, but I think he did not understand me; he did not believe me. So I beg you, my Lady, Queen, my little girl, that you send one of your noblemen; because I am a simple man, I am small, I am like a wood ladder, I need to be guided, so I will fail you, and I don't want you to be angry at me'. She insisted in that he was the one that had to carry Her orders; nobody else. He promised, again, to do as She said.

Next day, Sunday, he went to the Bishop again, and he repeated his story. The Bishop asked him a lot of questions, and finally said that, in order to build a temple, he needed a token, a tangible sign from the Lady.

He came back to Her, told Her everything, and She asked him to come back the next day, and then She would give him the sign he was asking for.

Next day, Monday, Juan Diego did not meet the Lady, because his uncle, Juan Bernardino, was very ill, and he went to visit him. He spent the night there, and next morning, very early, Juan Diego started walking to Tlatelolco, in order to find a priest for his uncle, because he was sure of Juan Bernardino's near death. When he approached the cerrito, he took a different turn, because he didn't want the Lady from Heaven to stop him; he was in a hurry. (He thought that he wouldn't be seen by Her, She that sees everywhere!) But She suddenly appeared in front of him and asked him, 'What happen, my little son? Where are you going?' He was embarrased, and he said, 'My young one, my little daughter, my girl, I hope you are happy; how are you this morning? Do you feel well?' And he told Her that he was going to get a priest, because his uncle was dying. She answered: 'Put this in your heart, my little son: do not be afraid. Am I not here, Me, your mother? Are you not under my shadow, under my care? Am I not the fountain of joy? Are you not in the crease of my cloak, in the fold of my arms? Do you need anything else?' And She told him that his uncle was sound in that very moment.

Then She told him to climb the hill and cut the flowers that were there. He did so, and was very amazed to find a lot of beautiful flowers up there, because it was not the time for them. He cut the flowers and put them inside his tilma (a cloak made by the Indians), and then came back to Her. She took the flowers in Her hands and put them inside the tilma again. And then She sent him to the Bishop, asking him to show what he carried.

Photo: Our Advent candles and replica of Nuestra Señora de Guadelupe at the altar.

When Juan Diego arrived at the palace, he had a long wait to see the Bishop. He told him all the story, about the Lady, the hill, the flowers, the orders from Her. All this time he was holding his tilma, with the flowers inside. Finally, the Bishop asked him to show what he was carrying. When he opened his cloak, the flowers fell to the floor, and there, on the white fabric, was the image of the Lady from Heaven, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.

Our service was beautiful. Students read the story as the second reading, and Father Alejandro gave a fine homily. May the peace of this season be with all of you as we remember all of our gifts, large and small.


Photo: Father Alejandro blesses students with holy water as they leave mass; Sister Jean looks after her flock.

Guest appearance at the Bootcamp

A one time volunteer, UAC supporter and old friend, Matt Thibodeau, showed up this week in Carmen Pampa. He spent the week sharing with students and cooking for us at the volunteer house. Today he is helping at the bootcamp. Thanks, Matt!


Photo: Matt and Hugh at lunch in the Alto before the bootcamp.

One more!

Gabriel Paco, one of three brothers at the UAC, successfully defended his research project yesterday, comparing composting with and without California redworms, using kitchen scraps, coffee processing waste and cardboard (was generally faster with worms).

Congratulations, Gabriel!


Photo: Francisco Mamani, Humberto Sainz, Gabriel Paco, José Luis Beltrán and Hugh Smeltekop.

Yet another!

We have another UAC graduate, Miguel Quisbert, who did his research project about the toxicity of a medicinal root, maca (Lepidium meyenii), in laboratory mice (the plant was not toxic). This is the third graduate in the veterinary program in two weeks: last week Oscar Nina and Grover Castro successfully defended their projects.

A big congratulations to them all.



Photo: Miguel with his panel of judges (L to R: Agronomy director José Luis Beltrán, Jaime Cahuana, Ramiro Fernandez, Miguel Quisbert and Veterinary/Animal Science director Martín Morales)

Thesis Boot Camp Continues

Weekends are still busy at the Cuartel de Tesis in the Alto. Keep us in your prayers for lots more graduates this year!

Photo: Martin Alejo and Isidro Mamani working to finish their research projects and graduate.


Photo: Hugh and Reinaldo Mendoza in the internet café in the Ceja of the Alto.

Volunteer Wedding

When our volunteer Maria Uchida arrived at the UAC in 2006, no one imagined that she would one day be tying that knot with another member of the Carmen Pampa community.

Walter Cusi is a veterinary student and bread baker for the student food program. A very responsible, serious young man, he and Maria became friends, then one year ago fell in love.

This weekend, Maria and Walter got married in a small ceremony at the Hotel Esmeralda in Coroico with a justice of the peace in the presence of family and friends.

Much love and success to both of you!


Photo: Maria, Walter and their families.

For more photos see:
Hugh's Picasa Pictures
Jenny Uchida's blog

Lorma Flores graduates

Another graduate! Lorma Flores is the newest UAC graduate, a nursing student who defended her research project about the relationship between nutrition and warts. Great job, Lorma!

Photo: Lorma with her newly defended project with our statue of St. Francis on Campus Leahy.

Practice being an agronomist

Last night were the student presentations of módulos, the extra-curricular activities that agronomy students do to pratice what they learn in classes. The student módulos include vegetable production, biological pest control, soil analysis, citrus crop management, biotechnology and more.


Photo: Gustavo and Marcos talk about their soil analysis project.

Each group of students had 10 minutes to talk about the project that they developed throughout the semester.


Photo: Agronomists Desiderio Flores, Hector Espejo, Angelica Salvatierra and department head José Luis Beltrán judge the presentations.

The agronomists on campus served as judges, grading the presentations on content, presentation and ability to answer questions.


Photo: Gabriel and Vlady explain their worm composting project.

Another graduate!

Photo: Hugh Smeltekop, the new graduate Carlos, and his father.


The UAC has a new graduate, Carlos Gutiérrez. He defended his thesis about the control of coffee borer (the worst coffee pest in the yungas) with an extract from the neem tree. He is the second person in his family to graduate from the UAC -- his sister Rosemary graduated from the UAC in 2003, and is now doing her MS at South Dakota State University.

Good job, Carlos!

Thesis Bootcamp

One of our biggest challenges at the UAC right now is getting students to graduate.

Most universities in Latin America require a research project ("thesis") of undergraduate students. Since most of our faculty travel to and from La Paz to teach their classes, they do not have time to develop and manage research programs at the UAC, and are not very available to help students choose and design their undergraduate thesis projects. So the students choose projects that interest them and help their communities, but lack the intellectual and strategic support that they need.

On top of that, since they have finished their classes, most no longer live at the university, so do not have access to their professors and have to fend for themselves economically, too.

The result of this is that many students have done their field research, but have not analyzed or written up their results. Instead -- understandably -- they are working to support themselves and their families who have made great sacrifices for them to study.


Photo: Student Juan Carlos Paco works on his research project about quinoa harvesting.

When Dr. Diane Rickerl was in Bolivia in July with collaborators from tribal colleges from South Dakota and Nebraska, and she talked about the Thesis Bootcamp that she did with her students from the Prairie PhD program, getting the students together with their advisers, stats people, computers and other resources to help them get their these written. We have shamelessly copied her idea, and with funds from South Dakota State University (through the Larson Foundation) -- and with funds forthcoming from FONADAL -- we have put together our own bootcamp, the Cuartel de Tesis.

The Cuartel has two parts. One is to capture the students who are now living in La Paz and the Alto. We have taken over an Internet café in the Ceja of the Alto on Saturdays and Sundays, providing a place for students to come and consult with me and others from the Instituto de Investigación about their stats, writing, and organization of their theses; and also provide a space for them to meet with their advisers.


Photo: "Our" Internet café in the Alto of La Paz.

The second part is a space in the Instituto's offices with computers, printers and access to Instituto staff to help finish up their research projects. The Cuartel also pays for their printing and binding costs, and the fees that the university requires to organize the project reviews and defense.

And we are making progress. Six students have moved on to the review process at the Universidad Católica Boliviana, the last step before the final project defense. And we expect many more to finish the entire process by the end of the year.


Photo: Student Magdelena Colque works on her research project about forage supplements for goats.

Those with so little offer so much

Canberra’s Nathan Kensey finds much to surprise him among the young people of a small South American village.
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I am in Bolivia where I have encountered people happy to accommodate my appalling Spanish. I have met people who smile when most others would cry. I have even found someone willing to learn the rules of cricket. In a country that has, ostensibly, so little, I have found so much.

I arrived in Bolivia in mid-July, flying into the world's highest capital city of La Paz (3665m) and then travelling down reputedly the "world's most dangerous" or "most beautiful" road, depending on your preferred euphemism. I try to focus on the latter.

My destination was the small village of Carmen Pampa, not far from the town of Coroico. Carmen Pampa contains a most remarkable and audacious project to combat poverty.

The Unidad Academica Campesina - Carmen Pampa (UAC - CP) is a branch of the Catholic University of Bolivia and was established in 1993. It is directed by the Franciscan Missionaries of the Immaculate Conception, an order of female religious who also have an Australian presence.

The aim of the university is to combat poverty through education. The people of the region believe only through educating their children can they ensure real improvement in the economy and true relief from the injustice and scourge of poverty.

The university offers agronomy, education, nursing and veterinary science for more than 500 students. A fifth subject, tourism, will be offered next year.

One of the hallmarks of its education is the impeccably high standards of work expected from students. As an Australian undergraduate law student I am astounded at the rigour of the program.

On top of the large amount of contact hours for their chosen subject, students are also required to undertake classes in religion and English as well as 20 hours of community work a month, which might involve maintenance or work on building projects in the university.

Students are obliged to complete a thesis in their final year of studies, the quality of which has been commented on by visiting professors as rivalling that of postgraduate studies. The exacting standard of work produced at the university reflects the fact that poverty takes no prisoners and can be addressed only with an unrelenting commitment.

The United Nations recognised the achievements of the university in 2003 when it was deemed one of the best projects in the world for the eradication of poverty, and the only university to be recognised as such.

But to reach graduation, students often face many obstacles other than the challenging curriculum. Tuition fees are about US$100 per semester, an enormous sum for most Bolivians. A food cooperative has been established for students most in need, which provides basic meals for US$12 a month. But this project can cater for only 200-odd students because of funding restrictions; many others remain in need and go without.

The poverty in Carmen Pampa is insidious, unlike in the streets of La Paz where the infirm and destitute are painfully clear. Those struggling to obtain the basic necessities of life here are often less obvious. This is a university, and like most universities it is dominated by young people, most of whom could be counted as my contemporaries.

And like any young person in Canberra, they want to be popular and attractive. You don't see students begging, you see them smiling, playing soccer or talking to friends, and looking not too different from any other student.

Several students are selected to conduct work in the surrounding area, reflecting the university's aim to improve the community, not just the students. I had the privilege of accompanying one student during her community work.

Sonia Paredes Chavez, 20, an education student, makes the two-hour walk to the community of Coroico Viejo four days a fortnight to teach children with intellectual and physical disabilities.

We left early in the morning and trekked down the large sub-tropical valley that dominates the area. We visited numerous homes and I was repeatedly taken aback at the overwhelmingly generous hospitality of these people who had so little.


We stayed for some time with the family of Virginia, a nine year old afflicted with physical and intellectual disabilities. While I was waited on hand and foot by the girl's parents, I marvelled at Virginia´s adopted brother, Dayman, also nine, as he repeatedly jumped from a tree and then ran to check on his sister, all for her amusement.

Her smile and laugh were contagious. I soon forgot that she was couched not in a moulded plastic chair suited to her needs, but a wooden box furnished with a blanket.

After several house calls, Sonia showed me the Coroico Viejo goat project. Established by the university, the project's primary aim is to provide work and income for students as well as being a minor commercial enterprise for the benefit of the community. I enjoyed a glass of warm, sweetened goat's milk while the goats enjoyed my shoelaces. The milk was delicious; it was a fair swap.

My contribution to the university has consisted primarily of teaching two English classes and assisting pastoral coordinator Sr Jean Morrissey to plan and run youth ministry retreats and weekly meetings for students.

Excitingly, I have just begun to assist in the development of an overseas volunteer program that will offer students the opportunity to serve others with their newly gained skills. One possibility will be a joint program with the Franciscan Missionaries in Papua New Guinea.

The entire budget of the university, which is overwhelmingly derived from donations, runs at around US$500,000 a year, an incredibly small amount considering what is achieved here.

Anyone wishing to support the work can contact the Carmen Pampa Fund based in Minnesota at franrm(at)carmenpampafund(dot)org or visit the fund website at www.carmenpampafund.org

Nathan Kensey nathankensey(at)hotmail(dot)com

Nathan Kensey with education student Donato Abelino Cari at the university in the tiny village of Carmen Pampa, part of a remarkable project to combat poverty.

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This article originally written in October 2005.