Back to study!

In two days "school" will start again for me! I was selected by the Alianza Social Uniandina to participate in a 17 session program on "Institutional Strengthening" (hope the translation makes sense!). They funded this year in total 8 students like me to get trainning on how to make organizations, specially those in the social sector, stronger through consulting. After the program ends, we shall still provide consultancy to some organizations they will assigned to us on a volunteer basis.

Looking forward!

My new entrepreneurship blog

http://entrepreneurial-discovery.blogspot.com/

I just thought of leaving my personal blog just for personal sharing and open a new, bit more structured on to talk about entrepreneurship. See you there!

Ashoka's Changemakers Collaborative Competition News

One of the things that I love the most from Ashoka's Changemakers and it´s online updates are the contests that they are constantly running. Join and nominate!


1. Sport for a Better World
http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/competition/sports
Join Nike and Changemakers in the global search for innovations using sports to promote social change
Enter by: Jan 8, 2008 Voting begins: Feb 18, 2008 Winners Announced: Mar 3, 2008



2. Young Men at Risk: Transforming the Power of a Generation
http://www.changemakers.net/en-us/competition/men
Enter this global competition to find the most innovative approaches to supporting a generation of young men in realizing their highest potential, presented by Ashoka's Changemakers in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Enter by: Jan 23, 2008 Voting begins: Feb 26, 2008 Winners Announced: Mar 11, 2008

And here comes my favourite, I will nominate BARICHARA (Colombia), where I was in October 2007, for this contest. I guess many other nomads have tones of amazing places to nominate!

Welcome to the 2008 Geotourism Challenge!

http://www.changemakers.net/geotourismchallenge

Exploration is at the core of human nature. For thousands of years travel has been the source of unparalleled experiences. We express the wonder of discovering places in the exchange of photography, stories, music, craft, recipes, and design. As travelers, we gain wisdom and knowledge from this cross-cultural engagement.
In recent decades tourism has exploded into one of the largest, most all-pervasive industries on Earth. Hundreds of millions of us now travel. When done well, tourism can alleviate poverty, educate the public, and motivate preservation and conservation of unique cultural, natural, and historic resources. But when done poorly, tourism may destroy environmental and cultural distinctiveness, perpetuate great disparities in wealth, and educate few.

National Geographic is committed to protecting the world's distinctive places. To further our mission, we welcome you to the global Geotourism Challenge: Celebrating Places/Changing Lives, the first of three annual collaborative competitions in partnership with Ashoka's Changemakers.

The goal of the Geotourism Challenge is to identify and showcase innovators-individuals and organizations- that support the approach known as geotourism: tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place-its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.

We invite you to participate in Ashoka's Changemakers collaborative competition through several actions:
nominate candidates between December 13, 2007 and April 19, 2008; enter the competition itself and encourage others to do so, starting January 30, 2008; comment on entries in the online discussion, throughout the competition, to help tourism innovators refine and improve their ideas; vote for three Geotourism Challenge winners from a slate of finalists chosen by expert judges, starting May 28, 2008.

Help us identify remarkable examples of innovation that demonstrate ways for tourism to do the most good and the least harm. We seek information on innovators from around the world and from every kind of enterprise, government, or organization-large and small- who are helping destinations benefit from tourism while protecting the assets that make their places special.

Who are the best Geotourism Challenge candidates? People and organizations that build community pride, increase knowledge about a place, help to protect or enrich the character of a place, and improve residents' well-being.

Please share your knowledge with us and with the world. Even if you do not nominate a candidate or enter the competition, visit Ashoka's Changemakers community discussion and comment online. If you are a traveler or tourism professional, you may already be working to improve a particular destination. If you live there, you may be working to make your place more attractive-both for visitors and for the local population. Your insights will be valuable and help shape the growing field of geotourism. Together, we can move tourism toward a model that protects and enhances the world.

Sincerely,
Jonathan B. TourtellotDirector, Center for Sustainable DestinationsNational Geographic

Atlas Corps Summer in Bogota

Some time ago I introduced ATLAS CORPS

After some months of incredibly fast development in Colombia as in India and the US, they have some cool activities that they would need enthusiastic people to help with! By the way, they have now a site in spanish! If interested in some volunteering to do this summer, read below:

1. 5 Americans on their way ... Doing our part to promote Colombia tourism!

Well more than just tourism, these five Americans are coming to help grow Atlas Corps and promote international cooperation. They can use your help while they are here. In particular, I am looking for leads with the following items: - Any families willing to rent a room for the summer to a volunteer?- Any leads on cheap places to buy / rent bikes so they can participate in ciclovia?- Anyone willing to invite them out to dinner or out dancing?- Any leads on either cheap office space / extra work area that we may able to use?- Any leads of used office furniture, desk, filing cabinent, files, old phones, etc?Most of the volunteers come in early June, but one, Mary Jo, has already arrived. We appreciate your help welcoming our American volunteers!

2. Help us Prepare for our Summer Party!

Let Alejandra know if you would like to join the party planning committee by emailing her at alejandra@atlascorps.org. We need people who can help with locations, the media, fundraising, invitations, etc. The event will be in late June or July and will be the official launch of Atlas Corps in Colombia.

New Ashoka Fellows in Asia

Ashoka elected its first Fellows in Asia 25 years ago and has since built a robust network of innovators throughout the region. Growing populations and changing economies across the continent are introducing new problems and shifting the way we approach old ones. Ashoka remains committed to strengthening the citizen sector across Asia by supporting the most promising ideas and the entrepreneurs giving them life.

Ashoka will also expand its presence in Asia over the coming year, with plans to elect the first Fellows in the Philippines, take initial launch steps in China and Japan, and explore opportunities across Southeast Asia.

Pianporn Deetes, Thailand
Grassroots action on mega-development projects

The daughter of an Ashoka Fellow, Pianporn learned early on the impact a social entrepreneur could have on society. Pianporn cultivates national and international action to prevent the disastrous impact of dams on the Salween River, the largest free-flowing river in Southeast Asia. She has successfully engaged local villagers in Thailand, Myanmar and China to research and develop both immediate and long-term action plans that engage local authorities, policy makers, and the media.

Mohammad Sirajuddin, Pakistan

Sustainable housing in low-income communities

Siraj is addressing Pakistan’s urban housing challenge by training local young professionals in construction and urban planning that is affordable and sustainable. Enhanced by a materials production unit and a housing credit program, this new generation of talent is ensuring that low-income housing works both for communities and the environment. Already in 28 districts, Siraj is expanding his program throughout Pakistan.

A.K.M. Maksud, Bangladesh
Innovative schooling for nomadic fishers

Maksud established a mobile boat school program to respond to the unique needs of the nomadic river community in Bangladesh. As a place of learning and a community forum, the schools become hubs for decision-making and human rights advocacy. The model solves the challenge of delivering education to a unique population while capitalizing on opportunities for further growth and development.

Farha Ciciek, Indonesia
Equality for women through religious institutions

Within Islamic schools and communities, Ciciek shows that faith and gender equality can co-exist by drawing attention to the emphasis placed on human equality in religious texts. To prevent increasing religious conservatism from subordinating women, Ciciek uses creative strategies such as adapting popular praise songs to celebrate women’s contributions to Muslim society. She encourages religious leaders to apply these ideas to improve women’s status.

S. Sankara Raman, India
Leading a new era for India’s disabled movement

Sankara, who lives with muscular dystrophy, is uniting the fragmented disabled community into a powerful India-wide network. His state-level federations of self-help groups equip India’s disabled—rich or poor, urban or rural—with life skills and the organizational resources to develop significant political capacity. These groups become a platform for the disabled to assert themselves, seizing their legal rights and changing society’s perception of their abilities.

Suprabha Seshan, India
Saving the environment by restoring local ecosystems

Suprabha is filling an acute need for fresh ideas in conservation. Contrary to conventional environmental conservation in India, based on either preservation or indiscriminant replanting, Suprabha diagnosed and rebuilt an entire ecosystem of local species. She now hosts a state-supported training institute at her Gurukula Botanical Sanctuary to teach this model of ecosystem restoration to local and external educators, scientists, and policymakers.

Introducing ATLAS CORPS

I´m glad to introduce to you to this recently created but quite amazing org called ATLAS CORPS. I got to know its founder Scott Beale (first virtually!) since India and recently here in Colombia, where he´s now based. If you feel a strong connection for what these guy´s are doing feel free to contact them or I can sure make you the link to them! If you are passionate about development issues, south - north (notice not north south!) talent exchange, international cooperation, or specially if you are acolombian NGO leader (or know some of them) just read below!

The Search For Colombian Fellows Is Underway ...

Did you know Atlas Service Corps, Inc. ("Atlas Corps") is a new international citizen sector (non profit or NGO) organization that will revolutionize international service and build a global partnership for development. Our mission is to create a global partnership for development through an innovative, sustainable and scalable Fellowship program that demonstrates that the global south should not just be a destination for support, but a partner in tackling the world's most pressing social issues. While in the U.S. Fellows will learn best practices from the United States, share unique perspectives from abroad, and then return home to create avenues of cooperation and continued learning. Atlas Corps Fellows will address a wide range of issues related to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals including hunger, poverty, education, gender equity, health, the environment, and human rights. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about the program and read about our fantastic staff and Senior Advisory Board that includes such notables as Bill Drayton, the founder of Ashoka, and Senator Harris Wofford, one of the founding leaders of the Peace Corps - http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=tyexx6bab.0.8xwi97bab.ijgtp9bab.6738&ts=S0235&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.atlascorps.org%2F

Atlas Corps is currently seeking outstanding rising leaders in the Colombian citizen sector to apply for a one-year fellowship in the United States. Candidates must be nominated by a citizen sector leader before their application can be submitted. Nominations can be submitted online at: http://www.atlascorps.org/nomination_es.html AtlasCorps is looking for 2 outstanding citizen sector leaders from Colombia for our inaugural 2007 Fellowship program. More details about the U.S. Host organizations and Fellow job descriptions can be found at: http://www.atlascorps.org/fellow_profile.html

Want to know more about Atlas Corps Fellowship? Additional information on the nomination and selection process in the section below...

Atlas Service Corps seeks to integrate a global citizen sector in order to create a global partnership for development through facilitating international fellowships for rising citizen sector leaders who contribute a year of service to the U.S. These Fellows then commit to work an additional year in the Colombian citizen sector, sharing new skills, best practices, and valuable experience. Atlas Service Corps (Atlas Corps) has engaged an innovative cooperation model which seeks to revert the traditional flow of voluntarism, training and collaboration, by mobilizing human capital from the global south to developed countries. Atlas Corps is looking to take 2 Colombian social sector leaders during its pilot year, to work at 2 social sector organizations in Washington D.C.

For this pilot program, Atlas Corps is searching for intermediate professionals with experience in the areas of marketing, health, computer science and youth leadership. The Fellows Hill travel to Washington D.C. in mid August, and will have a medical insurance and a living stipend during their stay, as well as a $2,500.00 bonus at their return. The pilot program it's being implemented in Bogota, New Delhi and Washington D.C. For additional information, please visit Atlas Corps web site:http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=ooxl76bab.0.8xwi97bab.ijgtp9bab.688&ts=S0235&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.atlascorps.org%2F

Basic Requirements for the Potental Partners

The basic requirement that aspiring candidates must fulfull are:

- Colombian Citizenship

- Professional

- Minimum 4 years of experience in the social sector

- English Proficiency

Host Organizations in the United States

For this pilot year, the Colombian Fellows host organizations are looking to count with the help of 2 national professionals. These host organizations are AYUDA y Mobilize.org.

AYUDA (http://www.atlascorps.org/ayuda.html) is a social sector organization seeking an individual with experience I marketing, web design and IT management skills who can be manage AYUDA's website, provide IT support to AYUDA staff and fulfill various other technological tasks.

Mobilize.org

(http://www.atlascorps.org/mobilizing_america_youth.html) is excited to welcome an Atlas Corps Fellow to serve as the Online Advocacy Director, responsible for maintaining the Youth Policy Action Center, the Mobilize.org website, and contractual obligations to clients, building on the success of the Youth Policy Action Center in 2006. The Fellow will develop a simple tutorial that takes an every day issue affecting the lives of young people, highlights what public policies are related to that issue, and assists young people in contacting their elected officials.

Nominate a Fellow!

Once you have read the requirements of both organizations as well as the Fellow profile, (http://www.atlascorps.org/fellow_profile.html), Atlas Corps is encouraging individuals to nominate potential fellows to participate in this social sector capacity building experience. http://www.atlascorps.org/nomination.htmlThe deadline to nominate a candidate is April 1, so please do so right now.

Thank you!

Please visit our site, sign up for our newsletter and contact us if you have more questions. Contact Alejandra Henao, the Colombia Country Director, at (1) 313-0043 and/or alejandra@atlascorps.org with questions.

AIDS & DISABILITY

Thanks to my participation in a recent AIESEC conference in India (some stories about my experience there coming soon) I had the opportunity be be aware and experience in a more direct way two of the most worked out developmental issues of today's world: HIV/AIDS and Disability. Since being aware of issues is not only about doing it in certain dates, it's never late to hopefully through this post also bring a small bite of awareness to people.

In terms of HIV/AIDS besides wearing the red ribbon (which let's face it is the easiest and therefore the only thing that people normally do) I had the chance to engage with externals leaders of NGOs that were giving presentations around the issue ... more than that, I had the amazing chance to have a bunch of 70 AIESEC members to discuss about that and hold each other accountable for making things happen. Some highlights about AIDS stigma in India that got stucked in my head are:

1. Places where rejection and discrimation happens the most is in health centers (clinics, hospitals) ...

2. Second place where rejection happens the most is the workplace

3. Third place is family itself. The person in an india family that rejects the most are mothers in law. Specially these ones blame wifes for the disease of their son, since wifes were not "attractive or smart" enough, and this was the cause for their son to look for other women outside the house.

4. Some women in India feel shy to admit that they know how to use a preservative and spread the word, or feel shy to talk about it with their partners (and even housband) just because he might think that this means that she "used it" already. 5. Truck drivers (also called "highway killers" in some reports and documentals) are one of the biggest. Here is a good (even if a bit old) article about that reality

These facts were results of a focus group done by this NGO focused on HIV/AIDS awareness in India, among other studies.

In terms of Disability, we had the chance again, thanks to the AIESEC conference, to visit NGOs, almost all of them working with disabled children. I was at Umang, where besides interacting for some time with the children, we had a great conversation with the founder who mad us aware about facts, hopes and fears of the disbility reality.being one of my sisters autist, this is a topic that particularly ctaches my attention, specially when we analyze the problematic of disabled children that never get access to real treatment and enjoy therefore of social inclusion, because of extreme poverty.

If you want to read more about these two issues, the following two pages are a good start. Happy reading ...

WORLD AIDS DAY - December 1st

Around forty million people are living with HIV throughout the world - and that number increases in every region every day. Ignorance and prejudice are fuelling the spread of a preventable disease. World AIDS Day, 1 December is an opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV and AIDS. This year, it's up to you, me and us to stop the spread of HIV and end prejudice. This starts by taking action.

You: Wear a red ribbon

Me: Talk to people

Us: Get involved in events

WORLD DISABILITY DAY - December 3rd

International Day of People with a Disability, as designated by the United Nations (UN), is a celebration of the abilities of people with a disability all over the world. In 1976, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 1981 as the International Year of Disabled Persons (IYDP). It called for a plan of action at the national, regional and international levels that emphasised equality of opportunities, rehabilitation and prevention of disabilities. Other objectives included increasing public awareness; understanding and acceptance of people with a disability; and encouraging people with a disability to form organisations through which they can express their views and promote action to improve their situation