News and Announcements

Fiesta de Ayni Guests Celebrate Together and Raise Nearly $20,000

May 19, 2010 – The 2nd Annual Fiesta de Ayni, on Thursday May 6th, was a big success! This year the celebration of ‘working toward the common good’ was held at St. Catherine University and co-sponsored by their Office of Global Studies. 

It was an inspirational night, during which CPF’s partnerships with St. Catherine University, Mark and Karen Rauenhorst Family Foundation, Sieben Foundation and GHR Foundation were honored.  Two UAC-CP students, Fabiana Arinez and Maria Elena Alejo, currently interning at Adams Spanish Immersion School, performed traditional Bolivian dances for the attendees. 

Thanks to the 125 attendees, we met our goal during this year’s ‘Race for the UAC-CP’ and grossed almost $20,000 that evening.

Check us out on Facebook to see even more pictures of the event--and while you're there, join our group!

New English Curriculum Inaugurated at College

March 21, 2010 – In 2009 the College and Carmen Pampa Fund designed a new initiative: English and Ecotourism—Foundations for the Future.  Thanks to funding from the Seiben Foundation the new curriculum, which is the result of a comprehensive review and overhaul of the College's English Program, was inaugurated in February 2010.  

To sustain the initiative and ensure its success, Carmen Pampa Fund is helping to recruit and train qualified professionals who will work with the College's English Program team in Carmen Pampa.  These professionals will also work with the program's U.S-based consultant, Dr. Susan Bosher, Associate Professor of English and Director of ESL at St. Catherine University, St. Paul.

For more information about how you can be a part of this exciting new initiative, please review the job descriptions posted on our volunteer page.

U.S. Embassy Representative at the UAC-CP

July 24, 2009 – Today, the UAC-CP hosted special visitors from the U.S. Embassy in La Paz. Dr. James Creagan, the Chargé d’ Affaires, a.i. at the U.S. Embassy in La Paz, who is serving in place of an official U.S. Ambassador in Bolivia, visited the UAC-CP with representatives from USAID.

The group came to see how the UAC-CP, with financial and technical assistance from USAID, is a working model of successful, sustainable development in the Yungas—the mountainous rural area northeast of Bolivia’s capital city.

“I am really impressed by what you have here and what you are doing,” Creagan told UAC-CP Director Fr. Freddy del Villar at a lunch attended by members of USAID, select UAC-CP faculty, staff, and students, and area community leaders.  “The College is small, but growing and I see a real future here. You are doing great work.” Creagan added that he’s very interested in exploring ways for both the government and individuals to continue supporting the College.

Amid tours of the UAC-CP’s laboratories, library, meat plant, and coffee factory, Creagan had the opportunity to talk with a group of student scholarship recipients.  “What I have learned from these students,” Creagan said later, “is that they have the desire to return to their communities, to improve their zone.” 

UAC-CP faculty, staff, graduates, and current students had the opportunity to explain their work at the College and the impact it has on development, particularly in the rural area.

A few community leaders also had the opportunity to talk about the importance of the UAC-CP and the impact it has in the area.  “I don’t think there is a more noble cause than education,” said local farmer and community leader, Aurelio Catari. “We are the only college in Nor Yungas. Before the UAC-CP, we had no opportunities to further our studies after high school. But now,” he continued, “the College provides that.  I want to thank USAID, Sr. Damon Nolan, and all the people who support the College to make education possible.”

Due to a recent interest in the lives of our humble volunteers and their activities, the Carmen Pampa Volunteer Blog is up and running again. Please give us a click to find out about: Student successes Volunteer experiences UAC events Hope that you enjoy it! Hugh Smeltekop Blog editor

Newsletters

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WIPALA Fall 2009 (1 Mb)
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