If you were relying on this blog to know what we are up to, you’d think that all work stopped a while ago and we melted into the woodworks. Nothing could be further from the truth. This has been an incredibly busy, productive, energetic time for us with many accomplishments.Lucia Eslava, our intern in Peru, has been doing amazing work keeping up with our potential partner communities with a nice success in mediating a conflict in Apaya Calabaza near Satipo. (I’ll have her post that here this week). Today she is moving from Lima to Tarapoto, yes, actually moving, to begin work on our first project in District of Chazuta in the community of Mushuk Llacta de Chipaota near Tarapoto. She will be part of the team with an amazing forestry engineer, Jaso Daniel Angulo, who has done tremendous work in this area with the communities.Here in Austin, our summer intern Aaron Korn and Fall intern Martina Schweighart have been tremendous assets. They brought their energy and commitment to get us through much substantive work with our potential communities and projects in conjunction with Latin American partners as well as administrative work here. And, James Morgan, our latest assistant is bringing his talent and passion to RP.We couldn’t be where we are without the help of the amazing Beth Caplan, facilitator and strategic planner who got us going on December 1st, 2007 with our first all day strategy session where the initial three board members met each other for the first time that day and together we laid out our mission, vision and six-month strategic plan. Beth consequently led the board—an amazing, passionate, dedicated working board—and I through our two day retreat at the end of June where we laid out our one and three year strategic plans and did much organizational work.And, one has to mention the most creative graphic designer plus webmaster one could have: Josh Rosenquist. It is great having his creative brain working for Rainforest Partnership as his contribution. And, Dan Sparks and Shweta Shinde working on the database and its web interface. And, Lucy Matulich, our volunteer coordinator and he initial work in December 2007. And, Mercedes Duchicela, working on branding and site plan for the website. And, the very experienced Daffnes Bohas and Penny Potter, bringing their years of experience to provide steady and certain help in laying a strong foundation for RP in their retirement!And, there are numerous advisers, folks who have volunteered hours and donors who have given us a huge boost in this our first year of our existence. Too many to name here; I remain personally grateful for their contributions even as I will continue to turn to them. They include our partners—individuals and organizations—in Latin America and here in the U.S., and many new people who on a daily basis are enthusiastically asking to learn more about us and giving us their time, talent or treasure.To all of you, I commit that we will give you weekly updates on our blog from this point on! It may be me, someone from the board, someone on the ground or any of our volunteers and staff (to date, all unpaid but equally dedicated, in some sense even more than if they actually being paid!) Thank you for your steady interest in our mission and our success in achieving that mission.
Tags: Austin Texas, Chipaota, Interns, Peru, Projects, Volunteers
I am so glad that Niyanta has taken an opportunity to publicly acknowledge the many dedicated volunteers who have helped Rainforest Partnership. When we talk about “raising awareness at both ends,” this includes involving people in the community beyond the usual armtwisting for contributions. Addressing an issue as all-encompassing as global climate change and its effects requires a greater commitment from each and every one of us.