Bolivia News

Trained Indigenous Reporter Runs for Senate in Bolivia

jkr — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:41:37 +0000

Nelida Smith is a trained people's reporter and has taken leadership workshop through our partner organization in Bolivia, ACLO. She says, "In political matters, I could not contribute anything before, but now I feel able to contribute from my experience. I can take more informed positions in public spaces and have a responsibility and commitment to serve others."

Nelida Smith was born in the community of Cueto Tarabuquillo Tomina municipality (in Chuquisaca) on July 18, 1981. She is unmarried. Since 2003, Nelida has held different leadership responsibilities: Secretary General of the community of Pampas Down, of the Sub Tarabuquillo (2003), and of the Province Tomina (2004); as County Executive (2005-2006); and as Secretary General of the Federation of Farmers of Chuquisaca (2008-2010).

She also was a People's Reporter for Radio ACLO (2001-2006) and a promoter of land rights and official of the Prefecture of Chuquisaca from 2006 to 2008. Nelida trained as a People's Reporter in 2001 and joined Radio ACLO from 2003-2005, during which time she completed the leadership training process.

After strengthening her leadership skills, Nelida not only attended national events of peasant organizations, she also participated in international events: Meeting of Leaders and Reporters in Cochabamba (CIPCA, 2004); Women's International Forum on "Leadership and Human Rights" (Peru, 2005); Latin American Meeting of Women Leaders (Venezuela, 2006); Social Organization Meeting of Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia on the TLC (Peru, 2008); and Latin American Women's Forum (Santa Cruz, 2008).

Nelida Smith is also a candidate for the Senate in the forthcoming December 2009 general election.

She says: "I feel more prepared and desirous of progressing further in response to the demands of peasant organizations and to contribute more to managing organizations. With more knowledge, I can share my training with grassroots organizations and the authorities.

"In the leadership training courses, I learned to share my knowledge with others and learned a lot from them too. The topics covered were very interesting; they included leadership issues, history of native peoples, municipal management, preparation of project profiles and more. The trainings helped me to develop greater knowledge that I could use to strengthen my organization.

"The leadership training has encouraged me to continue to train others, to gain experience as a leader and to continue to help organizations and my constituents. I am very glad to have shared with organizations all I've learned.

"My family is proud of me and, because I have assumed important positions in peasant organizations. My parents and brothers encouraged and motivated me to continue in my challenges.

"[After the training] I participated more in my organization and strived to make things more honest and transparent, which instilled greater confidence in my organization.

"In political matters, I could not contribute anything before, but now I feel able to contribute from my experience. I can take more informed positions in public spaces and have a responsibility and commitment to serve others.

"Recently, I decided to run as a candidate for Senator in Chuquisaca in the general election in December 2009. I hope to achieve my goal!"

Support more leaders like Nelida: Give now!

A Quechua Woman Leading by Inspiration and Clear Vision

zkish — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:23:14 +0000

Lola Bellido's rise as a community leader began with developing her own core self-esteem. Now, she helps other women cultivate their own leadership.

Lola Mamani Bellido (Potosí, Bolivia)

Lola was born on July 31, 1963 in the Quechuas community, which is in the Puna municipality and Linares province. She is 46 years old, and studied in her community's school up to seventh grade. She is married and is a housewife.

From an early age, Lola was dedicated to promoting women's participation and groups and supported the creation of the Association of Women Leaders, which subsequently led to The Bartolina Sisa de Potosí Women's Federation in 2006. Along with several organizations, Lola worked to create the Quchas borough, which, in the upcoming municipal elections (April 2010), will be a new Potosí municipality that will elect their own authorities.

In 2007, Lola discovered The Hunger Project (THP) Leader Training Program through an agreement signed with The Bartolina Sisa de Potosí Women's Federation. Her husband supported her greatly; he visited the ACLO offices to determine when the training would start. In August 2008, Lola joined the training program for leaders.

Since attending the leadership training workshops, Lola has shown increased dynamism in her support of the women's organization that she manages as well as in seeking better health care and education in her borough. Above all, she encourages other women to be trained.

In a male-dominated "macho" context, where women are undervalued, her main learning experience is having overcome her fears and strengthening her self-esteem. Now, Lola operates as a better leader and has strengthened her core values. Lola has more information and more discretion in exercising her responsibilities. In particular, she has tools to mobilize organization participation, proposal development and the management of social control toward municipality government. Her participation in training events is active and encourages other women to continue the training process.

As the leader of the Quechuas Women's Organization in 2009, Lola prompted and was part of the organizational process to create a Primary Education Center for distance learning by radio, and she is being trained as a teacher guide to help overcome the low level of education of farmers and peasants. Lola prompted another woman leader to assume the post of "executive secretary" (highest authority) in the borough's women's rural organization. Lola has had an influence on three women assuming leadership or management positions in The Bartolina Sisa de Potosí Women's Federation.

Support the training of other women like Lola. Invest now!

Bolivia: Increasing Indigenous Leadership, Government Ties and Media Outreach

zkish — Mon, 18 May 2009 18:50:32 +0000

ACLO has focused its efforts on training rural villagers and indigenous people in leadership, public advocacy and education, with special training courses for women. Ties with government have been strengthened in order to continue to build and promote training programs.

Update to the Global Board
(April 2009)

In Bolivia, The Hunger Project contributes funding to a partner organization, Fundación Acción Cultural Loyola (ACLO), for its project on "Rural and Indigenous Leaders Training for the Exercise of Power in a Local Development Context." This document is ACLO's report on this project.

Overview

In the last six months, ACLO's work has been designed to adjust existing and apply new methodologies to the planned activities in the project, both in the training of men and women leaders and in supporting the action and advocacy of peasant and indigenous organizations. We are taking into account that the main challenge is to support the adoption and implementation of the new Bolivian Constitution. This will aid in the realization of social, political, economic and cultural transformations that have been demanded for many years.

Details on Progress

Training program for indigenous leaders and campesinos updated and running

A training program for indigenous leaders and campesinos was organized and updated, with a second group, made up of 152 leaders (59 women and 93 men), in the process of training until June 2009.

Teams of committed and updated educators

Three teams of educators from Chuquisaca, Potosí and Tarija (7 women and 5 men) are refreshing their knowledge and skills in educational techniques for working with adults.

Indigenous leaders and campesinos trained

In two training courses, 308 indígenas and campesinos (125 women and 183 men) from Chuquisaca, Potosí and Tarija gained leadership skills for influencing public policies and local development. 99 campesino leaders (70 men and 29 women) from Chuquisaca Center have been trained with financial support from local governments.

Proposals for local development

Three proposals that contribute to local development, on issues such as strenthening livestock production and unifying campesino organizations, were developed and promoted by campesino organizations from Chuquisaca, Potosí and Tarija.

Strategic Alliances in campesino and indigenous organizations

Campesino and indigenous organizations of Chuquisaca, Potosí and Tarija are motivated to establish strategic alliances, with no significant progress to date.

Advocacy Training

In two training courses, 308 campesinos (125 women and 183 men) from Chuquisaca, Potosí and Tarija are strengthening their skills in managing and influencing public policies.

Women leaders, both indigenous and campesinas, trained and in representative positions

In two training courses, 125 indigenous women and campesinas from Chuquisaca, Potosí and Tarija gained leadership skills for influencing public policies and local development. 41% (51 women) of the 125 women trained occupy decision-making positions in their campesino/indigenous organizations.

Indigenous and campesina development proposals

Organizations of indigenous and campesino women are motivated to build local development proposals. They have already incorporated proposals in municipal management in 2009: leadership training, organic gardens, poultry farms and craft and sewing centers.

Campesino and indigenous leaders in positions of power

30% of campesinos and indigenous people that participated in the training program (43 women and 51 men) in Chuquisaca, Potosí and Tarija are involved in critical areas and processes of governance.

Radio Reporting Training

In two years of this project, 60 communities (38% women) from Chuquisaca, Potosí and Tarija have completed their training in radio communication through monthly internships at ACLO.

Partnerships

In the last six months, due to management efforts by campesino organizations, agreements were established with four municipalities in Chuquisaca (Sopachuy, Tarvita, Alcalá and El Villar), who economically supported the development of training workshops for indigenous leaders and campesinos in their municipalities, thus expanding program coverage.

In November 2008, an agreement was reached with the municipal government of Tacobamba (Potosí), through which six training workshops for leaders were developed (since December 2007). The agreement was promoted by Ms. Sabina Fernandez, councilor of the municipality, who also participated in the training program supported by THP.

The relationships with nine indigenous and campesino organizations in Chuquisaca, Potosí and Tarija have been maintained and strengthened. The close link with the indigenous and campesino organizations is critical to the impact of our actions.

Broader Awareness and Advocacy

ACLO Foundation directors have continuously participated in radio and television programs with local, national and international coverage, and are exposing complaints and reflections on the violence and racism that emerged and deepened in 2008. Discussions of the opportunities and challenges presented by the process of change Bolivia were also aired.

Through three FM radio stations aimed at the urban audience of Sucre, Potosí and Tarija, ACLO delivers its opinion on various topics, promotes respect for individual and collective human rights, disseminates views and proposals from campesino organizations, and promotes the State's Constitution that was approved and enacted in January-February of this year.

The ACLO Foundation, directly or in conjunction with networks of development institutions, have had contact with authorities of municipal governments and Bolivia's central government to raise concerns or suggestions concerning public policy design and implementation, especially relating to: municipal development projects; water management and soil pollution in the Pilcomayo River; and implementation of distance primary education programs by radio.

Recent Innovations

In recent months, ACLO teams, together with the indigenous and peasant organizations, have developed methodologies to support and nurture the development of public policy proposals and plans that create favorable conditions for a dignified life, social and cultural integration, respectful intercultural relationships and sustainable development.

Responding to the accelerated process of urbanization in recent years due to intense urban migration, ACLO has initiated pilot projects to promote processes of rural-urban linkages, particularly for communications activities from three radio stations in frequency modulated (FM) in Sucre, Potosí and Tarija.