March 16, 2003: Headlines: COS - Ecuadro: PCVs in the Field - Ecuador: Personal Web Site: Stephen Louis Krasner served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador
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March 16, 2003: Headlines: COS - Ecuadro: PCVs in the Field - Ecuador: Personal Web Site: Stephen Louis Krasner served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador
Stephen Louis Krasner served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador
Stephen Louis Krasner served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador
Many have asked me various times over the past few months why I am going into the Peace Corps. and what I hope to accomplish by this decision.
I often hear from friends and relatives as well as close companions why, not only, would I want to do the Peace Corps, but why I would sacrifice so much to do it!!
The simple answer I can give is I strongly believe in the principles and cause for which the Peace Corps Stands. It is an opportunity to not only do something good for the individuals that I will work with, it is something good for humanity and people in need on a global level. So many times in life we talk about all that is wrong in the world, starvation, poverty, the unfair treatment of people, the less fortunate,....... basically people in need. So often that's all we do though, is just talk about it. I for one have no intentions of talking about such misfortunes of the world unless I plan on doing something about them. It is with this ideal and conviction that I aim to do what I can in some way or the other to help eleviate these kinds of problems in the world. The job the Peace Corps asks of its volunteers are projects, tasks and to aid in ways that parts of the world are crying out for.........!
Not only do I feel my contribution can help people out but personally I feel it will help me, as an individual, out as well. The experience of living and learning in a different country and culture are of great value and lessons that await my own character, integrity and knowledge in the future to come. It is hard to say how 27 months in a world I am not accustomed to nor have a true understanding of will affect me, however I'm betting it will.....and for the better.
So I look forward to the challenges that await me on this future endeavour. I look forward to not only teaching and assisting others where I can, but also being a student of the peoples and country for whom I will be serving with, under the umbrella of the Peace Corps.
We all walk our own paths in life, and we're all responsible for the future we provide ourselves...and thus my future will be shaped by my integrity, goals, and will to enrich my own life and those around me.
ECUADOR - FEBRUARY 20, 2001
3-16-03
Hey all -
Im not sure if any words I type at this moment can do justice and describe the events that took place at my official going away ceremony and party yesturday. Their is really only one way I can describe how I fealt as the leaders and people in town honored and thanked me for my service........I was indeed "overwhelmed".
The ceremony started around 10am yesturday morning and about 7 leaders from the community stood in front of the audience and told the history of how I came to Luz de America, how I started working with the various groups and then the accomplishments we succeeded in performing. After the speeches I was presented with this nice formal plaque, from the town, in recognition of my service. After that I stepped up an delivered my final words to the community........needless to say the majority of people were VERY emotional with tears streaming down from their eyes. To have been here for two years and to have had that kind of closure to my service means more to me than I can ever truly say, more then it was for them it has been my very own honor and priviledge to have served Peace Corps as a Volunteer and work with the people in Luz de America.
In many ways the plaque they gave me will be one of the most cherrished items that adorns my walls in years to come, more for its significance then anything. I am ready and excited to return to the US and start my life with Lisa and persue my goals and dreams, but leaving Luz de America and the place I have called home for the past two years is as difficult as it was for me to leave to come here.
I only hope in time to come I can formulate the words and justify the experience of what all this has meant to me and how its changed my life.
"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Others stay a while and leave footprints on our hearts and we are never ever the same."
Stephen
3-27-03
Hey all - The below article is about the womens group I work with and mentions Peace Corps and my assistance with them...although my name doesnt appear directly...Cuerpo de Paz is peace corps. Anyhow a nationwide newspaper ran the below story in spanish today. So take a look and if you have someone that can translate it..siga no mas.... For those in my family please print this out and save it.....
>38 mujeres del área rural levantan cuatro negocios
>
>
>Santo Domingo
>
>Isabel Ibarra, una mujer alta y robusta, aprendió a hacer ventas rápidas y
>rentables. Con su motoneta, cada semana sale de los linderos de Luz de
>América, una parroquia de Santo Domingo de los Colorados, para proveer
>chuletas de cerdo, carne fileteada y molida y chorizos en las haciendas de
>Patricia Pilar y Los Ángeles, en la provincia de Los Ríos.
>
>Esta mujer de rostro alegre se convirtió en negociante de cárnicos y
>representante de una microempresa de 38 mujeres de esa parroquia, llamada
>Asociación Nueva Esperanza.
>
>Pero el grupo no solo se dedica a la carne. También cría codornices para la
>venta de huevos, cultiva huertos y elabora objetos de papel reciclado. Todas
>ellas, amas de casa en su mayoría y alguna que otra soltera, incursionaron
>en los negocios hace tres años.
>
>"La situación económica era crítica y nosotras no sabíamos qué hacer más que
>lamentarnos por nuestros maridos, que ganaban tan poco para sobrevivir",
>cuenta Martha Sangoluisa, una de las fundadoras.
>
>Arrancaron con un capital semilla para las codornices. Ahora tienen 120
>aves. Cada uno de sus huevos se vende a 0,04 dólares o en paquetes de 20.
>
>Además crían 400 gallinas camperas, que colocan entre cuatro y cinco
>dólares, dependiendo del peso, pero la carne es lo más demandado. Ibarra
>cuenta que cada semana matan hasta dos chanchos de 100 libras. "Todo se
>vende y me queda utilidad", expresa con orgullo. Su socia, Esperanza Guamán
>agrega que ya cuentan con herramientas para sacar mejor provecho a la carne.
>
>
>Hace pocas semanas, la Agencia de Cooperación para el Desarrollo de EE.UU.
>(Usaid), les donó cortadora, un molino, una refrigeradora, un congelador y
>una licuadora.
>
>Un técnico, especializado en Madrid, instruye a las mujeres en el manejo de
>la cortadora, que es la más útil y difícil de manipular.
>
>Ibarra fue la más arriesgada y ya perdió el miedo. Esta actividad es
>controlada por un médico del Municipio colorado para que la carne se venda
>higiénicamente.
>
>En los huertos siembran pepinillo, cuya primera cosecha fue enviada a los
>mercados de Quito; pimiento y cilantro para consumo local. Asimismo hay
>viveros de cacao mejorado, que es comercializado a los finqueros de la zona.
>
>
>Los objetos de reciclado de papel son un éxito. Por quinta ocasión enviaron
>1 000 unidades de tarjetas, sobres y bolsos a Estados Unidos.
>
>Las 38 mujeres no trabajan solas. Ellas están asesoradas por el Cuerpo de
>Paz, el Consejo Provincial de Pichincha, el Municipio, la fundación de la
>Diócesis, y la Fundación de Eco Desarrollo Integral (Fudi).
>
>Las tácticas de un negocio organizado
>
>Las mujeres de Santo Domingo aún no tienen utilidades pero tienen su
>inversión en las codornices y en las carnes.
>
> La cría de codornices . Las aves permanecen en jaulas especiales de dos
>compartimentos, que sobresalen a los costados de la estructura.
>
> Las carnes . Las mujeres muelen la carne en un molino para hacer los
>chorizos. El secreto para que el producto tenga buen sabor es poner un ajo.
>
> La rentabilidad . El grupo de mujeres organizadas aún no saca mucha
>ganancia, porque se está capitalizando.
>
> La constitución . La asociación tiene personería jurídica desde noviembre
>pasado. Mañana inaugurarán el local de ventas con la presencia de
>autoridades provinciales.
>
>
>
>Miércoles, 26 de Marzo del 2003
3-31-03
Hey all,
Over two years ago I vividly remember waiting at the gate in Miami on February 21st, 2001 with the rest of my peers in my group to board the plane leaving for Quito, Ecuador. The reoccuring thought and rather question which spun like a broken record in my mind boarding the plane and during the flight was indeed "What the heck have I gotten myself into". In looking back I now can counter that thought with an answer...."the overwhelming experience of a lifetime". Two weeks from today I will board a plane in Quito heading back to Washington D.C.. That trip home is something that has not yet caught up to me or even become a realization in a lot of ways at this point in time. Much like leaving to come here, leaving to go home most likely will not hit me until I board the plane.
The past few weeks have seen the icing and cherry on top of the cake come to fruiton with my service. As I wrote a week or two ago my farewell ceremony and party could not have been more memorable or complete. This past week my womens group opened their store in a big way in town where they will be selling produce which they grow themselves, paper recycled goods to local customers, processed meats, as well as prepared food for people passing by. The innaugeration of the store took place last Thursday in town complete with the equivilant to a governor of a state on hand, as well as the full press corps covering the event. It was truly a unique experience to be here and see them turn such a big corner after all the work, time and energy we speant building successful projects and micro businesses over the past couple years.
It has also been a real priviledge for me to have spent some real in depth and quality time with the new volunteer that will be taking over my site for 2 years. Being that he is doing training in the area and living with a host family roughly 5-10 minutes from my site it has made it real easy to get to know one another and discuss many things about the overall aspects of living, working and being part of the community here. Furthermore I have full confidence in this new volunteer that he will have as equal if not more of an all around great experience working and living with the people in Luz de America. So in this respect the passing of the torch has and continues to be underway.
My last real official project will be taking place this wednsday and thursday as I have a good friend whom is another volunteer in my group coming to give a hands on type demonstration and teach new things to the womens group in respect to their meat processing business. With the conclusion of coordinating that program, thus will be the conclusion of my last official work program here in Luz.
As for my remaing 10 days in my site, well aside from the program mid week, and doing a bit more transition work with the new volunteer I will be cleaning out my place and starting to pack next weekend to go home. A week from this Thursday I am off to Quito where I will remain for my final 4 days in Ecuador with Peace Corps tying up adminstrative stuff and other loose ends. No doubt Thurday, April 10th will be the hardest day spent in my site as I walk around town with the new volunteer introducing him to people and having them welcome him at the same time saying my final good-byes.
So time continues to tick away, as truly looking back it has all flown by so fast...from entering like a lamb and now leaving like a lion.
Stephen
4-3-03
Hey all Just thought Id share this with you.... My womens group and I from Luz de America were in this mornings newspaper. This paper is different from the previous one and like the last time is a National Paper. So its pretty cool. Its in Spanish and Ill translate it for you all some other time or just have someone you know do it... Anyhow it mentions CUERPO DE PAZ in the story which is spanish for Peace Corps.
The link and story are below.
http://www.lahora.com.ec/noticiacompleta.asp?noid=163317
LA HORA
Santo Domingo - Jueves, Abril 3, 2003
Local
En Luz de América
Una micro empresa que da ejemplo
En la parroquia Luz de América, ante la presencia de autoridades parroquiales, cantonales y provinciales, se dio el acto de inauguración de una micro empresa, perteneciente a la Asociación Agro Artesanal "Nueva Esperanza".
La asociación, a cargo de Eugenia Merino, se encarga de la producción y comercialización de varios productos de la zona, informó en un boletín el GPP.
La micro empresa cuenta con el apoyo austríaco, que financia un galpón para albergar a codornices, y donde también se dará la crianza y engorde de pollos, para posteriormente, proceder al faenamiento y venta sin intermediarios.
Producción
La entidad provincial indica que con el Cuerpo de Paz, las socias de la Asociación recibieron capacitación para reciclar papel, produciendo hasta la fecha 2.000 tarjetas, mil fundas y cien carpetas, trabajos exportados a Estados Unidos, que dejan un monto de 2.000 dólares.
Inicialmente, las cuatro mujeres que trabajaban no se alcanzaban frente a la demanda, por ello ahora son 33 alas socias, entre madres de familia y jóvenes con deseos de superación que laborarán en la micro empresa de Luz América.
Ramiro González, en nombre del Gobierno de Pichincha, señaló que continuará entregando más obras para el sector rural del cantón, así como la asistencia y capacitación brindada por el Departamento de Apoyo a la Producción de la Regional de Santo Domingo.
Hey all - At the request of a few emails and IMs Ive taken the liberty to roughly translate the article I sent out earlier into English. So this should give you a general idea of what was said.
LA HORA (THE HOUR)
In Luz de America
AN EXAMPLE MICRO BUSINESS
In the district of Luz de America, before the presence of the district, county and province authorities, a micro business (store) was innaugerated pertaining to the Association of Agro-Artesinal "Nueva Esperanza" (name of the womens group)
The Association, under the direction of Eugenia Merino, works with the production and commercialization of various regional products.
The small business recieved assistance in finances from a Austrian foundation in respect to the Quayle egg project as well as things for the chicken project, all done without the use of middle-men.
PRODUCTION
This Provincial entity with the assistance of PEACE CORPS formed the capacity to establish a successful paper recycling business. Up to this date the women have produced 2,000 cards, 1,000 gift bags, and 100 folders. They have exported to the United States and have made roughly $2,000 to date.
Initially this womens group started with only 4 members and now has 33 members. The group is made up of mothers of families asd well as youths whom participate in working in the small business for Luz de America.
Ramiro González, in the name of the Government of Pichinicha, signaled that he will continue with the assistance in this sector, under the auspices of Department of Aid and Production for the region of Santo Domingo.
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Story Source: Personal Web Site
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Ecuadro; PCVs in the Field - Ecuador
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