The Partners Music Festival came to a close after its 18th concert on September 26, 2020. Hosted by PartnersCampus Goiânia and the São Paulo Chapter, the Festival created fun and relaxing times through music. Every week beginning on May 30, 2020, a Partners Chapter presented a musical attraction that brought the Network together from across the Americas. Watch the concerts on YouTube.
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On September 10, 2020, the Membership Unit moderated Partners' International Board of Directors’ Board Development Committee (BDC)’s first virtual Town Hall event, “Why You Should Run for the Board.” Beth Outterson, Chair of the BDC, provided prospective candidates with an overview of what Partners is and does, what it means to be a member of the International Board of Directors, and the eligibility requirements to hold a position as a member of the International Board. There are seven open positions for this year’s election:
- Northern Region of South America (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela): 1 open position
- Southern Region of South America (Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia, and Argentina): 1 open position
- United States: 3 open positions
- Caribbean: 1 open position
- Central America: 1 open position
The deadline for submission is October 10, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. Click here for more information and to access the Board Candidate Application.
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Economic Development and Health Unit |
In September, the EDH Unit signed and submitted an agreement for a five-year $23 million program in response to the United States Department of Agriculture's Fiscal Year 2020 Food for Progress solicitation in Colombia. The project will work with Colombian cacao farmers to diversify their cropping systems, increasing their resilience to environmental and economic shocks. During September, the Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) program continued to provide remote technical assistance to the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region and its F2F core countries. The program has recently expanded to include local volunteers in each of the core countries, an innovation that will provide robust and sustainable support to farmers, agribusinesses, and cooperatives throughout and beyond the pandemic. These volunteers include university students, faculty, and technical experts who wish to support their local communities in collaboration with remote U.S. volunteers. Current collaborations between remote and local volunteers include insect rearing for pest management, risk-assessment for a micro-finance network, soil carbon storage, agricultural strategic planning, digital communications for container gardening, and small ruminant nutrition trainings. Should you or anyone in your networks (U.S.- or LAC-based) be interested in supporting the F2F program, please contact farmertofarmer@partners.net.
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This past month, the CPU’s programs continued to emphasize the importance of combating the worst forms of child labor, forced labor, and trafficking in persons in the age of COVID-19. In Paraguay, the U.S. Department of State-funded Ñande Ko’ẽ project facilitated a virtual workshop with the Inter-Agency Roundtable to Prevent and Combat Trafficking in Persons, during which the members unanimously approved the National Plan to Prevent and Combat Trafficking in Persons in Paraguay. The Ñande Ko’ẽ project played an instrumental role in the development of this resource and historic milestone; the public policy instrument was drafted to address national and international needs and will likely be forwarded to the Presidency of the Republic for approval and implementation by decree. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Labor-funded Paraguay Okakuaa project is excited to announce the launch of its digital library, hosted on the Partners website. This platform hosts information on the project’s activities, reports, campaigns, success stories, legal definitions, and more. It also displays audiovisual media, such as photos and videos from the project, as well as relevant contact information. This virtual library will serve as an important resource for the project to compile useful tools and information to address child labor and forced labor beyond the life of the project.
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Education and Global Citizenship Unit |
The Citizen Diplomacy Action Fund launched its fall competition on September 28, 2020. Small grants up to $10,000 will be awarded to teams of at least one U.S. citizen alumnus/a and one U.S. or international citizen alumnus/a of government-sponsored exchange programs to carry out domestic and international public service projects that utilize the skills, knowledge, and networks gained through their exchange experiences. Proposals will be accepted until November 13, 2020, and reviewed between November and December. Stay tuned for more information on the unique volunteer opportunity to review proposals in next month's newsletter. In September, the Education and Culture Program announced the launch of its 2020-2021 program. The deadline for small grants is October 31, 2020. On September 17, 2020, the 100,000 Strong in the Americas (100K) Innovation Fund launched the 2020 Mexico-U.S. Innovation Fund Competition via its first-ever virtual event. The event featured remarks by the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Christopher Landau, the Mexican Ambassador to the U.S., Martha Bárcena, and Roberto Jenkins De Landa of the Jenkins Foundation. This 100K competition is generously supported by the Mary Street Jenkins Foundation, Coca-Cola Mexico Foundation, and Sempra Energy to support new higher education partnerships and academic training programs for students between Mexico and the U.S. Applications will be accepted until February 15, 2021.
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The 2019 Annual Report Is In |
For 55 years, Partners of the Americas has remained steadfast in its commitment to building bridges of connectivity for a more empowered and sustainable world.
Check out our 2019 Annual Report to read more:
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Empowering Communities on the National Volunteer Day in Brazil |
In Brazil, August 28 is National Volunteer Day. This date celebrates individuals who donate their time to help others. With actions that involve at least six of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Partners' Brazilian Chapters have been helping to change the world by empowering and helping local communities. From eradicating poverty to supporting the creation of lasting partnerships, the 13 Brazilian Chapters increasingly show the impact of organized civil society in reaching global agendas. |
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Combating Child Labor on International Coffee Day |
Colombia is known for producing some of the highest-quality coffee in the world. Coffee growing is a central part of Colombian identity and culture; however, it is also one of the sectors in which child labor is most prevalent. This reality may be worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. On September 29, 2020, Partners commemorated International Coffee Day by emphasizing the importance of protecting workers from abusive and unfair conditions in the Colombian coffee sector through our Colombia Avanza project.
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Partners of the Americas is hiring! We are currently seeking an EDH Senior Program Officer in Colombia, an EDH Senior Program Officer in Venezuela, an EDH Director, and an IT Support Specialist.
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Open Internship Opportunities |
Partners of the Americas is looking for interns! We are seeking a 2020 IT Intern, EDH Intern, Program Development Intern, Finance and Accounting Intern, and a Business Management Intern to join our team. |
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