Partners is pleased to announce the call for nominations to our Board of Directors for the 2023 Election Cycle. Join a diverse and highly motivated leadership team to oversee the execution of Partners’ strategic plan and become international ambassadors of Partners’ legacy and impact. There are seven openings on the Board of Directors for this year’s election, including four from the United States, and one each from Central America, northern South America, and the Caribbean. Read the overview of the process in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.

On July 18, 2023, Partners' U.S. Department of Labor-funded Palma Futuro project met with Junta Nacional de Palma Aceitera del Perú and managers of six organizations of palm oil fruit producers to formally initiate the development of activities in Peru under the framework of its cost-extension. Project Director Angelica Nieto presented the project’s scope and progress, and Lead Trainer Yolanda Brenes provided training on the Social Compliance System. Additionally, the project defined an outline and agreements for the development of activities for the final year of project implementation.

At the end of July, our Juntos Aprendemos project served as a key participant in Bogotá's International Conference on Restorative School Justice. Throughout the event, our project emphasized dialogue among caregivers, teachers, and students based on restorative practices. The event also served as a launching platform for an online course, led by Juntos Aprendemos, that will empower education officials with tools for peaceful conflict resolution through restorative approaches.

During August, our 100,000 Strong in the Americas (100K) program continued its call to register for a capacity-building workshop at the Conference of the Americas on International Education. The event will discuss effective practices for expanding international student mobility and competing successfully for 100K grant resources on November 8, 2023.

In June 2023, Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Volunteer Daniel Miller supported Agrocadena Caprina of Guatemala as a Small Ruminant Disease Specialist. He provided trainings to host staff on goat management to mitigate and treat common diseases in goats in Guatemala. As a result of the assignment, farmers, students, and other stakeholders have improved knowledge on how to diagnose and manage common goat diseases. If you are interested in participating in a F2F assignment and traveling to one of our host countries, please email farmertofarmer@partners.net with your CV attached.

In honor of the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee held an event to celebrate and learn from our staff who are from Indigenous communities on August 11, 2023. Staff discussed that they are proud to come from these communities that have maintained their traditions and love for their lands, culture, and legacy.  

Last fall, 22 youth came together from Buenos Aires, Argentina to increase their leadership skills and develop community service projects as part of our Buenos Aires Youth Leaders program. In honor of Exchange Day (August 7) and International Youth Day (August 12), learn about how they've continued helping their communities after the exchange.

As a benefit to all of our Chapter members across the Americas, members can book professional meeting spaces for free at our Washington, D.C. Home Office. All of our conference and meeting rooms are perfect for trainings, meetings, and events. Our newly renovated spaces are equipped with medium-to-large tables, comfortable seats, high-quality video-conferencing technology, wireless internet, and well-stocked coffee and tea stations. Individual members can also use one of our “hot desks,” which are individual offices with chairs and monitors that connect to your laptop. When Chapters visit D.C., they will have a place to convene and change lives. Please email membership@partners.net or click here for more information.