Vickey's blog

Imagine trying to struggle through law school without your own set of textbooks!  Now imagine the joy and relief in finding out that you don't have to, thanks to a generous Friend who believes in education.

“Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development.” ~Kofi Annan

There is so much good work calling for our support as individuals, meetings, Friends. This time of year it can be hard to select from among the many appeals when deciding where to focus our giving.

Always, I am called back to this brilliant insight by Kofi Annan. Particularly in a small, emerging nation like Bolivia, where educated and ethical young people, living out their Quaker faith, can hold more sway in goverment and civil society. And where young Bolivian Friends like Irma Lima Tarqui give so generously of their time and treasure to help others, like the young students pictured here.

From Friends World News, vol. 1 No. 179: 

"Section of the Americas
...the Meeting of Representatives of the Section of the Americas was held in good order in Morgantown, Indiana from March 12-17, 2013...
...Saturday was a full-day workshop, part of our Living Water series. Cristela Marinez (El Salvador YM), Howie Baker (Ohio Valley YM), John Fitzgerald (Ireland YM), David Millar (Canadaian YM), Emma Condori (Bolivia Holiness Mission YM) and Rob Yurisko (Lake Erie YM) all had roles in the interactive program, utilitizing the readings and exercises in the Living Water Study book..."

Gaby Chambi Perca is beginning her ninth semester studying Agronomy and Animal Husbandry at the University of San Simón in Cochabamba, thanks to her own hard work and a BQEF sponsorship by a US family.

International Lecturers

Last semester, Gaby’s section had a workshop on calf management.  A lecturer from Argentina taught about life in the calf’s early days, and particularly the importance of colostrum for the calf. Gaby also had a practicum on the “Santa Maria” farm.

Model Organic Standards

In an earlier semester, her studies included a visit to the model organic farm in Pairumani, where she learned about the various machinery and implements used, and about the farm's strict organic standards which require, for example, that they not use seeds from foreign markets.

We've talked about Magaly and Mabel's dedication to AVP work, particularly in prisons in Bolivia. We'd like to share with you a few more insights, from their joint year-end report to prison officials):

• [There is] great interest in the workshops by most people, as shown by their punctuality and participation from start to finish for the 2 ½ to 3 hr. sessions. In many cases people who have already taken a Basic invite others to take the workshop. In order to not leave their friends alone, they also attend some or all of the sessions and participate again.

• The environment in which we have been running each workshop has contributed significantly to the process of formation of community and trust among participants. With no interruptions [during the workshop], each can develop with confidence and gain a sense of belonging to the group they are participating in.

• The support of the  Department of Psychology makes people feel more confident about participating in the workshops.

Magaly successfully defended her sociology thesis on the morning of January 30th, then left immediately afterward for an AVP Basic graduation in San Pedro prison.

She went to the AVP International Gathering in Guatemala in early October, and also attended the pre-session Community-Based Trauma-Healing Workshop.  Magaly was quoted on her experience in the FPT Peace Ways  newsletter: “I learned to remember what happened, to look at it with my heart’s eyes, and to recall the good moments. Also, to trust in my community and the capacity to express my most deeply hidden traumas in order to heal them.”

There were many at the AVP Gathering from Central and South America. They met as a region and chose representatives to a new Latin American Gathering Committee.  Magaly agreed to serve as the Bolivian rep, which means she’s one of the people from 10 or more countries who will plan and organize a first Latin American Gathering.  She’s since been in contact with folks throughout Latin America and is taking the job seriously.

We introduced you to Magaly and Mabel in Part 1, here. Now we'd like to tell you a bit more about their creativity and resourcefulness in nurturing Alternatives to Violence Project workshops and participants.

Sociology graduate Magaly Quispe is a former BQEF scholarship student who initially visited San Pedro Prison for her thesis research.  While she was there, she thought about doing AVP and asked for permission from the people in the social department - who said “Yes!”  Magaly convinced some of the other local facilitators to come in and help with the workshops, including her friend Mabel Mena Fonseca (also a BQEF scholarship student), who started out by helping with logistics – snacks, supplies, etc.

Bolivia is the first nation in the western hemisphere where both houses of the parliament or legislature are now headed by women.  This kind of dramatic social progress further inspires our work in support of educating and encouraging women in Bolivia.  Six of the 20 members of Evo’s cabinet are women.

Not parity yet, but headed that direction.

eta: Bolivia ranks 35th globally for women in the national legislature, compared to, say, the U.S. at 71st. See chart here.