Personal Reflections
The Keys to LaPaz City
» Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 04/04/2011 - 03:06. »
I was walking with Juan down into the valley of LaPaz. Not really walking, my feet picked nimbly between stones and sidewalk holes. It was a valley, with the descent so steep in this city 10,000 feet above the sea that I was breathless. Nevertheless I was happy to hike instead of drive cramped in a mini-van with 12 passengers. This Friday the city was awake. The city was clear of fumes and noisy engines. Bus unions all over Bolivia had called a transportation strike on Feb. 25th. Una huelga firme. A total strike. Schools were closed. The streets were a river of people getting to work. Juan and I edged down the curving roads to the Quaker Education office. I wasn’t about to stay home, because I planned to meet Pablo at the office. The air was buzzing with novelty.
Balancing Power and Love
» Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/17/2011 - 05:00. »On Monday Ruben and I went to an interesting lecture by Senor Kahane, who writes about the balance in complex systems of power and love. It stretched my understanding of doing peacemaking in complex political settings. He told stories of working in South Africa in 1991 after Mandela's release from prison. How do you get former bitter enemies to talk? Whereas the Quakers in Burundi/Rwanda (ie. AGLI or HROC) are doing reconciliation work by joining 12 Tutsis and 12 Hutus in the same room, Kahane was doing the same thing with stakeholders in the country's policies. He proposed strategies for when to self-actualize (power) and when to seek unity (love).
Beauty and Poverty in Bolivia
» Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 02/10/2011 - 05:00. »How beautiful the people are here. I have many pleasant exchanges with university students, with mothers, with Holiness Christians and now I’ve talked with prisoners inside San Pedro penitentiary. But after 3 weeks here, I only feel like I’ve scratched the surface. The Aymara are an old race, I live in El Alto near the cliff’s edge, I feel there’s a lot more than meets the eye.
I travel from the Cortez’ home in Barrio Satelite from Sunday to Monday down the valley to LaPaz. I live in a burgeoning city of 700,000, it's the Aymara capital of the world, and GoogleMaps labels about 4 streets over about 15 kilometers. Google doesn't work well in Aymara I suppose, nor do Aymaras use many street names to locate themselves.
Sorata and The Rockettes
» Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 09/13/2010 - 20:21. »
They came from four countries, spoke three languages, and ranged in age from 4 to 76. And they gathered at the Internado in Sorata, Bolivia, to wash rocks! The rock washing was part of a project to repair drainage problems in the patio of the Internado, a residence for rural students attending middle and high school in Sorata.
Conflict & Community: Jorge's Full Epistle
» Submitted by Vickey on Sat, 11/07/2009 - 16:44. »
"Just tell them you love them. And tell them what you brought back, what you learned in your meeting."
Below is the full text, translated, of Jorge Aráuz's message to AVP community leaders in Bolivia.
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Julio 25, 2009 Hermanos y hermanas queridas del PAV en Bolivia: Que Dios les bendiga, y que su luz inmensa ilumine sus corazones, y encuentre en ellos espacio amplio, como la luz del sol, cuando llega a la faz de la tierra cada mañana. »
An Alternative Vacation: Sharing Real Wealth» Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 09/01/2009 - 16:06. »Removing small trees with their roots,
 digging a 32 foot trench, and wire-brushing mold off stucco may not be everyone’s choice of a vacation, but for the 9 of us in the first Quaker Community Service Tour to Bolivia, it was a rewarding and gratifying experience.Alicia @ SEYM: "Help Increase the Peace Project" classes, Worship Sharing, impressive resolutions» Submitted by Alicia on Fri, 06/19/2009 - 19:44. »I attended Southeastern Yearly Meeting’s annual Business Meeting, held at the Life Enrichment Center in Fruitland Park, Florida in April 2009. I was blessed in many ways. I got more information about Quakers in the U.S. I met many friends from Florida and other states. I spent my breakfast, lunch, dinner and break time with them, telling them about the Bolivian Quaker Education Fund, my life, Quaker schools, Quaker meetings, etc. »
Photos of Bolivia and of BQEF's work there, from Geoff and Vickey's Trip» Submitted by Geoff on Thu, 04/09/2009 - 16:29. »Here is a link to an album of photos from my trip with Vickey Kaiser to Bolivia. Vickey arrived February 24 and returned March 9, and I arrived February 26 and returned March 6. http://web.me.com/ggimont/Site/Bolivia.html »
Vickey, Geoff, and Emma's visit to the English classes (March 3, 2009)» Submitted by Emma on Fri, 03/06/2009 - 20:15. »We started our visit at Emma Canaday school. The students were so happy for our visit, and they asked many questions in English and Spanish. Also they asked Geoff how to say some words in French.
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On being part of BQEF» Submitted by Geoff on Tue, 11/11/2008 - 17:37. »It is wonderful to see this revitalized site up and running - I even have a blog! I hope we all will learn to use the website to its full advantage. My involvement with BQEF has progressed from initially supporting it only financially, followed by a transformative trip to Bolivia in September-October 2007, and now to participation as a Board member. Seeing with my own eyes the direct impact of BQEF on scholarship recipients and other programs beneficiaries in Bolivia convinced me of BQEF's worthiness. The work of BQEF is valuable and appreciated! »
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These three students from Emmanuel school send greetings to Friends in the U.S., Canada, and England.