The construction of peace responds to a vocation, an inner call; we can say a deep conviction; Luis Leonardo Carrasco Guzmán, in his business, family life, and as a Rotarian, radiated a personal light that showed that deep conviction to contribute, with actions, to the construction peace.

I met Leonardo at school; we were restless boys seeking to better understand the world around us; we prepared ourselves for the moment when we would play our role in society as adults. Many years later, we met in Rotary; it was a beautiful surprise because it meant that we shared many values, especially community service. He had a friendly, kind, cheerful character; he radiated peace and was always smiling, ready to give a hand to whoever needed it; he always told me about his family, whom he deeply loved. During my tenure as Governor of Rotary District 4690, we dreamed of carrying out several projects together.

At that time, he invited me to visit Quime, the town where his Club had an economic development project, empowering women in this community by training them in various trades. I was amazed at this project, which changed the lives of dozens of women and their families, allowing each woman to be at peace with herself and contributing to a paradigm shift in that society and her home. I’ve enjoyed spending time with him very much. On different occasions, we had great conversations. Once, he told me that his Club should become the first pro-peace Club in the District; he was always a man of action, and his dream of building peace in our country led him to sponsor various projects in his Club. I am sure that part of his legacy has contributed effectively to constructing a more equitable society, which is the basis of peace.

Leonardo Carrasco was a man of peace; who taught me a lot. He will live forever in the hearts of all of us who had the fortune to call him friend, brother, and fellow Rotarian, RIP. and let the Perpetual Light shine for Luis Leonardo Carrasco Guzmán.

Proyecto Internacional de Paz en Bolivia

Por Daniela Cardona y Equipo Corazones Verdes de Oruro, PIP Bolivia

Los niños son seres de luz que han llegado al mundo para hacernos ver que existen cosas maravillosas a nuestro alrededor y que debemos preservarlos para reflejar esa luz en el planeta.

Si bien los niños nos enseñan muchas cosas nuestro papel como adultos es educar en base a valores que permitan que haya un equilibrio en su vida y la de los demás y al referirnos a “los demás” significa a todo lo que nos rodea.

Para que la educación sea efectiva debemos educar desde el afecto. El afecto tiene efecto a la hora de educar y crear conciencia y el amor es el mejor instrumento para llegar al corazón de los niños.

Debemos cuidar nuestro hogar, el mundo en el que vivimos. De ahí que sea tan importante concienciarnos desde la infancia de los problemas ambientales, fomentando el respeto por la naturaleza.

La Asociación Mundial de Educadoras Infantiles (AMEI), elaboró un decálogo para niños con consejos sobre cómo los niños pueden empezar a cuidar el medio ambiente. Los cuales son:

• Reciclar como un divertido juego en el que debemos colocar cada cosa en el cubo del color adecuado.
• Ahorrar agua. Es importante enseñar a los niños que el agua es un bien escaso que debemos usar con responsabilidad, por lo que hay que mostrarles pequeños gestos que ayuden a ahorrar agua, como es el cerrar el grifo cuando nos cepillamos los dientes, cerrar el grifo cada vez que lo usemos, etc.
• Ahorrar luz. También, es importante que los niños interioricen que la energía eléctrica supone un coste al medio ambiente, por lo que su ahorro es importante. Por eso, enseñarles a apagar la luz cuando salgan de una habitación, no encender luces insuficientes o no dejar cosas enchufadas que no se estén usando son pequeños gestos que cuidan el medio ambiente.
• Mantener limpio el entorno también es una tarea en la que los niños pueden colaborar. Por eso, enseñarles que no deben tirar papeles o envoltorios al suelo y que si no hay papeleras cerca se debe guardar en el bolsillo hasta que encuentren con una. O en el campo, recoger todos los residuos que generemos y llevárnoslos para poderlos depositar en el contenedor adecuado cuando demos con uno.
• El compartir juguetes, material, escolar, ropa, etc. supone un gesto generoso con el medio, ya que los recursos son limitados, por lo que compartir los bienes materiales, contribuye a que no se sobreexploten os recursos. Así, es bueno enseñarles que cuándo ya no los vayan a usar pueden regalárselos a alguien que sí lo vaya hacer.
• Aprovechar las hojas de papel. Los niños disfrutan dibujando y plasmando en papel sus inquietudes, deseos, emociones, sueños, etc. el dibujo es necesario para su desarrollo personal por todo lo que les aporta, pero esta tarea puede ser también sostenible si en lugar de emplear hojas nuevas para cada dibujo reutilizamos los dorsos de los folios ya usados.
• Las plantas son seres vivos a los que debemos de cuidar, ya que además son necesarias para limpiar la atmósfera y cuidar nuestro ecosistema. Por ello, no se deben pisar y arrancar, por el contrario es bueno enseñar a los niños y niñas a cuidar plantas desde que son pequeños.
• El mobiliario urbano es de todos, por lo que debemos cuidarlo como nuestra propia casa. Así que, debemos enseñarles a ser respetuosos y cuidadosos con todo lo que hay en nuestros municipios y que son de todos los ciudadanos.
• El respeto animal también es parte de la enseñanza de la ecología. Los animales, tanto las mascotas como los animales salvajes, son seres vivos a los que debemos cuidar y respetar. En el caso de las mascotas, debemos enseñar a los niños a cuidar de ellos dándoles de comer, beber, sacándoles a pasear, procurándoles los servicios médicos que requieren y sobre todo enseñarles a respetar su espacio y tratarlos con cariño.
• Por último, y no por ello menos importante, debemos de enseñarles el respeto por las otras personas..

Que educar, generar hábitos y actitudes de respeto por el medio ambiente sea nuestra huella en el planeta.

Te sumas?

Unite ahora y apoya a nuestro Proyecto “Corazones Verdes”, finalista del Programa Internacional de Paz en Bolivia 2021.

¨La unión hace la fuerza¨. Esta frase no pudo ser más cierta que en nuestro proyecto, Un Barrio, Un Mundo Mejor. La alianza que hemos venido construyendo desde hace algunos meses con diversas organizaciones locales, académicas y organismos intergubernamentales, está haciendo posible que este proyecto sea una realidad día a día. Con cada nueva reunión se consolidan lazos de cooperación.

Así, gracias al apoyo de nuestro aliado, la Universidad Privada Boliviana hemos logrado concluir el pasado 23 de abril los talleres de capacitación para los estudiantes de la carrera de Psicología quienes se harán cargo de los dos núcleos de terapia grupal: uno en el barrio de Casegural-Municipal y el segundo en el barrio de San Sebastián. Para ello también contamos con el apoyo del Dr. Phill Gittins y la Lic. Sara Herrera que en una muestra de desprendimiento han capacitado a los estudiantes con las técnicas de Identidad, Focusing, Escucha activa, Diálogo, manejo de crisis y en el manejo de grupos terapéuticos. Con estas últimas sesiones hemos concluido la capacitación de estos jóvenes estudiantes voluntarios.

Por otra parte, nuestro proyecto está comprometido con integrar a los jóvenes refugiados y migrantes de Venezuela que residen en el barrio de Casegural-Municipal en las terapias grupales. Dada la compleja situación en la que se encuentran y los prejuicios que se han instalado en la comunidad respecto a ellos, brindarles apoyo psicológico al tiempo que se los integra a la comunidad es fundamental. Para ello hemos logrado el apoyo de la Fundación Scalabrini la cual tiene la ardua labor de recibirlos, albergarlos y permitirles seguir su camino en las mejores condiciones posibles, y apoya a la integración de los mismos en los barrios donde ellos residen. La Fundación no solamente nos sirve de nexo con los jóvenes refugiados y migrantes sino que nos apoyará con refrigerios para las sesiones de terapia grupal en Casegural.

Finalmente, seguimos coordinando las acciones en los dos barrios. El 24 de abril pasado pudimos presentarnos oficialmente ante la Junta Vecinal de San Sebastián. Explicamos los alcances del proyecto y recibimos la ratificación del interés de los vecinos en el mismo.

Unite ahora y apoya a nuestro Proyecto “Un barrio, un mundo mejor”, finalista del Programa Internacional de Paz en Bolivia 2021.

Con la intención de reverdecer Oruro y los integrantes del proyecto Corazones Verdes, plantaron arbolitos en el sector de villa Challacollo. La mañana del Sábado 23 de abril, fecha escogida en conmemoración al día de la Madre tierra, el equipo y voluntarios obsequiaron su fuerza de trabajo para posteriormente adoptar, cuidar y regar los plantines.

“Corazones verdes “ nació a través del Programa Internacional de Paz PIP-BOLIVIA, el cual es un global grant de Rotary Internacional.

La cooperación económica estuvo a cargo de la ONG United4Change Center con la representación de Victor Hugo Garcia Meza.

El proyecto de arborización tuvo un proceso de capacitación, presentación y declaración de proyecto ganador para su fase de ejecución.

Corazones verdes tiene por objetivo dar esperanza ya que “Cuando plantamos árboles, sembramos las semillas de La Paz y de la esperanza “

Life under the changing, often experienced as harsh and brutal, influences of what some view as a terrorist Taliban junta can be challenging, but is especially critical in my capacity as a peacebuilder, human rights and women rights activist, and a professor who teaches modern studies. I was born and raised in a war zone, but highly enthusiastic about studying abroad to change my war-torn society into a more peaceful one, where everyone, both women and men, girls and boys, can enjoy the fundamental human rights of getting an education and work. I, Saleem (pseudonym) was provided a rich opportunity to study peace, conflict analysis, and development studies in prestigious universities through prestigious international scholarships.

In 2014 when completing my Fulbright scholarship in USA, relatives and close friends insisted that I remain in the US as a refugee, but I have set a totally different goal for myself and for my country. I believe that living and working in my country will help thousands of young women and men achieve education and acquire the right to work. In addition to being a university professor, I have had the opportunity to work in the context of civil society, where I have worked for human rights, women’s rights, education development, and peacebuilding. Pursuing these particular objectives while facing the evolving cultural challenges, has been risky and full of personal sacrifices. For instance, I lost two of my uncles who were medical doctors working especially for economically disadvantaged families (victims of war). This was a tragic occurrence during the Taliban’s resumption of power. My second uncle was assassinated in eastern Afghanistan right before his clinic.

I lost my job resulting in severe financial problems. I can no longer support my family of four sisters and four brothers. I have been labeled SPY when, in reality, I am only an ambassador of peace… When conflict results in a change of government, it is easy to be misinterpreted with respect to objective and action. Accordingly, I have remained in hiding since August 16, 2021. This has naturally resulted in severe psychological pressures/tensions. My world literally collapsed because of my inability to be with my family and constantly changing locations. My family still receives threatening calls from certain elements within the Taliban.

The senior leadership of the Taliban often speaks of impunity, but on the ground, realities tell other stories, such as extra-judicial killings and imprisonment. Today, I regret prior efforts at espousing the values of the US and UK in Afghanistan. I was on the frontlines of implementing initiatives to empower women, advance education, build peaceful conditions, reducing corruption on behalf of the US and UK-based organizations, which have since abandoned me.

As a peacebuilder, I am not in a position to take sides in a conflict or advocate for particular political ideologies. Still, conflicts too often result in being misinterpreted as doing such. One can only hope that as conditions normalize under different leadership, peacebuilders will be viewed in a proper light and valued. Regrettably, that does not appear yet to be the case.

Today schools and universities for girls have closed and the ruling Taliban are changing the role of women in society. One can only hope things will eventually change in ways that affirm the well-being of all Afghans. I recently called one of my female students Ms. Nazia (pseudonym) to hear her personal story. She was crying and said, “I have no future in this country. I lost all my hopes. Schools are closed and we are again treated as housewives only and means of satisfaction for men, which is really bad.”

While remaining appropriately apolitical, I hope the world will not turn its back on and isolate Afghanistan. In the spirit of affirming the essential interests of humanity, Afghanistan needs to be invited into and engaged by, the community nations. Only through positive engagement can Afghans eventually overcome their current challenges and realize their potential as full-fledged members of humanity.

U4C promotes social justice and sustainable peace. Through collaborative partnerships we empower marginalized groups, creating conditions for self-directed, dignified, and sustainable human existence.

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Dicen que cuando uno es positivo atrae cosas positivas, este definitivamente es el caso de nuestro proyecto, Un Barrio, Un Mundo Mejor, que con sus cortos meses de vida encontró a la junta vecinal del barrio de la Sección Casegural-Municipal, ¡una junta vecinal ejemplar!

Un Barrio, Un Mundo Mejor, es el resultado del anhelo de Paz positiva en Bolivia de diversas instituciones que se juntaron para capacitar a 100 jóvenes de todo el país en el marco del Primer Programa Internacional de Paz en Bolivia.

La junta vecinal de Casegural-Municipal no sólo estaba compuesta por hombres y mujeres que participan de manera igualitaria en el proceso de decisión, sino que juntos realizaron un censo para conocer sus potencialidades y riesgos. Siendo que el proceso de consulta con los beneficiarios del proyecto es uno de los elementos clave para involucrar y garantizar la sostenibilidad de una intervención, lo primero que hicimos fue buscar una reunión con los miembros de la Junta Vecinal, el resultado no pudo ser mejor, los vecinos nos expresaron su preocupación por la falta de oportunidades y actividades para jóvenes y sin dudarlo y en consenso apoyaron la iniciativa. En el camino nosotros les hemos colaborado viendo su interés en los datos y en mejorar sus condiciones de vida y trabajamos para conectar a la Junta Vecinal con el proyecto Laboratorio de Aceleración del Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD) bajo el liderazgo de Diego Suárez. Así como este proyecto a lo largo de los meses hemos venido conociendo a diversos emprendedores de los que les vendremos comentando poco a poco, entre ellos están: Creotec, Balay Gourmet, Warmi Power, Psicoplenitud, Shine. Sana e Inspira, etc.

Actualmente nuestro proyecto ha comenzado, si quieren enterarse de lo que estamos haciendo ahora, ¡sígannos!

Unite ahora y apoya a nuestro Proyecto “Un barrio, un mundo mejor”, finalista del Programa Internacional de Paz en Bolivia 2021.

El pasado jueves comenzamos el proyecto: Un Barrio, Un Mundo Mejor! Un proyecto de construcción de Paz!

Este proyecto es una realidad gracias a voluntarios que provienen de diversas instituciones, como Esfuerzos de Mujeres Bolivianas, United4Change Center, Universidad Privada Boliviana, SHINE. Sana e Inspira!

El proyecto comenzó con el primer taller de capacitación para los estudiantes de la carrera de Psicología de la Universidad Privada Boliviana! quienes están pasando por un proceso de formación que les permitirá prepararse para desarrollar sesiones de terapia grupal para los jóvenes de los barrios de Casegural-Municipal y de San Sebastián, actividades que estarán realizando en calidad de voluntarios. La facilitadora en esta ocasión, fue la Lic. en Psicología, Sarah Herrera, quien de manera voluntaria capacitó a los estudiantes en el tema de crisis.

Aprendimos de ella que la crisis es una gran oportunidad para el cambio en la vida de las personas. La terapia grupal se acerca a una realidad cada día!

La próxima semana es el turno del psicólogo y PhD en Análisis del Conflicto, Phill Gittins, quien también de manera voluntaria continuará la capacitación de nuestros voluntarios y futuros psicólogos en el manejo de núcleos de terapia grupal. Los voluntarios de la carrera de psicología también nos expresaron su voluntad de conocer la realidad de los jóvenes de Casegural y San Sebastián y de apoyarlos en su bienestar emocional y colaborar en la identificación de sus competencias profesionales.

Síguenos, la próxima semana estaremos con más avances!

Unite ahora y apoya a nuestro Proyecto “Un barrio, un mundo mejor”, finalista del Programa Internacional de Paz en Bolivia 2021.

Por Daniela Cardona y Equipo Corazones Verdes de Oruro, PIP Bolivia

Muchas veces escuchamos que nada cambia de la noche a la mañana o que los cambios drásticos no duran en el tiempo.

Alguna vez te pusiste a pensar en ello?

Muchos tenemos un sueño que anhelamos con el alma, por ejemplo yo sueño con un planeta libre de contaminación, mi mejor amiga con el bienestar animal, mi hermana con justicia, y mis hijos con la paz mundial. Pero muchas veces ese anhelado sueño se queda paralizado al ver la complejidad del asunto y nos frustramos…. O comenzamos, pero ante la primera piedra en el camino nos desanimamos.

Sería tan lindo tener un planeta limpio, en que todos respiremos aire puro y que todas las personas se sientan plenas pero posiblemente no me alcance la vida para lograrlo.

Entonces ¿qué les parece si en lugar de lamentarnos buscamos soluciones y no nos quedemos solo en la parálisis por análisis?.

Partamos de algo pequeño porque es posible generar un cambio en lo que podemos manejar y a medida que vamos aprendiendo y teniendo más herramientas empezaremos a expandirnos a nuevos horizontes.

Hacemos el cambio? un cambio sostenible y de paz?

Unite ahora y apoya a nuestro Proyecto “Corazones Verdes”, finalista del Programa Internacional de Paz en Bolivia 2021.

January to May 2018 marked my personal life forever. The previous year I had decided to have a volunteering experience and the place chosen was Guatemala.

On January 30th, 2018 I left my country, Argentina, with a suitcase full of illusions, expectations and especially my desire to help people I knew were living in extremely vulnerable conditions. During the hours that the trip from Argentina to Guatemala took, I imagined how this experience would be different, but where commitment and love for those who needed it most would undoubtedly prevail.

I had a wonderful welcome, with a banner welcoming me to the country, a bouquet of flowers and several people awaiting my arrival. From the very first moment I felt that I was not far from my homeland.
With volunteers from the French Movement IV World, my tasks in the first two months were carried out in Escuintla. There, I met very warm families, who welcomed us with a smile and a “God bless you” every time we visited the place where they lived, despite the needs, the extreme poverty, which hits and hurts us in the deepest part of our being. We walked with my dear friend Yanick, a volunteer from Haiti, through long dirt streets under a burning sun, visiting families and bringing them books, which were received as the most precious treasure.

I met very brave women, most of whom had lost their sons and daughters at an early age, in some cases without being able to find their remains, as a result of the prevailing crime in the country or in unclear circumstances. Their stories still resonate in my mind and heart, with a firmness worthy of admiration. It is resilience that allowed and allows them to continue, despite the pain, frustration and lack of justice.

I remember the love of those children and adolescents who called me “Seño” (little teacher), who hugged me and thanked me for my work. Many of them came to the house where we lived in Escuintla to visit and tell us about their experiences and on Fridays it took place “ A reading day”. It was a pampering to my soul to read books from my childhood to so many children and to see their happy faces when they discovered wonderful stories. My favorite definition of resilience has always been “the scar through which the light enters”. And although I consider myself a resilient person, my greatest learning about resilience was in Guatemala. And that learning came from children, women and men who had a hard and unfair life, but who got up every day with the desire to achieve better opportunities.

I cried a lot when I left Escuintla. I visited house to house to say goodbye and I received so much love, like that of that lady of more than 80 years old, blind, who told me: “When I could, I will visit you in your country”. I have never forgotten those gestures of genuine love, which are sadly in short supply in today’s world. My last two weeks were spent in Guatemala City. There I met extremely resilient men, who lived on the streets and who, because of their life stories or because they had no opportunities, found in drugs a way out of so much pain. Every Tuesday we went to visit and to bring them books and games. They felt happy with the presence of the volunteers.

I particularly remember one of them, Alex, who asked me about Argentina, as he was interested in football and we talked a lot. A few days before my return to my homeland, he decided to take a photo of himself wearing my country’s shirt — a beautiful memory! Last year I heard about his departure. I cried all day out of helplessness. Because it hurts me that his short life has been plagued by absences, shortages and lack of opportunities. But at the same time it comforts me to know that today he will surely be in a better place, free from the shackles of an undeserved earthly destiny. He also gave me a great lesson of resilience. When he saw me he smiled and I never heard him complain about his life.

I remember accompanying Alex and his companions to a talk on addictions. They were attentive and it really hurt me when they were not allowed to enter the public transport because of the way they were dressed or perhaps because of their appearance. This caused me a helplessness and pain that I cannot put into words. We still live in a world of appearances where people are categorized by how they dress and not by what is most important, which is their hearts.

I could write a book about each of my experiences in a wonderful country like Guatemala, but I can only say that my resilience became stronger after living for three months in a poverty-stricken country. Today I feel stronger and every time my mood drops I remember the Guatemalan people I met. They taught me that even when life sweeps us away, we can stand up and carry on and be stronger.

Finally, I want to share with you a photo of my remembered Alex, an example of resilience and whom, like so many people, I will carry until the last day of my life in my mind, soul and heart and with the hope that one day we will be reunited.

Originally published at https://united4changecenter.org on June 22, 2021.

Over the past several years, United4Change Center has partnered with the Hobbs and Lovington Rotary Clubs in an effort to comprehensively and sustainably help women to lift themselves out of extreme poverty and violence in rural/mining Bolivia through access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. This article describes a recent visit to Bolivia by a group of volunteers/Rotarians in the furtherance of this work.

Last month, ten American volunteers/Rotarians, most of them Rotarians visited Bolivia to work on this important project, which is financially supported by nine Rotary Clubs from New Mexico and Bolivia and three Districts, and four individual donors. Our ten volunteers/Rotarians included Carey Beamesderfer and Doug Borrett of West El Paso, Dr. Del Endres of Taos, Audrey Buglione of Philadelphia, David Sadler and Bob Reid of Hobbs, Dr. Sonia Murillo-Branin of Lovington, Pete Sheehey and Naishing Key of Los Alamos, and Ximena Murillo of Houston. Our team was joined by several Bolivians including Nacho Vera, Victor Hugo Garcia, Carla Murillo, and Ivan Montano (2nd year medical student).

This team really worked really hard with community members to set up a Women Support and Training Center despite the high altitude of the Andes Mountains and extremely cold temperatures. While our team had little prior experience working together, there was a strong sense of Rotarian comradely, enthusiasm, and an unequivocal commitment to serve others. We quickly evolved into a cohesive team and succeeded in completing needed construction in the creation of the women’s support and training center, fed and provided orientation to 160 women who will eventually participate in skills and entrepreneurialism training as well as the development of microenterprises. The team participated in different activities from painting a magnificent mural peppered with personalized hand prints evidencing a commitment to the project, trained twelve local healthcare providers in conflict resolution and peacebuilding, home visits to families in extremely difficult circumstances with essential food supplies, and we furthered the goodwill established with locals over the past several years.

We had an opportunity to observe a young woman, Jimena, who could not read or write before our work last year, confidently and capably stood up and read out loud before elected officials, hundreds of citizens, and our group. Her new abilities have changed her forever. Our new focus on economic development and independence will further build upon literacy skills developed through prior efforts.

It’s important to find ways to expand and sustain impact from our efforts, but it is also appropriate to respond to exceptional human need, even when to do so provides only temporary relief. Our team made several home visits, but I want to report on one that deeply affected me. My group visited a 102-year-old woman who lives by herself in a three-sided rock shelter. Her name is Asunta. Asunta was desperately lonely, cold, hungry, and in severe pain. Half of her face had been eaten up by cancer. It was difficult to make time for the home visits given all that needed to be done, but I believe our visit to Asunta was as important as anything else we were doing.

Learn more about our family visits.

We talked with her, took turns holding her, and provided essential food supplies. When she saw the food supplies her response was, “now I can survive.” Later, we sent our incredible medical team to see Asunta with pain medication and blankets. As moving as this particular visit was, reports from other groups suggest their visits were just as meaningful.

We are already planning our next Service Abroad to Bolivia in 2019 (End of September). Please sign up here if you want more information.