The Official Newsletter of Amizade, Ltd
Summer-Fall 1997
Amizade Expands into Bolivia
Many people who have done our program in Brazil expressed an interest in wanting to have a similar Amizade experience elsewhere. Thus at the request of a local NGO, former volunteers, and our travel agent, we decided to start a program in Cochambamba, Bolivia. Cochabamba is a city of 400,000 inhabitants and is situated in a valley that is surrounded by the breath-taking Andes Mountains. The city often boasts of its perfect climate with a daytime seasonal average of 72o F with no humidity. Despite the beautiful scenery and perfect climate, Bolivia is second poorest country (behind Haiti) in the Western Hemisphere. Cochabamba faces a major problems such as shortages of water for farming, poor soil, and lack of industry.
Amizade formed a collaboration with APSAR, a Bolivian health care organization that serves rural communities outside of Cochabamba. The main project was to build additional rooms onto the APSAR health clinic so that they could better serve the needs of the community.
In August, a group of 10 volunteers came to participate in Amizade's first Bolivia program. Three volunteers did consecutive programs going from Brazil to Bolivia. One of the volunteers, Marci Carrell, was on the Brazil trip and decided that she was having so much fun that she didn't want to go home. Unfortunately, the flights from Brazil to Bolivia were booked solid. So she returned to Miami and flew back down to Bolivia with the other volunteers.
The program was a huge success. In addition
to working on the project, the volunteers got the opportunity to participate
in the Bolivian Independence Day parade, visit Incan ruins, hike in a rainforest,
and explore the city of Cochabamba. Most of all, the volunteers were able
to have meaningful interaction with Bolivians and truly represent the meaning
of Amizade... Amistad... Friendship.
In 1998, Amizade will begin to run Elderhostel programs in Brazil. Elderhostel in a nonprofit organization that runs educational and service learning programs for people 55 and older. For more information regarding these programs please contact Elderhostel at (617) 426-8056.
Elderhostel Session 1: Jan. 5 - Jan. 19, 1998
Elderhostel Session 2: July 1 - July 14, 1998
Volunteer Portraits
Brazilians in Yellowstone
The 3,000 acre OTO Ranch is located 10 miles north of Gardiner, Montana in the Gallatin National Forest. The OTO is a magical place that holds significant environmental, historic, and architectural importance. The land serves as a grizzly bear habitat and a migration corridor for elk. During the winter, elk move onto the OTO for its rich pasture lands. Considered the first dude ranch in Montana, the OTO Ranch was built in the early 1900's by Dick Randall, who has been credited with being the "Father of Montana Dude Ranching." Randall built a beautiful 12 room lodge, 2 home cabins, 10 rental cabins, a post office/general store, a pump house, and two barns using intricate log work and detail which is indicative of the turn of the century western architecture. The Randall family sold the ranch in the mid-30's, and property has since gone through several owners. In the late 80's, with the help of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and other organizations, the U.S. Forest Service purchased the land.
In August of this year, Amizade ran it's first project in the Greater Yellowstone Region. The main project was to clean out the cabins of the OTO ranch and to build jack-leg fence for the U.S. Forest Service at Yankee Jim Canyon. Joining volunteers from Chicago, St. Paul, and St. Louis were two doctors from the Brazilian Amazon. Doctors Emmanuel and Francimary Silva came all of the way from Santarém, Brazil to participate on the Amizade program.
The Silva's have been very active in supporting the Amizade programs in Brazil. Dr. Francimary is a dermatologist and president of APAE, the Association of Parents and Friends (Amigos) of Exceptionals. In 1995, Amizade and APAE built an orthopedic worshop for handicapped children. The idea for the project actually came from Dr. Emmanuel, an orthopedic surgeon who has operated on over 500 children with club feet. In addition to the APAE project, the Silvas also helped Amizade by hosting volunteers and showing them the beauty of Santarém.
This summer, the Silvas decided to extend their help outside of the borders of their own country and come to the USA. "This was a new experience for us," explained Francimary. "We have been to the United States before, but have never done anything like this. It was fun to help Amizade and see Yellowstone."
Emmanuel noted, "This is not like what we have in Brazil. The mountains, the animals, everything is different. It is very beautiful. The work is very different from what we are used to as well. Francimary and I are doctors so we don't get to do much physical work. It feels good to put in a days work on a worthwhile project. Beautiful scenery, hard work, and good friends - who can ask for more? We hope to go on another Amizade program next year. "
Amizade, Ltd., 367
S. Graham St., Pittsburgh, PA 15232 USA
(888) 973-4443 FAX
(412) 648-1492 Volunteer@amizade.org