In this Issue
Board of Directors Outlines Amizade Priorities
Executive Director Michael Sandy and Associate
Director of Programs Brenda Dunkovich report that
Amizade's annual board meeting in Washington, D.C. led
to the development of new short and long-term
priorities and goals for the organization over the next
few months.
Over the course of two days, board members outlined
three focus areas (increasing volunteers, fundraising
and program development) and several action items.
Specific committee members were identified for each
focus area and board members and staff will be working
diligently to achieve and implement the set goals. "We
had some very productive discussions and came up
with some great ideas that we are excited to begin
working on," Dunkovich said.
During the meeting, Amizade welcomed Rajeev Nath as
a new member of the board.
Nath, of New York City, currently works as a senior
consultant with Accenture, a global management,
technology services and outsourcing company. "He is
an enthusiastic worker who will bring a great deal of
energy and experience to the Board," said Shawn
Westcott.
Nath first became associated with Amizade as a
student at the University of Pittsburgh and then as a
volunteer. "As a member of the board, he brings energy
and talent to furthering our programming and
fundraising goals," Sandy said. Nath replaces Westcott,
who served on the board for more than four years. "We
would also like to thank Shawn for his talents and
service to Amizade," Sandy added.
Quick Links
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Greetings!
Did you know that the simple act of getting a cool drink
of water from a faucet in your kitchen or stepping into
the shower at night is a physical impossibility for more
than 3 billion people in the world? Because of this harsh
reality, Amizade has become a member of an innovative
partnership to bring clean water to communities on
three continents. The USAID/GLOWS Consortium is just
one of many new programs and goals we are working
on throughout the remainder of 2005 and into 2006. We
invite you to read on about some of our new focus
areas - raising funds, increasing volunteer participation
and developing new partnerships - and consider how
your own time and skills might be of use in furthering
our mission of global service and understanding.
Sincerely,
Alyson Walls, Public Relations Coordinator
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Amizade Collaborates with NGOs to Bring Clean Water to Communities
According to the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID), more than 3 billion people lack
access to clean water and basic sanitation. As a result,
some 2 million children die each year due to water-
related illness and disease. Recognizing that no single
resource is more important to the health, welfare and
prosperity of communities than water, Amizade is
collaborating with USAID and several other groups to
make clean water a reality in communities around the
world.
The proper management of water resources is at the
heart of global efforts to alleviate poverty, promote
health, stimulate economic growth and reduce
conflicts. But most efforts have thus far been
fragmented and focused on single issues. The aim of
the new consortium formed between Amizade, USAID
and a host of other nongovernmental organizations, is
to bring together a wide base of organizations to
develop integrated and sustainable water management
solutions that meet
human needs and maintain healthy aquatic ecosystems.
The Global Water for
Sustainability (GLOWS) Program, is one member of the
USAID constoritum. The GLOWS program, based at
Florida International University, is
designed to implement integrated water management
approaches in river basins. There are three current pilot
projects taking place in
Kenya/Tanzania, India/Bangladesh, and Peru. As a
member of GLOWS, Amizade will work to further the
goals of Volunteers for Prosperity (another partner
organization) by recruiting volunteers to work in these
regions on a number of water-related projects.
Professionals such as business administrators,
ecologists, hydrologists, engineers and others will be
recruited based on the needs of each site. We expect
that GLOWS will involve a minimum of 20 volunteers by
the end of the project, each providing 2-3 weeks of
service. Executive Director Michael Sandy said the
USAID partnership provides additional opportunities for
placing willing and knowledgeable volunteers in
communities where they can make an immediate
impact. "We are looking forward to all the possibilities
that this collaboration provides, especially as it relates
to strenghtening communities and improving health and
education."
Learn more about the GLOWS program at Florida International University »
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Help Develop and Coordinate College-Level Service-Learning Courses
Through an academic partnership with West Virginia
University, Amizade offers exciting and innovative
service-learning programs that integrate focused
academic coursework, meaningful service and short-
term study abroad in communities around the world. We
are currently looking for graduate students and
university faculty to help develop and coordinate our
service-learning programs.
As an Service-Learning Facilitator, you will collaborate
with a
dynamic group of professionals to develop and lead a
service-learning program in the U.S. or abroad. The
facilitator positions offer unique opportunities for
personal and professional advancement, along with
summer travel and employment.
Applications are currently being accepted for 2006
Facilitator positions. Selected Facilitators are invited to
attend the Amizade Institute on Intercultural Service-
Learning scheduled January 14-16, 2006 in Pittsburgh
PA, and should be available for a 2-5 week travel period
between May and August when the programs are
conducted.
For a complete job description and application, visit www.globalservice-learning.org »
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Volunteer update
Amizade volunteers continue to make extraordinary
progress sharing their time and talents in communities
around the world.
For the months of August and September, Amizade had
58 volunteers engaged in intercultural service programs
in five countries. They include: six students who
participated in a pilot service-learning course in
Northern Ireland offered through West Virginia
University; a group of six who volunteered at soup
kitchens and homeless shelters in Washington, D.C.; a
group of 14 professionals from the Kellogg School of
Management who volunteered in Jamaica, and a group
of 10 who volunteered in Montana. These individuals
joined several volunteers already participating in long-
term programs in Bolivia and Brazil.
We extend our gratitude for their service and our
wishes for successful experiences, life- long learning
and productive partnerships.
Read what volunteers say about our programs »
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