The Road Ahead

As you know, for these first three months on site, I’ve been in the assimilation process that Peace Corps Paraguay sets forth for us, to increase our knowledge of both their languages – Castellano and Guarani — and to learn more of the culture as we get to know our community and become more socially integrated.  As I make my way around introducing myself, being introduced, and attending community meetings, I’ve explained a little of why I’m here and I have explained more in a site presentation reception held here last Thursday.

The presentation was a success!  It was thrilling to see that there were 70 people in attendance.  I felt that the opportunity provided a good vehicle for clarifying some things.  It has been very challenging to answer questions about why I’m here, yet leave things open-ended as I continue to listen and observe, absorbing and thinking of best methods for assisting the community in development. Quite a bit more community study has to be done before specific plans can be made for any of my projects.

At the site presentation, the Peace Corps Sector Director, Giancarlo Camperi, presented basic information and formally introduced me to Yataity.  I gave a presentation about my family, my previous experience, and the work I’ll be doing– the short term goals and the long term goals.  I told of my previous experience in development and advancement of organizations, where I provided training, marketing, communications and planning for both large and small businesses and organizations, including work with entrepreneurs.  I believe that work experience will be very useful here.

I discussed what I consider to be the bigger picture for Yataity:  an overall strengthening and fortification of the community.  I see this happening with these objectives:

1.  Work with the artisans to increase their business knowledge where needed and help to increase their sales in the short term;

2.  Form strategic, sustainable long term plans to increase future sales (marketing, training, exportation);

3.  Work with the other adults in the community as well (those involved in other types of work) to develop their goals, help them plan their future, with training in entrepreneurship, business management, and family finance

4. Work with the youth, identifying leaders, provide training in individual development and group development, through workshops in leadership, character-building and goal-setting.

5.  Aid in elevating the community culturally, to open doors for individual and group appreciation of self-expression in music and the arts.  Potentially form a strings group to represent Yataity in national youth orchestra – Sonidos de la Tierra.

We will be using wonderful resources – classes, workshops, workbooks, and strategies that the Peace Corps provides, to help increase leadership skills, personal development, and business development.

These classes and workshops will not always be led by me;  I’m here to facilitate and I will endeavor to empower others to take on leadership roles in the community to help with these initiatives.  I’d like to provide the start-up training necessary to aid them as they themselves mentor and teach.  All that we do will inure to the benefit of the whole, and that will happen slowly.

If we prepare for tomorrow, next week, next month, but also next year and the next five years, ten years, we will be doing a good work for Yataity.  I feel very fortunate to be here to assist in that development.  I look forward to the road ahead.