THE
COLOMBIA PROJECT
The
Colombia Project is a web-based program established by RPCVSF
in May of 2000 to provide zero-interest micro-loans to displaced
families in Colombia. The Mission of The Colombia Project is to:
--Provide
direct, people to people loans to help families re-establish
their economic independence.
--Establish
a model for full accountability
--Structure
programs to encourage local community initiative and sustainability.
--Encourage,
support & cooperate with Colombian non-profit organizations.
As
of December, 2007, The Colombia Project has provided over $70,000 for funding microloans to displaced persons in
Bogota, Popayan, Santa Marta, Cartagena, and Quindio, and to build a pool of funds from loan repayments that will provide funds for future loans. The best measure of success is the repaid
loans, which enable new projects to be supported without additional
funds from the U.S. Those who have repaid their loans and increased
their income now assist by mentoring new loan applicants.
Colombia
Project committee members meet 6 times per year and confer by
e-mail. This project is open to non-RPCVs who are interested in
providing assistance to Colombia, with particular interest in
expanding our membership to include Colombian ex-pats. To participate
in The Colombia Project, please contact committee chairman, Helene
Dudley at helenedudley@yahoo.com.
The
National Peace Corps Association awarded the 2003 Loret Miller
Ruppe Award to The Colombia Project for 'Outstanding Community
Service.' To learn more about The Colombia Project, visit www.colombiaproject.org.
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SPIRIT OF SERVICE LEARNING AWARD
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida Inc. (RPCVSF) is committed to building a better South Florida
and to encouraging a new generation of informed and engaged citizens. RPCVSF believes that involving students
in service-learning is a critically important approach to teaching and learning that will help create this new
generation of citizens.
Curriculum-based service-learning is a teaching strategy that allows students to learn and develop through active
participation in thoughtfully organized service in the community that is integrated into and enhances academic
curriculum. Service-learning provides teachers and students with opportunities to select areas of interest connected
to academic studies, do research, perform meaningful service, reflect on that service and demonstrate what they
have learned. Service-learning programs increase student empowerment, ownership in outcomes, and commitment
to meaningful civic engagement while building a better South Florida/global community.
RPCVSF, in partnership with co-sponsors Miami-Dade County Teacher of the Year Coalition and the Armando
Alejandre Jr. Memorial Foundation, recognize and honor K-12 and college/university educators each year for
contributing to the integration of service into the curriculum and for making a commitment to connect students
through service to help meet critical needs in the South Florida and/or global community.
Download the flier with deadlines and criteria for selection here.
HAITI
Inspired by Haiti Country Director Marti Mueller's presentation at the 2004
Annual General Meeting, RPCVSF began working with Haiti RPCVs and Project
Medi-Share in 2005 to raise funds for medical programs in Haiti. Through
events such as an Art-Deco Tour, partnership lunch and a special showing of
the documentary Once There Was a Country: Revisiting Haiti, RPCVSF raised
money to support the work of Miami area doctors who donate their time to
bring medical care to some of the poorest regions of Haiti. In 2006, Project
Medishare received a commitment for significant ongoing support for their
work in Haiti. RPCVSF is proud to have provided funding for pre- and post-op
care for 100 hydrocephalic children during its cooperation with Project
Medishare.
In 2007, RPCVSF began a collaboration with the Haitian Education and
Leadership Program to help raise funds for scholarships to enable
outstanding students from impoverished families in Haiti to attend
university in Haiti. For more information, visit www.haitianeducation.org
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PARTNERSHIP
DINNERS
RPCVSF members support the efforts
of current Peace Corps Volunteers through fundraising at 4-6
partnership dinners held at ethnic restaurants in Miami-Dade
and Broward counties each year. The dinner typically costs $20-$25
per person, with $8 of that amount donated to a partnership
project. Project descriptions are listed on the Peace Corps
website. Attendees vote on which project to support with funds
from the dinner. Each year, RPCVSF sends from $1500 - $2000
to help Peace Corps Volunteers to furnish schools, build latrines,
support coops, etc.
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WORLD
MARKET
RPCVSF sells Fair Trade items from the developing world,
with proceeds primarily benefiting the Redlands Christian Migrant's
Association children's literacy program “Reading
is Fundamental" (RIF). World
Market items are sold at the Annual General Meeting, Colombia
Project Brunch, Cinco de Mayo Party and various venues in the
South Florida area. To donate or purchase, contact lindawhitmyre@mac.com.
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MIAMI
INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR
For many years, RPCVSF has collaborated
with Peace Corps - Atlanta to provide a strong Peace Corps presence
at the Miami International Book Fair, the largest book fair in
the nation. In 2003 , Peace Corps authors were featured
in the booth for the first time. Additionally, in 2004,
a panel of Peace Corps Authors was included in the official Book
Fair program.
The Peace Corps Book Fair Booth
is a collaborative effort between the Atlanta Peace Corps Office
and the Peace Corps Writers, who pay for the booth. They
are joined by RPCVSF members, who, join with the Peace Corps
writers to staff the booth, distributre Peace Corps literature
and share Peace Corps stories with prospecitve volunteers. For more information, contact Leita Kladi (lkaldi@hotmail.com),
Zeida Heavener (zeida@miamidade.gov)
or Helen Dudley (helenedudley@yahoo.com).
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BOOK
PROJECT
Each
year, RPCVSF sends approximately 750 lbs of books, primarily to
developing countries to assist in building English-language or
Spanish-language libraries. Where possible, RPCVSF arranges for free delivery through
members traveling to the recipient country. At other times, books
are mailed at the ‘M-Bag’ rate of $1 per pound. Books are donated
by members, or secured from local libraries or schools that have
the need to reduce their book inventory. In 2003, books were sent
to Bulgaria, Ecuador, Guatemala, Slovakia, Kenya, Romania, Nicaragua,
Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, as well as to migrant programs
in the South Florida area. Funds to cover postage is provided
through fund raising events.
Books are sent primarily to requesting Peace
Corps Volunteers serving around the world but may be sent to other
qualifying aid programs in the U.S. or in developing countries as
well. Contact clavernia@yahoo.com for information on the book program.
For
those requesting books: Please be specific in describing the types of books you need. For
what age level? What reading level? Do you want fiction (novels,
literature, short stories, etc.) , science, geography, history?
Do you want class sets or a variety? Are there cultural values that
should be considered in selecting books for your community?
For
those who received books: Please follow-up to let us know when the books arrived, if they
were in good condition, if they met your needs, and if you or
your fellow-PCVs need additional books.
For
those interested in donating books: There
is a need for: 1) any books in Spanish or Creole 2) for children's
books or novels in any language 3) for easy-read books in English
4) for health books in Spanish. To donate books or request books,
write to RPCVSF BOOK PROJECT, at PO Box 311044, Miami, Florida
33213, or e-mail clavernia@yahoo.com.
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RPCVSF AWARDED FOR OUTSTANDING
COMMUNITY SERVICE
RPCVSF
received its second Loret Miller Ruppe Award for outstanding
community service at the National Peace Corps Association's August,
2003 Conference in Portland, Oregon. Helene Dudley, project chairman
and Greg Zell, former RPCVSF president accepted the award and
a $500 check on behalf of the project. To learn more about the
project, visit www.colombiaproject.org or send an e-mail to the chairman at helenedudley@yahoo.com.
South Florida is the only two-time winner in the history of
the award, named for a former Peace Corps director. The first Ruppe
Award was presented in 1989 to the RPCVSF Book Project for sending
500,000 books to developing countries. Fourteen years later,
the Book Project is still in existence, supporting libraries and
English language programs from Kenya, to Micronesia to Ecuador.
The program is now structured to send selected books on request.
To date, RPCVSF has sent over 31,000 lbs. of books to Peace Corps
countries around the world.
OTHER
COMMUNITY SERVICE INITIATIVES
RPCVSF
supports service projects introduced by our members -- Such projects
have included Conflict Resolution Programs in Miami-Dade Schools,
Habitat for Humanity, World Map Projects and Big Brothers Big
Sisters. Contact the Board if you have a project which could use
our help.
SPEAKER'S BUREAU
Do you have a class or group you would like an RPCV speaker for? Our members can share their first-hand experience in their countries of service with your audience. Contact us at rpcvsf@gmail.com to request a speaker or for more information.
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