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INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP DELEGATIONS: CHILE Our most recent delegation, the 2007 Chile Leadership delegation, was led by Ambassador Aldona Wos, the former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Estonia. The Chilean delegation was particularly timely in light of the election of President Michelle Bachelet. The delegation explored issues of women in business, healthcare, politics, and family and worked in partnership with Partners of the Americas, Comunidad Mujer, the U.S. Embassy Santiago, and the Chilean Ministry of Women’s Affairs. Delegation activities included:
A brief symposium on “Leadership and Mentoring” with Comunidad Mujer, a Chilean women’s organization focusing on women’s incorporation to the labor force
Joint presentations with Universidad Central on Comparative Education and the Law School of Universidad Central on “Juvenile Justice”
Several functions with the U.S. Chilean Embassy
Meeting with Chilean Congresswomen in the congressional dining room, following the passage of an anti-human trafficking bill
Tours of women-run wineries, including “Business Woman of the Year” Maria Luz Marin’s Marin Casa Marin winery and an organic vineyard
Meeting with survivors at Villa Grimaldi, the main interrogation and torture center during the height of the Pinochet regime
Visits with numerous social organizations including Centro La Esperanza, a drug rehabilitation center; Teleton Rehabilitacion Infantil, a treatment center for handicapped children; Lo Espejo Community, a deeply impoverished neighborhood that recently received a grant for a community kitchen; Fundacion Solidaridad, an organization created as part of the Cooperation Committee for Peace in Chile to support the production and sale of handicrafts made by political prisoners detained in prisons and detention camps; and Fundacion Origen, an organic agricultural school for troubled youth.
The Chilean delegation led to several positive outcomes, including:
- A reciprocal trip to Seattle by the Executive Director of Centro La Esperanza, Ana Luisa Jouanne, to explore techniques for drug rehabilitation, and a reception hosted by the Center to honor Ms. Jouanne
- A presentation at the Center’s May 2007 Food For Thought dinner series by the Chilean delegation sharing their experiences first hand
- A reciprocal trip to Seattle by Chilean English teacher Carmen Carmona, who was in Seattle as part of the Partners of the Americas English Teacher Exchange. While here, Carmen met with the class of a middle school Spanish teacher who participated in the delegation, and was honored at the Center’s Food for Thought Chilean delegation program
- Support for several Chilean nonprofit organizations, including:
- a matching donation that served as a catalyst for funding new housing for the Villa Hermosa community of the Lo Espejo “shanty town” in Santiago. The new homes, which will be constructed for less than $2,000 per unit, will replace the wood and scrap dwellings in which the families now live, and will provide safe, sanitary living for these families;
- donations of baby clothes which the non-profit Merciful Connections, of Washington acquired for the Refuge of Mercy Center for teenage unwed mothers in Santiago; and
- donations of children’s crutches to the Telethon Hospital (Children’s Rehabilitation Institute).
- A Chilean cooking class taught by one of our Chilean hostesses, on a reciprocal trip to Seattle
- Solidification of our relationship with Chile as Washington state’s partner country through Partners of the Americas
Upcoming Delegations
In November of 2009, the Center will be hosting an International Delegation to Morocco. We are considering Vietnam in 2010.
Get Involved
If you are interested in participating in an upcoming Center delegation please contact us.
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