The excerpt presents a highly self-analytical question to the internationally mobile population of dreamers and do-gooders: Are you running from or toward something? Only the delusional would argue that there is nothing personal about their flight. Just looking to make the world a better place by gi[...]
Archive for the ‘Nonprofit Spotlight’ Category
You Have to Walk Before You Can Run Away
An Avalanche of Human Rights for Same-Sex Couples
In the United States stereotypes abound regarding Latin America’s strong machista culture (with corresponding levels of homophobia). But recent victories for homosexuals (in Uruguay, Argentina, and Mexico City) should call into question such assumptions given that Latin America appears to be getti[...]
One NGO Down, 24 to Go!
NGO Profile #1 of The 25twenty-five Project : Corporación Condor Corporación Condor is an organization based in Bogotá, Colombia that travels to marginalized areas all around the country to provide free medical care. In this essay, the group of volunteer doctors and members of the Colombian Air F[...]
Nonprofit Spotlight: ASCONA aims for “desarrollo sin destrucción”
I learned about ASCONA because I sometimes shared an office with the president, Ifigenia Canet. The group makes simply “being active” look dull; it’s a community force, holding classes in schools, organizing beach clean-ups, and promoting local tourism projects. I’d stupidly [...]
Without Corn There is No Country (Sin Maíz No Hay País)
“Maíz is life, it is happiness, it is parties, it is everything,” said Raúl, a campesino from the state of Hidalgo who we interviewed at the “¿Transgénicos? No, Gracias.” conference this week in Guadalajara. “When the contaminated [genetically modified] corn came into our are[...]
The Experience: Enjoying Your Time as a Volunteer
When I made the decision to leave everything that was familiar at home and work abroad, I knew that having a strong, supportive and exciting group of volunteers to work with would help ease the unfamiliar surroundings. Some people look to be alone, others want a base and the rest want something in b[...]
Pollution Matters
While I’ve grown accustomed to many of the changes of living away from my home country, one thing I have not gotten used to is the air pollution here in Ecuador. In any of the major living areas, you will discover that the constant stream of buses and trucks makes for a very smoggy experience. T[...]
Community Theater: Nós do Morro
Last night I went to the opening night of a play called “The Inspector General” at Nós do Morro, a community theater company located in Favela Vidigal overlooking Ipanema beach. Nós do Morro was conceptualized in 1986 as a cultural movement which strove to harvest the artistic talent o[...]



