Well, half of my time interning with the Canadian Cooperation Services Support Unit is over. Time has moved too quickly as usual but I am happy to report that so many incredible things have happened during this time.

My work here is mainly in monitoring and supporting USACC administered (and CIDA funded) development projects. I am working with and learning from a team of 12 employees who are all dedicated and enthusiastic experts in the field. I have enjoyed all of my work thus far but there are definitely 3 highlights to report:

- Visiting programs in the El Agustino district in Lima and the town of Cineguilla which is just outside the city of Lima. One program was for youth in the legal system and the other for abandoned youth.

- A monitoring visit to the Centre for Adolescent Mothers. We met with personnel and mothers who are working to improve their futures through training and counseling.

- Financial monitoring of a variety of USACC programs.

This position is highly rewarding due to the opportunity to see first-hand the results of Canadian-Peruvian cooperation which is innovative, far reaching and successful.

It just so happens that this wonderful work experience is taking place in the beautiful and diverse coastal city of Lima. I’ve also had the privilege of travel and adventure outside of Lima, including, sliding head-first on a sand board down a sand dune at 80km/hour in the desert of Ica, rafting the river rapids in Lunahuaná, body slamming into meter high waves on the beach of Cerro Azul and next weekend we will fly over the Nazca lines.

This is surely shaping up to be a life-changing journey – professional and personally.

For anyone interested in exploring any of the above 3 mentioned highlights the following links would be of interest:

http://www.encuentroscj.org/index.php

http://www.cimahope.org/

http://www.cedetep.org/

http://www.livinginperu.com/features-1198-general-alleged-irregularities-found-34-percent-audited-ngos-peru

 Thanks so much WUSC and USACC!

I am so very excited to be going to Lima, Peru to intern as the Assistant to the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI) Project Coordinator with the Canadian Cooperation Services Support Unit (CCSSU).  I will be supporting the implementation of the CFLI, which provides funding to assist grass-roots organizations and community groups carry out local development projects.

This opportunity will be unlike any of my recent travels, professional experience, or academic experience on their own – it is a chance for me to integrate the learning opportunities offered by all three. This position is especially important to me because I wish to gain experience in Monitoring and Evaluation, and this assignment focus heavily in this area.

I am a recent graduate from the Faculty of Education at the University of Calgary where I researched participatory development and education from the perspectives of project participants.  I became intimately familiar and impressed by the research and work of South American scholars and practitioners in the field of participatory and grassroots development. I also came to know a great deal about the philosophies, policies, and good work of our Canadian International Development Agency. I have a basic understanding of what locally led and initiated development means and I am thrilled for the opportunity to learn more. This is also my chance to give back by volunteering the skills and knowledge I have been privileged to acquire over the last few years.

Originally from Nova Scotia, I have lived throughout Canada and travelled extensively, including in Ecuador, where I acquired some Spanish, and in Korea, where I taught ESL in Seoul. Nothing thrills me more than being outside of my comfort zone and seeing the world, my place in it, and how we do things, in a very different light. For now, a lot of my education on life in Peru consists of descriptions from my Peruvian soccer teammate here in Calgary, my sister’s recent travels there, and information from the library and internet. I am sure that there are many surprises waiting for me!

Many thanks to WUSC and CCSSU for this special opportunity! I am looking forward to working with and learning from my colleagues in Lima. Hasta pronto!