Mid-placement update from Lima!

Posted by on March 1st, 2010

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!

Posted in SWB

Comments

1. March 3rd, 2010 by Emma

Hi Courtney,

I was just offered the same position as you currently have for this summer coming up. I’m debating between this position and another offer that I’ve had and I was just wondering if you wouldn’t mind answering some questions I have…

How do you like the position so far? Are there things that you didn’t expect or that caught you by surprise? Were you able to concentrate on projects/issues that you are particularly interested in?

Thanks!

Emma

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