Annual Report
2008
Capacity Building
EntreMundos Magazine
Volunteer Placement
Table of Contents 1
Letter from the Director
Achievements of 2008: 2 4 6 8
Volunteer Programme Capacity Building Workshops Rural Workshops Magazine and Website
Plans for 2009: 10 11
13
Volunteer Programme Rural Workshops and Rural Computer Classes Capacity Building Workshops Campaign against Plastic Bags Computer Classes
14 15
Financial Report The EntreMundos Team
12
Letter From The Director To our Contributors, Colleagues and Friends Back in 2001, EntreMundos was founded with the aim to more effectively connect social projects in and around Xela with the resources they require to succeed and grow. ´El Espacio´, where the office of EntreMundos is located, was created to serve as a forum and information centre for organisations, communities, volunteers and citizens concerned with development and social issues. As a means of raising awareness amongst both foreigners and locals on social, political and cultural topics EntreMundos started to publish a free bi-monthly magazine. Over the years EntreMundos staff, which consists of local and foreign volunteers, has changed, however our mission is still the same. We hope that this annual report will give you an interesting overview of how we have tried to promote positive social change in Guatemala in 2008. Yet van Oenen
Volunteer
Year Report EntreMundos
Achievements 2008 In 2008 the Volunteer Programme showed another significant expansion. This year we interviewed 234 volunteers, representing a rise of 52% from the previous year. We are delighted with this increase in volunteer numbers that not only represents that Xela is continuing to be regarded as a main destination for volunteers but also the growing recognition of EntreMundos as high quality service provider for volunteer placements.
Another major work undertaken was the revising and updating of the Volunteer Services Directory, with up-to-date information correlated and checked on over 160 organisations. This directory is not only an invaluable resource for the volunteers that come to EntreMundos seeking volunteer opportunities but is also a lifeline for the smaller NGOs we work with who need volunteers but lack the financial or human resources to advertise and recruit volunteers themselves.
Programme
Capacity Building
Workshops
Year Report EntreMundos
Achievements 2008 We were also delighted to be able to commence a brand new series of Capacity Building Workshops in October of 2008. The aim of this workshop series, in line with our organisational goals, is to augment the institutional capacities of the local grassroots organisations with whom we work. We believe that this series of workshops is already proving to be our most successful yet and the quality and relevance of the material presented has never been higher. The calibre of the speakers we have been able to secure, with years of experience in their appropriate fields, has also added greatly to each workshop. The feedback we have received from participating organisations has been extremely positive and the importance of these workshops to small-scale local NGOs can not be underestimated. A recurring theme we also aim to promote in every workshop is the importance of uniting organisations in similar fields of work and creating networks of learning. During the first two workshops held in EntreMundos we were extremely pleased about the eagerness of participants to work with other organisations and are delighted to already be able to report the formation of several new partnerships. We look forward to charting the progress of these in the coming year.
Rural
Year Report EntreMundos
Achievements 2008
A series of rural workshops was also initiated in 2008 in the villages of Pacutama, Chuicutama, Chirijox and Chuacruz. These workshops were designed to benefit small-scale weaving cooperatives improve their administrative capacities as well as raising the standards of their products and technical training on how to work with orders and contracts. After completing this first series of workshops in the different villages we can already notice a marked improvement in professionalism. This series of workshops has been extremely successful and represents the beginning of greater opportunities in all of the villages, improving vital revenue sources in these poor communities where the majority of the population can neither read nor write and are in dire need of new sources of income.
Workshops
Magazine
Achievements 2008
Year Report EntreMundos
Over the past year we have been working furiously to further improve and expand the magazine. Specifically, we have created a new look and design, added eight more pages, expanded the distribution area and made it completely bilingual. To further strengthen our work to educate and increase interest around relevant social, political and cultural issues, we are currently focusing each new edition of the magazine around a specific theme. We are pleased to report that the response to these changes has been very positive and invite you to take a look for yourself at some of the latest editions available on PDF format on our website. Due to the success and popularity of the EntreMundos magazine, we are currently in the process of applying for funding from charitable foundations to raise circulation from 2000 to 3250 copies and further expand its distribution area to include Guatemala City, Antigua and one town or city in each of the countries remaining 20 departments.
www.entremundos.org In December the new EntreMundos website was launched with many additional pages, including additional information for volunteers, more resources for our local partner NGOs as well as the availability of PDF copies of the EntreMundos magazine. We believe that this fresher look and easier navigation within the site can only serve to illustrate in more depth the variety of work that we undertake here at EntreMundos as well as acting as an even better electronic resource for prospective volunteers and NGO workers.
Website
Plans for 2009
Year Report EntreMundos
Volunteer Programme
Clean up Activity in Quetzaltenango
Volunteers planting coffee in Santa Anita
Volunteers at the bakery in La Florida.
2009 will bring exciting new changes to our volunteer programme. A more complete service will now be provided, taking volunteers through every step of the placement process. After a thorough interview to assess the needs, interests and skills of the volunteers has been conducted, the most appropriate placements will be then be selected and interviews made directly through EntreMundos. Greater ongoing monitoring of volunteers and partner NGOs will also be undertaken, along with exit interviews so as to continually assess and evaluate both the placements offered and the quality of our own service. Another new development for our volunteer service will be the drawing up of a volunteer policy template which can be used by smaller local NGOs. Although many NGOs desire volunteers, often the resources to manage them or the frameworks to provide a meaningful experience for both the NGO and volunteer are unfortunately sometimes lacking. Through assessment visits to many more of our NGO partners we aim to work more closely with some of our smaller registered organisations in the planning, preparation and implementing a volunteer policy which can be used and adapted to each individual NGO. Included in this process will be visits to organisations with more experience of volunteer management, continuing with a workshop planned for July or August on working with volunteers as well as continual communication with EntreMundos. By specifically concentrating in the coming year on some of our smaller partner organisations we believe we can significantly improve institutional capacity building for these grassroots organisations most in need of assistance as well as offering volunteers a more valuable experience.
Plans for 2009
Year Report EntreMundos
Rural Workshops and Rural Computer Classes In 2009 we plan to organise two more follow-up rural workshops in each of the villages of Pacutama, Chuicutama, Chirijox and Chuacruz with whom we commenced a capacity building programme in 2008. During the first of these visits the women will receive practice orders for their weaving cooperatives which they then have to make exactly to specifications. The quality and exactness of these orders will then be evaluated in the second workshop.
Yet van Oenen at a Rural Workshop in Chirijox
Whilst conducting the initial series of workshops we also noticed a certain difference in the demographic with regard to the women that attended. Some of the younger women in the groups for example had received a basic education and are able to read and write and have an interest in computers. However due to family and financial circumstances are unable to participate in computer classes held at EntreMundos. Women of the weaving cooperative in Chirijox recieve an order.
For this reason, and to further improve the cooperatives ability to work with orders, we are currently looking into the possibility of timetabling computer classes closer to these communities. As well as further enhancing their ability to work with orders we hope it will allow them to create better links and opportunities to communicate with clients as well as greater self-reliance for the cooperatives in the future. Volunteer coordinator Melissa Wiams in a meeting with Miguel Rosario.
Year Report EntreMundos
Plans for 2009 Capacity Building Workshops
In 2009 we aim to build on the success of the first two in our latest series of Capacity Building Workshops that took place in October and November of 2008. The set schedule continues until June, after which an additional two workshops will be held in July and August. One of which already planned is to be on the subject of Volunteer Management due to the interest shown to it in our first workshop on Human Capacity Building Workshop at EntreMundos Resources. The other however is still to be decided as th it remains our wish to keep our partner NGOs January 15 Project Planning th involved as much as possible in the planning process February 5 Fundraising th so as to be able to react to their changing demands March 5 Environment Forum nd April 2 Organisation of Cooperatives Forum and needs. th May 7 Education Forum th June 4 Health Forum
Campaign against Plastic Bags In the September/October issue of the EntreMundos magazine (issue 42), we published an article about the damage caused by the proliferation of plastic bags around the world. The response and interest we received regarding this was the catalyst to plan a campaign to raise awareness in Xela on the effects of plastic bags to our environment with the ultimate goal of petitioning the Government in Guatemala to ban the use of plastic bags. The project began at the end of October with a benefit dinner to raise money and awareness for the campaign and the inaugural strategy meeting took place in early December. The task ahead is great but by enlisting the help of local partner NGOs, businesses, schools, universities, press and media we firmly believe it is achievable. Whilst this campaign marks a certain departure from our core activities, we believe it is directly in line with the mission of our organisation to unite and build alliances within the local NGO sector and strengthen civil society as well as the magazines ethos of a voice for change.
Plans for 2009
Year Report EntreMundos
Computer Classes We are delighted to announce that in February 2009 we will begin to offer computer classes for all skill levels to local NGO workers. A three week pilot scheme for the programme was implemented on 5th th December through to the 19 December. With information and feedback received from this pilot project and in conjunction with the computer trainer throughout January, we will be compiling the course content into modules, sending out information and inviting NGO workers to drop in to our resource centre for skills assessments.
Computer class at EntreMundos
The modular course beginning in February will last for 6 months with beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. All participants will be tested at the end of a module with the option then of advancing to the next. However the structure of this modular system will not be too rigid as it is our desire to be able to continually adapt it to the needs of the participants as they develop their skills.
With the importance of information technology skills never greater, the need for such a programme for many local grassroots NGOs has never been higher. By training local NGO workers in computing skills, the opportunities that open out to them in all aspects of their organisational management are vast. We believe the course represents a real opportunity for sustainable long-term capacity building for our partner NGOs.
Yet van Oenen, Rogelio Mendez and Josh Weiss during a computer class
Rogelio Mendez and staff of the organisation Loma Linda
Condensed Financial Information OPERATING REVENUE
Quetzales
Trusts and Foundations 54,665.40 Magazine Advertising 44,255.00 Individual Donations 12,827.60 Fundraising Events 7,105.81 Conferences 5,010.05 Other Revenues 13,115.94 ______________________________________________________________________ Total Operating Revenue
136,979.84
OPERATING EXPENSES AND CHANGES IN NET ASSESTS Programme Services Magazine 49,285.18 Volunteer Programme 22,409.18 Capacity Building Workshops 21,207.84 Rural Workshops 25,200.00 Computer Programme 12,674.86 ______________________________________________________________________ Total Programme Services 119,777.06 Fundraising 5,098.75 Management and General 7,396.72 ______________________________________________________________________ Total Operating Expenses Excess /(Deficit)* of Operating Revenue over Operating Expenses Non-Operating Activity
132,272.53 4,707.31 N/A
______________________________________________________________________ Total Operating Revenue and Non-Operating Activity 136,979.84 Total Operating Expenses 132,272.53 Increase /(Decrease) in Net Assets 4,707.31 ______________________________________________________________________
EntreMundos Team
Staff: Director Development Coordinator Volunteer Coordinator Editor Campaign Coordinator
Yet van Oenen Ian Taylor Melissa Wiams Valeria Ayerdi Lauren Bennett
Board: President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Vocal Member
Manuel Rodolfo S谩nchez D铆az Sergio Fernando Villatoro Curnes Tomas Anthony Lingenfelter Yovani Alberto Cux Chan Glenda Gabriela L贸pez Ximin Lucas Edward Vidgen
Former Staff and Board Members 2008: Development Coordinator Volunteer Coordinator: Editor: Vocal:
Raquel Guerricagoitia Luisa Ditmars Alissa Bohling Ana Patricia Sarat L贸pez