Kentucky-Ecuador Partners projects are developed and implemented by the volunteer members in each chapter. Partners volunteers are people from all walks of life who work together to identify project priorities. Project proposals originate in a chapter program area and usually fit the priorities of the Kentucky and Ecuador Partners Board members. Plans for projects are reviewed each year to ensure their relevance and merit. We often have projects in various stages of design or implementation and are eager to direct new volunteers toward existing member contacts and mutual areas of interest.

Funding for projects comes from an array of resources through our parent organization, Partners of the Americas, Inc. These resources consist of grants used to fund project travel to or from Ecuador. Several small grants are also available to directly support project implementation. (See www.partners.net for full details). Kentucky Partners also coordinates with other organizations (e.g. Kentucky Arts Council, U.S. Embassy in Ecuador) to meet priorities when grants or other resources do not exist. Program area committees and members also organize fund raising activities.

Agriculture

The goal of the Agriculture Committee program is to improve economic opportunities in Ecuador by increasing food production and distribution, promoting better farm and marketing operations and conserving natural resources. Currently we are working in several areas: potato production, cattle production, fruit production, leadership development and square meter gardening.

Contacts:

Austin Cantor  acantor@uky.edu

David Coffey  david.coffey@wku.edu

Culture

This program strives to foster an appreciation for the educational and cultural traditions of the partnership regions. Projects in this area are primarily funded from PoA’s Culture and Education grant from the Department of State’s Office of Citizen Exchanges. In November 2001, our partnership received the outstanding program development award for “Language of the Land: Contemporary Landscape Paintings from Kentucky and Ecuador” a 2-year project that brought an exhibit of 47 paintings to 8 venues in Kentucky and Ecuador and also incorporated music and education components. Over the years, Kentucky and Ecuador have carried out innumerable exchanges of painters, sculptors, musicians and dancers.

Contact: Steve Driver - smdriver51@gmail.com

Rehabilitation

Over the years, Kentucky Partners have provided training workshops and opportunities for Ecuadorian colleagues in many areas of special education and rehabilitation services including speech, physical and occupational therapy, program administration, jobs programs, assisted technology and parent support groups. In addition, over 200 wheelchairs and other pieces of adaptive equipment have been donated and transported to Ecuador for use in schools, homes, hospitals and nursing homes.  The University of Kentucky and the US Embassy in Quito are collaborating to offer video conferences on topics addressing disabilities.

Contact: Iris Gutierrez irisgut@yahoo.com