|
What is Partners of the Americas? Partners was founded in 1964 as the "people-to-people" component of the Alliance for Progress. Today, it is a private, nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, enjoying the support of many individuals, international corporations and foundations. Every U.S. president since Kennedy has endorsed the Partners' program, as have government leaders throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. How Does Partners Work? The organization works by pairing 45 U.S. states and the District of Columbia (113 KB JPEG map) with 31 Latin American and Caribbean countries into 60 "partnerships." For example, Kansas is linked with Paraguay; New Jersey with Haiti; and Missouri with the state of Pará, Brazil. In an increasingly interdependent world, Partners is a network of permanent linkages among professionals, institutions and communities across the hemisphere. Partners draws on this unique network of community-based chapters of people and organizations to:
Who is Involved in Partners? Men and women from all walks of life - including doctors, farmers, foresters, artists, city administrators, university professors, high school students and leaders of community organizations - participate in the program. Besides the time and technical expertise donated by Partner volunteers, a number of major corporations, foundations and government agencies support the work of the partnerships. Financial contributions by these organizations are made available to the partnerships in the form of travel grants, project assistance "seed" grants, and training opportunities. What are Partners' Main Program Areas? Citizen Participation - Strengthening civil society and nongovernmental organizations; teaching the responsibilities of citizenship; educating about legal rights; increasing the participation of women; helping the partnerships reach out into their communities with information about international issues and regional cooperation. Education and Training - Providing education, training and income generating opportunities to adults and young people; training the leaders of tomorrow; bringing together institutions of higher education-north and south-to share knowledge and exchange students and professors. Economic Development - Fostering sustainable, small-scale community-based development; bringing together agriculturists to boost food production; preparing for natural and man-made disasters; protecting the environment; ensuring women are part of the economic development process of their community. Family Life - Enhancing the quality of life for women and their families; promoting better health for women and children; preventing unwanted pregnancy; working to stop domestic violence and child abuse. Culture - Promoting an understanding of and appreciation for the cultural diversity of the people and nations of our hemisphere; conducting artist-in-residence and teacher-in-residence programs. How Can I Get Involved? Partners of the Americas is open to all individuals and organizations willing to share their skills and to work toward greater international cooperation among the peoples of the western hemisphere. To find out about specific volunteer opportunities, contact: Partners of the Americas,
International Headquarter |
|
