News and Announcements

Give to the Max Day Meets Fundraising Goal

November 18, 2011 – Carmen Pampa Fund raised nearly $20,000 from donors on November 16th, which was designated as Give to the Max Day in the State of Minnesota. Funds from this day will provide general operating support for the College in Bolivia.

Sarah Mechtenberg, Director of Advancement at CPF, said Give to the Max Day was a huge success. "Our goal was to get 100 donors--22 more people than last year--in order to get a $5,000 bonus grant," she explained. "We passed our goal by receiving the support of 114 people who, in total, gave $13,707." With the additional bonus funds, CPF raised $18,707.

"It was a great day!" Mechtenberg added. "We heard from so many former UAC-CP volunteers and visitors and long-time supporters. In addition to making a donation, many people shared inspiring thoughts and words of encouragement. It's obvious that the College has changed more than just the lives of Bolivian students--it's had an impact on people around the globe."

To learn more about CPF's Give to the Max Day, please visit our site online to make a donation today! You can read the testimonials of donors on our Facebook page.

College Hosts Special Visitors Representing USAID in Latin America

November 15, 2011– The College hosted special visitors from USAID, including Mark Lopes, Deputy Assistant Administrator for USAID in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Wayne Nilsestuen, USAID Bolivia Mission Director. They were joined by other members of the Bolivian ACDI/VOCA team, which has provided funding to the College in the form of scholarships and construction financing for more than eight years.

The visitors toured Campus Leahy, including a stop at the women's dorm project, which was completed and dedicated in 2010, thanks to funding from USAID's ACDI/VOCA and the Raskob Foundation. Following their tour of the building, USAID staff met with UAC-CP students to learn about the importance of education on their lives and its role in Bolivia's positive development. In addition, USAID representatives met with regional production projects that receive USAID funding.

Photos of the event are available here online. Also, photos are available at: www.carmenpampa.blogspot.com

La Fiesta de Ayni a Success

June 25, 2011 – The third-annual La Fiesta de Ayni on June 23 in the Rauenhorst Ballroom in the student center at St. Catherine University, St. Paul, Minnesota, was a great success.

With record-breaking turnout, CPF was able to raise more than 10 scholarships for CPF's Scholarship Partners Program. The Scholarship Program provides financial support for UAC-CP students who demonstrate academic acheivement and extreme financial need.

Beth Kellar-Long was recognized with the Spirit of Ayni Award for her work to support the relationship between Adams Spanish Immersion School in St. Paul, Minnesota, and the College's Education Department.

Dick Leahy, one of the founders of CPF, was recognized by St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, who declared Thursday, June 23 as "Richard Leahy Day." (Click here to read the Startribune article.)

Other special guests for the event included UAC-CP Vice Director Dr. Hugh Smeltekop, a select group of UAC-CP students and graduates, and CPF's newly appointed Acting Executive Director Tara L. Nolan.

CPF Board of Directors Names New Acting Executive Director

June 1, 2011 – CPF's Board of Directors announced today that Tara L. Nolan has been named Acting Executive Director of the organization. Tara has more than 25 years of experience in management consulting and marketing and communications. She is also the niece of Sr. M. Damon Nolan, MFIC, founder of the College in Bolivia.

"I hope by lending my leadership and management skills to CPF, the organization can focus its resources on hiring a person with substantial proven development experience. I also hope to work closely with the CPF and UAC-CP staff, as well as the cadre of talented professionals who volunteer for CPF."

Tara is repacing Ann Leahy, founder and former chairperson of CPF's Board of Directors.

UAC Model Recognize by Bolivian Government

May 3, 2011 – Today the Bolivian government's legistlative assembly recognized the UAC model for its work to provide higher education to Bolivia's most marginalized populations and its work for positive human development in some of the country's poorest and remote areas.

Fr. Freddy del Villar, Director of the UAC-CP, said the UAC model is unique because it prepares young people from Bolivia's rural area to respond to the needs of their own communities. "We prepare young, ethical professionals to respond to the call of service and to contribute to the successful development of Bolivia."

As one of five UAC colleges in Bolivia, the College in Carmen Pampa is the largest, offering five distinct areas of study in Agronomy, Nursing, Veterinary Science, Education, and Ecotourism. The College also offers a Pre-University Program. Carmen Pampa is the only college located in the subtropical Yungas region. In 2010 the UAC-CP was recognized as a regional campus of the Catholic University of Bolivia.

College Hosts Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for New Dorm Project

September 29, 2010 – The College hosted special visitors from the U.S. Embassy in La Paz and Bolivian government leaders, including the mayor of Coroico, for an official program and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new women's dorm on the Campus Leahy.

Approximately 200 people attended the program, which included guest speakers, a theatrical performance by students in the College's Education Department, and the traditional AfroBlivian dance, Saya.

The hour-long ceremony ended with an official ribbon-cutting and an invitation for everyone gathered to tour the new dorm. The newly constructed dorm, which was paid for in part with funding with a gift from Raskob Foundation, will provide housing for 160 women. It also features indoor study space.

Fiesta de Ayni Guests Celebrate Together and Raise Nearly $20,000

May 19, 2010 – The 2nd Annual Fiesta de Ayni, on Thursday May 6th, was a big success! This year the celebration of 'working toward the common good' was held at St. Catherine University and was cosponsored by their Office of Global Studies.

It was an inspirational night, during which CPF’s partnerships with St. Catherine University, Mark and Karen Rauenhorst Family Foundation, Sieben Foundation and GHR Foundation were honored.  Two UAC-CP students, Fabiana Arinez and Maria Elena Alejo, currently interning at Adams Spanish Immersion School, performed traditional Bolivian dances for the attendees. 

Thanks to the 125 attendees, we met our goal during this year’s ‘Race for the UAC-CP’ and grossed almost $20,000 that evening.

New English Curriculum Inaugurated at College

March 21, 2010 – In 2009 the College and Carmen Pampa Fund designed a new initiative: English and Ecotourism—Foundations for the Future.  Thanks to funding from the Seiben Foundation the new curriculum, which is the result of a comprehensive review and overhaul of the College's English Program, was inaugurated in February 2010.  

To sustain the initiative and ensure its success, Carmen Pampa Fund is helping to recruit and train qualified professionals who will work with the College's English Program team in Carmen Pampa.  These professionals will also work with the program's U.S-based consultant, Dr. Susan Bosher, Associate Professor of English and Director of ESL at St. Catherine University, St. Paul.

For more information about how you can be a part of this exciting new initiative, please review the job descriptions posted on our volunteer page.

U.S. Embassy Representative at the UAC-CP

July 24, 2009 – The UAC-CP hosted special visitors from the U.S. Embassy in La Paz. Dr. James Creagan, the Chargé d’ Affaires, a.i. at the U.S. Embassy in La Paz, who is serving in place of an official U.S. Ambassador in Bolivia, visited the UAC-CP with representatives from USAID.

The group came to see how the UAC-CP, with financial and technical assistance from USAID, is a working model of successful, sustainable development in the Yungas—the mountainous rural area northeast of Bolivia’s capital city.

“I am really impressed by what you have here and what you are doing,” Creagan told UAC-CP Director Fr. Freddy del Villar at a lunch attended by members of USAID, select UAC-CP faculty, staff, and students, and area community leaders.  “The College is small, but growing and I see a real future here. You are doing great work.” Creagan added that he’s very interested in exploring ways for both the government and individuals to continue supporting the College.

Amid tours of the UAC-CP’s laboratories, library, meat plant, and coffee factory, Creagan had the opportunity to talk with a group of student scholarship recipients.  “What I have learned from these students,” Creagan said later, “is that they have the desire to return to their communities, to improve their zone.” 

UAC-CP faculty, staff, graduates, and current students had the opportunity to explain their work at the College and the impact it has on development, particularly in the rural area.

A few community leaders also had the opportunity to talk about the importance of the UAC-CP and the impact it has in the area.  “I don’t think there is a more noble cause than education,” said local farmer and community leader, Aurelio Catari. “We are the only college in Nor Yungas. Before the UAC-CP, we had no opportunities to further our studies after high school. But now,” he continued, “the College provides that.  I want to thank USAID, Sr. Damon Nolan, and all the people who support the College to make education possible."

CPF Featured on Village Talk Radio

November 15, 2008 - UAC-CP Vice Director, Dr. Hugh Smeltekop, and CPF Interim Executive Director Sue Wheeler were featured on Village Talk Radio on November 10. They both talked about the College's work to provide higher education to Bolivians and Carmen Pampa Fund's work to generate human and financial resources for the UAC-CP.

The interview is available online. CLICK HERE and listen to the archived show.

Newsletters

Click on links below to download a PDF (You will need Adobe Acrobat to open the file).

WIPALA Fall 2009 (1 Mb)
WIPALA Spring 2009 (1Mb)
WIPALA Fall 2008 (1Mb)
WIPALA Spring 2008 (1 Mb)