Latin America Leadership Program

As COVID-19 cases continue to grow across borders, Latin America Leadership Program (LALP) alumni are taking on new initiatives to support their communities.

From the most ambitious economic stimulus package in the region to local initiatives, these are just some of the many projects led by our Global Competitiveness Leadership (GCL) and Innovation & Leadership in Government (ILG) alumni.

BOLIVIA

CAI (Learning and Exchange Community)
Jorge Mercado, GCL 2011 from Bolivia
The Learning and Exchange Community on Dialogue and Conflict Transformation (CAI) of the German Cooperation in Bolivia, a safe and trustworthy platform that brings together social, indigenous, political, and peace activists leaders in Bolivia, is facilitating virtual information panels for its members imparted by experts about the social and political effects of the COVID-19 crisis. The first conversation featured Samuel Gonzales (GCL 2016), who informed the community about the medical implications of COVID 19 and about public health policies. The goal of these conversations is to achieve apolitical consensus on how to fight this pandemic in Bolivia and convey clear, concrete, simple and practical messages. Future meetings will cover topics such as the effect of the crisis on emotions, fear, and social trauma, how to work with children. More info about CAI at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVmy4f9Mq_U

BRAZIL

Voce Agora
Felipe Dib, GCL 2011 from Brazil
Offering free English instruction for 6.9 million Brazilian public middle-schoolers for the next eight weeks. More info about Voce Agora at www.voceaprendeagora.com/aulas

COLOMBIA

Charly.io
Maria Alejandra Lopez, GCL 2018 from Colombia
GCL 2018 Alumni, María Alejandra López, from Colombia, leads Charly.IO, an initiative that has the GCL seal given by Georgetown University's Latin America Leadership Program, a certificate of excellence because of its social impact and multiplier effect in the region. Charly.IO has one of the largest entrepreneurial communities in Latin America, with +50,000 entrepreneurs and +90,000 StartUps. In the current context of the pandemic, Charly has contributed to run 100% digitally 7 innovation and entrepreneurial programs, from the Public and NGO sector in Latin America - StartUp Chile, CORFO, PROCOMER, Fundación Chile, Fundación Casa de la Paz - to attract and have visibility of innovative projects that address the challenges of the pandemic. Up until today, those programs have connected with 2.160 projects, contributing to them with valuable connections and financing opportunities, so that they can sustain and scale their operation and impact."We have benefited 122 social companies that are working to address Covid crisis. The proper functioning of Charly has certainly been a help to achieve this result, we are very grateful".Tamara Rojas, Project Manager at the NGO Casa de la Paz. www.charly.io, info@charly.io. Apply to entrepreneurial contests here: http://app.charly.io/

Hablando con Julis
Gabriela Galindo, GCL 2016 from Colombia
Hablando con Julis, a communication firm that offers instruction on spoken and written communication and reading skills in Spanish and English for people with and without disabilities is currently offering their services for free for the entire month of April to all those who want to improve their communication skills. Those interested should use the code #MEQUEDOENCASA for a one-month free trial. More information https://www.hablandoconjulis.org/

#MiCienciaton, Colombia Cientifica
Victor Hugo Malagon, GCL 2010 from Colombia
From the Office of the President of Colombia, Victor Hugo Malagon leads #MiCienciaton, a government initiative launched to support and foster new scientific initiatives in response to the new pandemic. More info www.minciencias.gov.co

Share a Meal, Tierra Grata
Jennifer Colpas, GCL 2019 from Colombia
Through her GCL 2019 project, Tierra Grata, Jennifer is leading a campaign to support vulnerable communities in Colombia during the crisis https://givebutter.com/shareamealcolombia/jenifercolpas

CHILE

UChile
Simon Boric, GCL 2013 from Chile
Leading the information and prevention campaign in Chile to present current facts to the UChile community. More info at
www.uchile.cl/covid19 and https://www.uchile.cl/portal/especiales/covid19/161864/coronavirus-y-covid-19-verdades-y-mitos

ECUADOR

Fundacion Comparlante
Sebastian Flores, GCL 2019 from Ecuador
During these times of crisis and forced social distance, Fundacion Compartlante is launching a story contest #MiMundoAMiManera for children between 6 and 13 years old to promote learning and create awareness and empathy about people with disabilities. Children can enter this contest by writing a story between one and three pages using one or more of the characters indicated in the contest.
In this 2nd Edition, the disabilities to be addressed are upper limb amputation, cerebral palsy and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This is an ideal project for the kids during these days when we must stay at home. More info at http://comparlante.com/concurso/mimundoamimanera2.pdf

GUATEMALA

Blindspot Communications
Ana Lucía Mazariegos, GCL 2016 from Guatemala
In order to support small businesses and enterprises in Guatemala affected by the COVID 19 crisis, Blindspot Communications is offering a free eBook entitled "Strategic Communication in Times of #Coronavirus." So far, more than 650 ebooks have been distributed among entrepreneurs in Guatemala. You can request the eBook by direct message at https://www.instagram.com/blindspotcomm/

MEXICO

Jetti
Laura Reyna, ILG 2015 from Mexico
Laura Reyna through the Tech Policy Lab is helping redesign Jetty, an app that aims to improve public transportation in Mexico, in order to offer more efficient and safe transportation options throughout the country in the face of the new pandemic. This service will be offered to transportation companies and governments at no-cost during the crisis. More info at https://amp.milenio.com/negocios/jetty-busca-ayudar-a-transportistas-con-app

NICARAGUA

Lo Uso Despues
Vanessa Castro, GCL 2016 from Nicaragua
An initiative to support merchants in times of crisis, Lo Uso Despues (Use It Later) promotes the purchase of goods now for future use and raises funds for those in need. More info of Lo Uso Despues at https://www.instagram.com/lo_uso_despues/

Various initiatives
Thamara Narvaez, ILG 2017 from Nicaragua
From her position, as the Senior intergovernmental and global affairs specialist for Harris County, Texas, Tammy is supporting efforts to enhance communication and workflow among government agencies to strengthen the response to COVID19, at the local, state, and federal level. Tammy has also volunteered her bilingual skills to support messaging to the Spanish-speaking community in the region.
https://www.readyharris.org/Incidents/COVID-19-Resources-Recovery
Separately, Tammy has co-launched an initiative that aims to serve the most vulnerable populations to COVID19. In its first phase, the initiative is providing essential supplies to elderly populations who are most at risk of contracting the virus, in a Latin America region where government resources are unavailable. By identifying underserved shelters that provide care to senior citizens, the group was able to carry out fundraising and contract with a provider that is able to deliver soap, disinfectant products, and other basic hygiene products that will, at the very least, provide the first barrier of protection to over 1000 elders without the resources or access to cover basic needs.

PANAMA

#Blood4All
Gabriel Rebollon, GCL 2018 from Panama
Donating Blood Makes a Big Difference in the Lives of Others.
#Blood4All is a global initiative that aims to engage with people through social media to spark a conversation about becoming voluntary blood donors, and promoting periodic blood donations.
COVID-19 is severely impacting blood donations. Local blood centers are asking people to give blood because it is an essential function for patients. That’s why the #Blood4All Initiative takes on a new significance in times of need. More info about #Blood4All at https://bit.ly/2UJEFNT

Alimento Solidario
Maria Victoria Lagman, GCL 2016 from Panama
United Way Panama has launched the campaign #AlimentoSolidario (#SolidarityFood) to raise funds and provide food and supplies to the Food Bank in Panama and to support non-profit organizations, homeless hostels and individuals in need during these times of crisis. More info about Alimento Solidario Campaign at https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1241437277005533185

PERU

Q'imi
Katherine Alva, GCL 2009 and Alexandra del Calmell, GCL 2019 from Peru
The new representatives of GCL Peru, Katherine Alva (GCL2009), and Alessandra Calmell del Solar (GCL 2019) have designed, together with other GCL alumni, Q'imi GCL Peru. Katherine and Alexandra have launched this new initiative to promote synergies among the GCL alumni in Peru during the pandemic. https://lalp.georgetown.edu/features/q-imi-a-new-initiative-of-gcl-peru

Latin America's most ambitious economic stimulus plan
Maria Antonieta Alva, GCL 2010 from Peru
Peru's government is implementing Latin America’s most ambitious economic plan to help mitigate the impact of a global coronavirus pandemic. The stimulus plan, led by Maria Antonieta Alva (GCL 2010) Minister of Economy and Finance of Peru, worth around 12% of the gross domestic product aims to create liquidity and support the most vulnerable communities in the face of this health crisis. nyti.ms/2y9Zp9B

URUGUAY

Plan Ceibal
Carina Silva, GCL 2020 from Uruguay

At Plan Ceibal and especially at the micro:bit project level,  Carina and her team have developed special activities to teachers who implement programming classes in a hybrid way (remote / face-to-face)  for more than 30 thousand students from all over the country, who have micro programmable boards: bit. More information:  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48YQI6R-pTY&list=PL65Zsdp0e9GoGKPFZacmZ23jmbvsLplNM