Annual Report

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Annual Report 07

07Annual Report

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The Trust for the Americas

Mission stateMent:the trust will becoMe the pre-eMinent capacity building organization for civil society in the western heMisphere by:

leveraging partnership with the oas and inter-aMerican coMMunity; •building a distinctive network of local organizations;•creating relationships with the private sector; and•transferring know-how and best practices across countries.•

vision stateMent:working with civil society, the trust for the aMericas shall serve as a strategic partner to the oas, its MeMber states and the private sector, to eMpower people to share in the benefits of econoMic opportunity, social inclusion and good governance in the aMericas.

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Annual Report 07

Chairman of the Board IntroductionExecutive Overview of ActivitiesMapProgram Updates/Success StoriesRecognition of PartnersThank You Letter to DonorsBoard of DirectorsFinancial Statement

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chairMan of the boardintroduction

I am pleased to introduce the Trust for the Americas, a nonprofit affiliate of the Organi-zation of American States (OAS). Since its creation in 1997, the Trust has significantly contributed to the development goals of the OAS, working closely with marginalized communities and strengthening democracy and transparency throughout the Americas. The Trust is committed to the mission of empowering people to share in the benefits of democracy and economic opportunity.To carry out this goal, the Trust focuses on capacity building and implements projects in the following areas: information communications technology for development, transpar-ency and democratic governance and labor rights. The Trust executes programs with support from over 100 public and private sector part-ners throughout the hemisphere. The OAS provides direct support from local govern-ments which give the Trust’s programs important local support. Governments, including the U.S. and Canadian Governments, also provide support to the programs. The Trust is also supported by the private sector, both on a local and international level, which pro-vides programs with important resources and supports our program staff, giving them the tools for better program management. I invite you to look over the information in this annual report and urge you to consider becoming involved in our programs and support the goal of economic development and democracy in this hemisphere.

Sincerely, Hans KohlsdorfPresident of the Board of Directors, Trust for the AmericasPresident Mesoamerican Region, Siemens

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Annual Report 07

executive overviewof activities

2007 has been an exiting and dynamic year for the Americas.

With four new programs this year, our organization is growing rapidly. We have expanded our geographic reach and are working with other marginalized populations in the hemisphere. A new program in the Eastern Caribbean provides technology and job skills training to youth at risk. Also, we are now assisting in the peace process in Colombia with a job skills training program for those affected by the internal conflict.

The Partnership in Opportunities for Employment through Technology in the Americas (POETA) program, which provides information and communication technologies and job skills training to marginalized populations, established 12 new centers in 2007. POETA continues to work closely with Microsoft to bridge the digital divide in the hemisphere, and the program is now recognized as an international best practice for ICT for development.

Our Regional Alliance program has significantly expanded its donor base and continues to pro-mote transparency and freedom of expression throughout the hemisphere. In 2007, the program held several important regional meetings in Central America. The program is having a direct affect on the public policy in the region. For example, as a result of a meeting with the Alliance Advisory Committee, the Vice President of Guatemala launched a national transparency agency on to oversee access to information policies in Guatemala.

Our operations in Colombia have expanded further, with two new U.S. Government-funded programs promoting reconciliation and human rights. To accommodate this growth, we have established a Trust regional office in Bogota. With an on the ground, legal presence in Colombia, the Trust will be able to pursue important partnerships and continue expansion in the region.

The Trust also worked on the strategic positioning of the organization in 2007. Following the sug-gestion of our Board of Directors, we worked to more clearly define our organizational mission. With the help of an external consultant, we have established a strategic plan to focus the Trust’s activities on capacity building. This new strategic focus will allow the Trust to be more competi-tive and concentrate programs in the areas where we have the greatest expertise.

I am proud to be a part of the Trust for the Americas as it emerges as an important player in development in Latin America and continues to promote the goals of development and democracy in the hemisphere by building human and organizational capacity in the hemisphere.

Linda EddlemanExecutive Director, Trust for the Americas

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MAPTRusT PRogRAM LocATions

Regional Alliance for the Promotion of Access to Information and Freedom of ExpressionLocation(s): Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, U.S. Mi Llave Location(s): Colombia POETALocation(s): Argentina, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Venezuela POETA Youth Location(s): St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grena-dines, St. Kitts & Nevis, Grenada, Dominica, USAID / APS - Reconciliation in ColombiaLocation(s): Colombia Mi Zona Location(s): Guatemala MSD – Human RightsLocation(s): Colombia

MEXico

uniTED sTATEs

guATEMALA

EL sALVADoR

HonDuRAs

cosTA RicA

PAnAMAcoLoMBiA

DoMinicAn REPuBLic

THE cARiBBEAn

EcuADoR

PERu

cHiLE

ARgEnTinA

nicARAguA

VEnEZuELA

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Annual Report 07

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ALIANZA REGIONAL POR LA LIBERTAD DE EXPRESION E INFORMACION

In 2007, the Alliance held several meetings which increased its membership and strengthened the re-lationship among member organizations. On June 1, 2007, twenty organizations attended the Fourth Regional Meeting in Panama, held two days prior to the OAS General Assembly. To strengthen the relationship between the Alliance and the OAS, Al-liance members participated in meeting with the OAS General Secretary and Foreign Ministers.

Additionally, in 2007, the Alliance provided technical assistance to Central American nonprofit organiza-tions in Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Ni-caragua. Bringing seventeen experts from Mexico and South America to Central America, the Alliance helped to meet the critical technical demand of nonprofits in the region. This assistance has re-sulted in improvements in monitoring and regula-tion of projects designed by these Central American nonprofits.

Finally, in 2007, the Alliance strengthened its advo-cacy practice in Central American. Members of the Alliance participated in several strategic meetings with governmental officers in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala to promote the imple-mentation or approval of Access to Information leg-islation in these countries. Also, members of the Alliance Advisory Committee conducted a meeting with the Vice President of Guatemala, Rafael Es-pada, to garner support for local NGOs advocating approval of the Access to Information Legislation. As a direct result of this meeting, the Vice Presi-dent launched a national agency on transparency to oversee access to information policies in Gua-temala.

The Regional alliance foR fReedom of ex-pRession and access To infoRmaTion iS AN

iNitiAtiVE wHiCH ADVoCAtES foR A CULtURE of

tRANSPARENCy iN SoCiAL LEADERS AND CitizENS

tHRoUGH tHE PRoMotioN AND DEfENSE of tHE

RiGHt of fREEDoM of ExPRESSioN AND UNiVER-

SAL ACCESS to PUbLiC iNfoRMAtioN.

tHE PRoGRAM CURRENtLy oPERAtES iN ELEVEN

CoUNtRiES iN tHE AMERiCAS.

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Annual Report 07

Meeting with these experts was an enormous benefit for us. It allowed us to listen to the

suggestions of the experts who made significant contributions to the methodology and the indica-tors for monitoring drafted during the meeting. We not only received insightful commentary from the foreign experts, but we also were able to make sug-gestions to improve the Regional Alliance program as a whole.

Emilio OrtegaCoordinator of the Violeta Barrios de Chamorro

Foundation, Regional Alliance Program Participant

Nicaragua

success story

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Funded by USAID, Mi Zona targeted children between the ages of six and fourteen, at the age when they are at highest risk for gang involvement and, therefore, most re-ceptive to anti-corruption, anti–gang and drug prevention education. The program seeks to provide young people with tools to manage situations they can expect to face involving corruption, crime, drugs and gangs. The goal of Mi Zona is to teach these young people to safely and ef-fectively say “no”. The Trust used a participative approach in executing this program, involving not only students but teachers and parents in open discussions about risk-taking behavior.

After a period of one year, the Mi Zona was completed in July of 2007. During the course of the program, a total of 304 children and 400 adults were trained. In addition, the program offered training to over 200 teachers, journal-ists and nonprofit organizations, hosting various regional meetings and capacity building activities.

Although we had hoped to extend the program over a lon-ger period of time, the Mi Zona program will continue to be replicated on a smaller level by our outstanding local partner, Grupo Ceiba.

The mi Zona PRoGRAM wAS DEVELoPED to PRoMotE EtHiCS AND VALUES iN GUAtEMALA AMoNG PoPULAtioNS ExPoSED to GANG ACtiVitiES.

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Mi Zona changed my life. It gave me the tools to create a better environment for myself and the peo-ple I love. I have overcome a past of violence, drug addiction and gangs and currently volunteer to cre-ate a culture of peace in my country.”

“In our neighborhoods, violence rules and values have been gradually erased from daily life. The Mi Zona program has taught me to manage, understand and fully express my emotions. Now I am confident I can survive without anger and most of all without violence.”

“I thank Mi Zona for this transformation and am now deeply committed to communicating to children and teenagers that, if we try, it is possible to build a cul-ture of peace.

Elubia Marleny Velásquez GonzálezOutreach Coordinator and Former Gang Member,

Mi Zona Program

Guatemala

success story

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In 2007, the Trust obtained funds to open 12 additional POETA centers in 6 countries for a total of 39 centers in eleven countries in Latin America. One of the program’s highlights in 2007 was its expansion to the Dominican Republic, where the Trust opened 2 POETA centers, in partnership with the Office of the First Lady. All POETA centers are equipped with adaptive technology that en-ables people with disabilities to have access and benefit from the centers’ services. In addition, POETA centers are open to the community, creating inclusive spaces for interaction that lead to the social integration of people with disabilities. In 2007, more than 50,000 people with and without disabilities benefited from the POETA program.

The Trust believes in partnering with other organizations to en-hance and expand POETA throughout the hemisphere. Organi-zations that joined the POETA network during this year include: Manpower, Mexicana and ParaLife. In addition, we are currently discussing partnership opportunities with NComputing to provide their new, multi-user technology in our centers. This would allow each center to connect multiple users to one PC, allowing program costs to be reallocated to create new centers. Also, we are explor-ing the possibility of a partnership with Rosetta Stone to provide language training software in our centers.

The paRTneRship in oppoRTuniTies foR employmenT ThRough Technology in The ameRicas (poeTa) is A MicRosofT sPonsoRED iniTiATiVE THAT PRoViDEs TEcHnoLogy AnD joB skiLLs TRAining To PEoPLE wiTH DisABiLiTiEs AnD AT-Risk youTH in LATin AMERicA AnD THE cARiBBEAn. PoETA ALso sEEks To EMPowER LocAL oRgAniZATions By PRoViDing THEM wiTH TEcHnicAL AnD ADMinisTRATiVE suPPoRT.

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Annual Report 07

I had great expectations for this program, and I was not disappointed. I was able to improve my situation by receiving a promotion at my job where I went from a position in maintenance of soccer fields to an operations assistant. I was able to make this career move and improve my economic situation because of the skills I ac-quired at the center.”

“I now know I am worthwhile human being and that my disability is not an obstacle that stands in the way of my future. I am confi-dent I will be successful in my future, thanks to the skills I learned and the confidence I gained from POETA.

Pedro GonzálezGraduate of POETA Program, Tlanepantla,

México

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success story

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Mi Llave offers beneficiaries the opportunity to acquire ICT skills in a range of employable disciplines such as account-ing, office administration, computer maintenance and repair, customer service, and web design and program-ming.

Mi Llave promotes social inclusion and employment op-portunities in Colombia in partnership with Microsoft. The program was established as a response to the current situ-ation in the country and the needs of the population af-fected by the internal, armed conflict. In the month of September 2007, one center was established in the city of Valledupar, in conjunction with Fundación para el Desar-rollo Intercultural (FDI), and another center was estab-lished in Montería, in conjunction with the la Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana. These local organizations help to provide the technology, job skills and conflict resolutions training which makes up the Mi Llave program. These centers benefit more than 3,500 persons per year.

During this period, the Trust partnered with the Alta Con-sejería para la Re-integración (ACR), a Colombian gov-ernment agency in charge of the demobilization process. ACR will provide the Trust with additional funds which will compliment Microsoft’s resources and allow the program to open additional Mi Llave centers in cities affected by the internal conflict.

THE mi llave PRogRAM PRoViDEs TRAining in BAsic coMPuTER AnD joB READinEss skiLLs To DEMoBiLiZED coMBATAnTs AnD MEMBERs of THE REcEiVing coMMuniTiEs in coLoMBiA.

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In the past, I did not have the opportunity to learn and to better myself. Now, with the Mi Llave pro-gram, this is my moment.”

“Mi Llave has completely changed my life. The greatest satisfaction the program has given me is a feeling of usefulness and independence and the power to help my son.

Nasir Morales MestraGraduate of Mi Llave Program and Mother of

Demobilized Ex-Combatant

Monteria, Colombia

success story

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This program is specifically targeted at youth at risk in the region. Cisco will give POETA Youth beneficiaries access to the CISCO Network Academy, a comprehensive e-learning educational program that provides students with the In-ternet technology skills essential to compete in the global economy.

During 2007, several activities took place to commence POETA Youth in the six Eastern Caribbean countries of An-tigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. The princi-pal activity during the year was the selection of six local partner organizations to implement the program. These organizations vary in structure, location and expertise but all have years of experience in training and community service. Prior to the selection of these organizations, the Trust conducted an in-depth needs-assessment study. The Trust held several capacity building initiatives for lo-cal partners to provide expertise in POETA management, implementation and knowledge sharing.

To establish the program, the Trust held several events which have increased awareness and support for the pro-gram among governments, the private sector and the gen-eral public. These events included a presentation of the POETA Youth program to the OAS Permanent Council at a Youth Symposium. This event created significant visibility for the program. Another important event featured the launch of the POETA Youth program in St. Vincent with a ribbon cutting ceremony and dinner at the Prime Minister’s residence in St Vincent. Several high-level representatives were present at the event, including the OAS Secretary General, Jose Miguel Insulza as well as representatives from the local government and private sector.

As the POETA Youth program moves into 2008, the Trust hopes to actively engage the Eastern Caribbean’s Govern-ment and private sector to address the issues affecting at-risk youth and other marginalized communities in the region.

THE succEss of poeTa in LATin AMERicA EnABLED THE TRusT To LEVERAgE suPPoRT fRoM THE cAnADiAn inTER-nATionAL DEVELoPMEnT AgEncy (ciDA), cisco sysTEMs inc., THE inTERnATionAL DEVELoPMEnT REsEARcH cEnTRE (iDRc) AnD MicRosofT To ALLow PoETA’s EXPAnsion To THE EAsTERn cARiBBEAn.

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When they are 17 or 18 years old, youth no longer have school and have nothing to do. They wander the streets and when you wander the streets, things come with this, illegal things. There are a lot of peo-ple who die in the streets.”

“The education system here in this country is not useful at all. Because when you have an idea, it ends in an idea. But with a center like this, youth will have a future and will be able to do something better with their lives. They will be able to be someone in society and achieve things, legally.

TerryPotential POETA Youth Participant

St. Lucia

success story

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As a result, the Program aims at fostering transpar-ency and accountability while strengthening demo-cratic institutions.

In 2007, the Program was able to expand its donor base and secure funding from the Open Society In-stitute, National Endowment for Democracy, the Ca-nadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Casals and Associates, and the US Department of State.

The Program delivered several workshops in Central America and the Dominican Republic. These work-shops trained journalists in a wide array of issues such as investigative journalism, access to public in-formation as well as transparency and accountability. In addition the program is currently conducting a re-search on media ownership concentration in Central America.

The pRogRam foR The excellence in JouRnal-ism PRoMoTEs A PRofEssionAL, fREE AnD unBi-

AsED PREss By DEVELoPing jouRnALisTic cAPAci-

TiEs AMong MEDiA PRAcTiTionERs in THE REgion

THRougH THE DEVELoPMEnT AnD iMPLEMEnTATion

of TRAining woRksHoPs, EXPERiEncE EXcHAngEs

AnD REsEARcH PRojEcTs.

JouRnalisT TRaining pRogRam

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Annual Report 07

I did not know anything about the existence of the Access to Public Information Law in my country and its relationship to investigative journalism. As a dis-abled citizen and journalist managing my own maga-zine for the Dominican Deaf Foundation, it is impor-tant for me to be aware of the new FOIA legislation as a mechanism to demand accurate answers from the government on social policies.

success story

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Lugo Rafael Almonte Journalist for the Dominican Deaf Foundation

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Small communities in Colombia are especially affected by the in-ternal conflict. As a consequence of years of violence, these com-munities have atmosphere of tension and strained relations be-tween community members. Residents are prone to aggression and mistrust. To address this problem, the community called for an innovated strategy to promote reconciliation without directly mentioning peace, demobilization or the conflict itself which deters participation. Our program was created as a response to these needs and has gradually gained the trust of the community. The program fosters communication and bonding between residents through activities involving art, culture, local dances and regional narratives. These activities foster communication and help residents regain personal identity and learn to interact with each other. During 2008, we aim to give residents of Monteria and Valledupar the tools to translate their experiences with the program into real improvements for the community, including new projects. The goal is to foster this type of change by educating residents on the ser-vices provided by local public institutions and social organizations, giving them the tools and resources to promote social inclusion.

The “Arte, Cultura y a Entendernos” program fundamentally pro-motes change by giving persons affected by the internal conflict a renewed purpose, sense of self and community. Residents receive the tools to improve their communities without relying entirely on external aid.

THE “aRTe, culTuRa y a enTendeRnos” PRogRAM is conTRiBuTing To THE PEAcE PRocEss in coLoMBiA By PRoMoTing REconciLiATion in MonTERiA AnD VALLEDuPAR AnD HELPing THEsE coMMuniTiEs To LiVE TogETHER PEAcEfuLLy AnD iMPRoVE THEiR LiVEs.

usaid / aps

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Annual Report 07

I can’t ignore this country’s peace and reconcilia-tion process or place these people outside the com-munity. I want to help the peace process in some way. This program allows me to become involved and befriend ex-combatants and get to know them as people.

Valvina Aguilar Colombian Reconciliation Program Participant

Valledupar, Colombia

success story

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The program provides capacity building to local nonprofit organiza-tions promoting human rights along the Pacific coast of Colombia. We provide training in to project financing and writing proposals for donors. Also, this program trains local businesses on human rights issues, educating them on the importance of respecting and protecting human rights. Ultimately, this program seeks to pro-mote reconciliation through greater respect for human rights in Colombia.

THis PRogRAM wAs EsTABLisHED in noVEMBER 2007 To sTREngTHEn HuMAn RigHTs PRAcTicEs in coLoMBiA.

msd

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Annual Report 07

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The Trust for the Americas is honored to say thank you to our donors. Our programs depend on the generosity of over one-hundred organizations rang-ing from international corporations to local nonprofits. We are grateful for the support which allows us to empower marginalized populations throughout the hemisphere.

Thank you to our donors

Private sector support:• ENSE Group• CEMEX• Chevron• Chrysler LLC• Cisco Systems, Inc.• COPA Airlines• Google• Manatt, Phelp & Phillips, LLP• Mexicana de Aviación• Microsoft Corporation• Mobile Texaco• Open Society Institute• Organización Ardila Lülle• Postobon• RCN• Siemens• TACA

international nonprofit support:• Telecentre.org

special government support:• First Lady of the Dominican Republic• First Lady of Panama• First Lady of Ecuador

government and Multilateral support:• ACR, High Commission of Reintegration• Canadian International Development Agency• International Development Research Centre• Local Courthouse, Valledupar, Colombia• Municipal Government of Cesar, Colombia• Municipal Governments of Valledupar, Cesar, Monteria and Cor-

doba, Colombia• National Endowment for Democracy (NED)• Organization of American States• United States Agency for International Development (USAID)• United States Department of State

Educational institution support:• Escuela Técnica María Auxiliadora - Venezuela• Universidad de la Salle - Mexico• Universidad Don Bosco – El Salvador• Universidad Pedagogica nacional Unidad 041 María Lavalle Ur-

bina - Mexico

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Annual Report 07

• Asociación de Derechos Civiles - Argentina• Asociación Panameña de Industrias de Buena Voluntad - Panama• Batallon de Infanteria – Colombia• Batallón de Sanidad - Colombia• CENTIC CRI Comite Pro Ciegos y Sordos - Guatemala• Centro de Capacitación para el Trabajo Industrial - CECATI No.

65 - Mexico• Centro de Capacitación para el Trabajo Industrial - CECATI. No.

11 - Mexico• Centro de Integración Libre y Solidario de Argentina CILSA - Ar-

gentina• CIREC (Centro Integral de Rehabilitación de Colombia) - Colom-

bia• Comité por la Libre Expresión, C-Libre - Honduras• Community Resource Internet Centres / UNDP (CoRICS/UNDP)

– Dominica• Consejo Nacional de Periodismo, CNP - Panama• Corporación Matamoros - Colombia• Despacho de la Primera Dama – Dominican Republic • FUNDABIEM (Fundación Pro Bienestar del Minusvalido) - Guate-

mala• Fundación Caminemos Juntos - Panama• Fundación Democracia sin Fronteras, FDsF - Honduras• Fundacion Derechos del Niño - Ecuador• Fundación Institucionalidad y Justicia, FINJUS – Dominican Re-

public• Fundación Mexicana de Aviación, I.A.P. - Mexico• Fundación Par - Argentina• Fundación para el Desarrollo Intercultural FDI - Colombia• Fundación por el Debido Proceso Legal – United States• Fundacion Prensa y Democracia - México• Fundación Pro Acceso - Chile

• Fundacion Teletón - Colombia• Fundación Teletón Pro-rehabilitación “Funter” – El Salvador• Fundación Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, FVBCH - Nicaragua• Fundaeduca – El Salvador• FUNDAPROCURA (Fundación Venezolana pro-cura de la parálisis)

- Venezuela• Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Center (GARD) – An-

tigua & Barbuda• Grupo Ceiba - Guatemala• IMJ. Instituto De La Juventud Veracruzana - Mexico• IMJ. Secretaria De La Juventud Del Estado De Colima - Mexico• IMJU(Instituto Michoacano de la Juventud) - Mexico• Instituto de la Juventud en Yucatán - Mexico• Instituto de Prensa y Libertad de Expresión, IPLEX – Costa Rica• Instituto Mexicano de la Juventud (IMJ) - Mexico• Instituto Prensa y Sociedad, IPYS - Peru• Libertad de Información México, A.C., LIMAC - Mexico• MAPP OEA - Colombia• Mecvida ONG-Mejorando la Calidad de Vida - Peru• National Centre for Technological Innovation (NCTI) – St. Vincent

& the Grenadines• National Skills Development Centre (NSDC) – St. Lucia• New Life Organization (NEWLO) – Grenada• ORT - Venezuela• Participación Ciudadana, PC – Dominican Republic• Periodistas de Provincia de Perú - Peru• Probidad – El Salvador• Project Strong – St. Kitts and Nevis• Redsoc - Venezuela• Somos Mas - Colombia• Teleton - Honduras

Local organization support:

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Hans Kohlsdorf, President of the Board President Mesoamerican Region, Siemens

Carlos Julio Ardila, Vice-President of the BoardCEO, Organización Ardila Lülle

Susan Benson, SecretaryFounder, the Trust for the Americas

Adam Blackwell, TreasurerDirector, Office of Budgetary and Financial Services, OAS

June Langston DeHart, Partner, Manatt, Phelp & Phillips, LLP

Ali Moshiri, President Chevron Latin America Upstream

Enrique Segura, Founding President of the TrustCEO, ENSE Group

Javier Treviño, Vice President for Corporate Communications, CEMEX

Stanley Motta, Chairman, COPA Airlines

John Bozzella, Vice President External Affairs and Public Policy, Chrysler LLC

Hernan Rincon, President Microsoft Latin America

José Miguel Insulza, Ex-Oficio MemberSecretary General, OAS

Ricardo Domínguez, Chief of Staff to the Secretary General, OAS

Alfonso Quiñónez, Executive Secretary, Secretariat for Integral Development (SEDI), OAS

Board of directors

Private sector oAs

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Annual Report 07

Annual Report

Documents

Transcript of Annual Report