Jalova June 14 Monthly Achievements
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GVI.2014.2 Monthly Achievement Report Jalova, June 2014 Advances of the National Scholarship Program in Jalova Summary: GVI Jalova hub started for the first time the National Scholarship Program. Our first scholar, Walter, has been living with us for 6 months. He has already been showing many advances, learning English, survey protocols and Emergency First Response. He is now starting the Internship Program, which will bring him lifelong skills and experience to fulfill his plans for his future career. And GVI has pride to be part of his story. Objectives Empowering is one of the key objectives of GVI. With the National Scholarship Program, GVI hopes to give the local community knowledge and power to work towards key global and local issues, including sustainable development and conservation. Report: GVI is proud to be a company with social responsibility. Here in Jalova, we started the National Scholarship Project in January 2014. Our first scholar, Walter Ariel Blandon Gonzalez is from Nicaragua, but has been living in Tortuguero for many years. He has many plans for his future and GVI is playing an important role in it. With this experience, he hopes to be more prepared to continue his studies on an undergraduate level, majoring in biology and conservation. Our scholar has already developed his skills in many ways. When he first arrived, his knowledge of English language was basic. Now, after 6 months, we can already see an advance in his learning process. The daily living with English speaking volunteers has been pushing him forwards. Besides, staff’s efforts to organize English classes are showing results, as he builds up confidence everyday to speak in a non-native language. Volunteers are also always engaged in this activity: every month we have volunteers to help staff members with his English classes or even just having a conversation in English. During the last 6 months, Walter has been learning the methods we use for our surveys and also teaching us what he knows. Being raised in Tortuguero, he has a keen eye to spot our local animals, which makes him an invaluable asset in the field. His previous experience working with turtles with Sea Turtle Conservancy also makes him extremely helpful on turtle season. Besides, the cultural exchange he promotes with volunteers is priceless. His Tico rice recipe has already gained reputation on camp and he is always happy to practice and teaching some Spanish. We are happy to see the accomplishment of one of the goals of our National Scholarship Program: the exchange of knowledge between the local community and our staff and volunteers. On June, Walter achieved another victory. He took the EFR course with the new volunteers. After 3 days of intensive training, theoretical and practical tests, he has learned how to act in emergency situations. Now, after 6 months of initial training and practicing English, he is officially ready to start our Internship Program. Together with other 3 other interns, he will be trained on taxonomy
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Jalova June 14 Monthly Achievements
Transcript of Jalova June 14 Monthly Achievements
GVI.2014.2
MonthlyAchievementReportJalova,June2014
AdvancesoftheNationalScholarshipPrograminJalovaSummary:GVIJalovahubstartedforthefirsttimetheNationalScholarshipProgram.Ourfirstscholar,Walter,hasbeenlivingwithusfor6months.Hehasalreadybeenshowingmanyadvances,learningEnglish,surveyprotocolsandEmergencyFirstResponse.HeisnowstartingtheInternshipProgram,whichwillbringhimlifelongskillsandexperiencetofulfillhisplansforhisfuturecareer.AndGVIhaspridetobepartofhisstory.ObjectivesEmpoweringisoneofthekeyobjectivesofGVI.WiththeNationalScholarshipProgram,GVIhopestogivethelocalcommunityknowledgeandpowertoworktowardskeyglobalandlocalissues,includingsustainabledevelopmentandconservation.Report:GVI is proud to be a company with social responsibility. Here in Jalova, we started the NationalScholarship Project in January 2014. Our first scholar, Walter Ariel Blandon Gonzalez is fromNicaragua,buthasbeenliving inTortugueroformanyyears.HehasmanyplansforhisfutureandGVI is playing an important role in it. With this experience, he hopes to be more prepared tocontinuehisstudiesonanundergraduatelevel,majoringinbiologyandconservation.
Ourscholarhasalreadydevelopedhisskills inmanyways.Whenhefirstarrived,hisknowledgeofEnglish languagewas basic. Now, after 6months, we can already see an advance in his learningprocess.Thedaily livingwithEnglishspeakingvolunteershasbeenpushinghimforwards.Besides,staff’seffortstoorganizeEnglishclassesareshowingresults,ashebuildsupconfidenceeverydaytospeakinanon-nativelanguage.Volunteersarealsoalwaysengagedinthisactivity:everymonthwehavevolunteerstohelpstaffmemberswithhisEnglishclassesorevenjusthavingaconversationinEnglish.
During the last6months,Walterhasbeen learning themethodsweuse forour surveysandalsoteachinguswhatheknows.BeingraisedinTortuguero,hehasakeeneyetospotourlocalanimals,whichmakeshimaninvaluableassetinthefield.HispreviousexperienceworkingwithturtleswithSea Turtle Conservancy also makes him extremely helpful on turtle season. Besides, the culturalexchangehepromoteswithvolunteersispriceless.HisTicoricerecipehasalreadygainedreputationoncampandhe isalwayshappytopracticeandteachingsomeSpanish.Wearehappytoseetheaccomplishment of one of the goals of our National Scholarship Program: the exchange ofknowledgebetweenthelocalcommunityandourstaffandvolunteers.
OnJune,Walterachievedanothervictory.HetooktheEFRcoursewiththenewvolunteers.After3daysof intensive training, theoreticalandpractical tests,hehas learnedhow toact inemergencysituations.Now,after6monthsofinitialtrainingandpracticingEnglish,heisofficiallyreadytostartour Internship Program. Together with other 3 other interns, he will be trained on taxonomy
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identification,leadershipskills,scientificwritingandpresentationsanddataanalysis.Weareexcitedtotakethisfurtherstep,asthiswillbringhimmoreexperienceandknowledge.
Foto1–WalterstudyingfortheEFRcoursewithavolunteer
It has been many challenges for him: cultural and language barriers, but also a lot of learning.However,Walterhasdemonstratedenthusiasmandwillingness to learnanddevelopeveryweek.Hopefullythis isonlythestartofaprogramthatwillbecomeestablishedformanyyearstocome.Thisweek,weare receiving Luis,Walter’s friend.Hehas showed interestonourNational ScholarProgramandwantedtovisitusforaweekduringhisholidays.Wearealreadykeepinganeyeforournextluckynationalscholar!
MarcelleMunizBarreto,FieldStaff
