Hello again AUCC bloggers! I am back in Vancouver where the internet is stronger than a couple of raindrops outside, so I thought I would try to fill in a few more details of my experiences in the AUCC internship program.

First off, here are a couple of community pictures, including the wonderful group of kids who we met on a jungle trek to a small indigenous village.

This placement has been an incredibly enriching experience, and a very important addition to my career development. In these months, I have been able to engage with strong and growing grassroots organizations, community members, health centers in two countries, NGOs such as CARE, various government departments, and PAHO, among others, and observe their dynamic interactions and complex efforts to articulate fully intersectoral, collaborative and equitable development initiatives. A bit of a shift in priorities due to a funding opportunity gave me the chance to focus a bit more strongly on the economic and social vulnerabilities of indigenous communities, and especially indigenous women. These women face an infinite number of challenges at once, including extremely high rates of domestic violence and gender inequities, lack of educational opportunities and illiteracy, triple work burdens, and broader societal rejection of their knowledge and cultures. However, after a long history of discrimination and invisibility, strong voices emerging from Peru’s rich cultural landscape are being more clearly heard. Because of this movement, the development landscape seems an interesting mix of great potential and rapid change alongside challenges that are intrinsically embedded in societal structures and deeply rooted in history.

The complexity of the national efforts to address difficult issues through multilevel partnerships can at times seem almost chaotic, but the overall impression I have received from these partners is that the setbacks, challenges and frustrations are secondary to the great strength, potential, and pressing need to move these efforts forward. It has become more and more clear that the themes of freedom from discrimination for women and indigenous peoples and community participation in development strategies represent some of the broadest gaps and greatest challenges in development efforts, as well as the social phenomena of greatest import in the achievement of economic equity, security and health.

I will pass along more details of my experiences in the coming weeks, and I hope everyone is enjoying and learning from their travels!

Hasta el próximo

Ashley

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