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