CoCuMu

Peace Corps Partnership

2009-10-12T10:48:00.001-04:00

The Ahecha photography program has been a huge success here in Paraguay. In our second year, volunteers have reached over 56 communities throughout the country. Ahecha is not only a means of creative expression through the use of a lens, but is also a way to promote arts, culture, and personal development. We are very proud that more and more volunteers, and their communities, are excited to bring this amazing program to their sites.

Currently, demand for the camera kits far exceeds the current resources of this project. The wait list for the camera kits, and thus the participation in the project, is over a year and a half long and cannot begin to accommodate all of the requests by the communities. We hope that by increasing the number of camera kits available, we can reach out to more communities and continue the success of this project.

If you would like to donate to the Ahecha Paraguay Peace Corps Partnership Grant, please visit the link below:

https://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.donors.contribute.projDetail&projdesc=526-200

On behalf of the entire CoCuMu team, thank you for your continued support!

Ahendu

2009-08-04T14:37:00.002-04:00

Ahendu is back!

Our next concert will be held at Older Pub, Saturday, August 15 at 21:00 hrs

Gs 10.000 to get in... great drink specials!

See you there!

Greetings from Ahecha Paraguay

2009-08-04T14:34:00.004-04:00

Thank you so much for your contribution to Ahecha Paraguay's Second-Annual National Exhibition. This year's exhibition allowed the Paraguayan youth, whose photographs were selected for this year's national tour, to visit an opening ceremony in Asuncion to view thier work, as well as participate in a photography workshop. During the workshop the youth had the opportunity to speak with a professional photographer, as well as participate in sessions about creativity and social effects of imagery with respect to Paraguayan communities.

The ongoing Ahecha Paraguay National Exhibition has been a great success! This year the exhibition was invited to display at the Centro Cultural Paraguayo Americano, Villa Mora Shopping, Alianza Francesa, the US Embassy as a part of its Fourth of July celebration, and now at the Terminal de Omnibus de Asuncion. Participants’ photos amazed both Paraguayans and Americans alike at the events. None of this would have been possible without your generous contribution.

If you are interested in seeing more photos taken by Ahecha participants, please visit our Flickr account: www.flickr.com/ahechaparaguay.

Opening night at the Terminal de Omnibus de Asuncion

Exhibicion Nacional

2009-05-31T16:56:00.002-04:00

Ya empezamos la Exhibicion Nacional de Ahecha Paraguay. Estuvo en CCPA. Tuvimos mucho exito. El bridis estaba spectacular. Gracias a todos en CCPA, los voluntarios, invitados y especialmente a los participantes! Buen Hecho!

La exhibicion continuara el 8 de junio en Shopping Villa Mora enfrente del Super6. Se queda hasta 26 de junio. Nos vemos!

Correccion

2009-04-16T15:28:00.004-04:00

El concierto Ahendu empieza a las 21:00
y Older Pub queda en Avda Cerro Cora y Tacuary

Disclupame para el error

Pehendu!

2009-04-07T17:26:00.003-04:00

Ahendu

dos mundos. un sonido.

Una vez mas CoCuMu presenta una noche de musica!

Cuando: jueves 23 de abril

Hora: 19:00

Donde: Older Pub (Oliva c/ Tacuary)

Entrada: 10.000 Gs

ESPECIALES EN BEBIDAS

Ahendu!!!

2008-12-10T09:59:00.000-03:00

Concierto de Ahendu
Hecho por CoCuMu

Ejumi! Eguahe! Eguapy! Ehendu!

Cuando: 11 de dicembre de 2008
Donde: Cafe en Sintonia - Espana y Senador Long (Asuncion)
Porque: Una festival de musicales paraguayas y estados unidenses

Extencion de Exposicion en la Alianza Francaise

2008-08-31T14:26:00.000-04:00

Damas y Caballeros!

Tuvimos tantos éxitos con la Exposición Nacional de Ahecha Paraguay en la Alizana Franciase, vamos a dejarlo allí una semana mas! Nos gustaría invitarles para pasar y ver los trabajos de jóvenes paraguayos y paraguayas!

La exposición va estar hasta el 6 de septiembre, 2008.

Si tengan preguntas pueden llamar la oficina de Cuerpo de Paz
(021.600.155) o La Alianza Francaise (021.210.503) ó visitar www.alianzafrancesa.edu.py

Exposición de Ahecha Paraguay en la Alianza Francaise

2008-08-15T13:46:00.000-04:00

Nosotros del Comité de CoCuMu tenemos la oportunidad para exponer las
fotos del proyecto de Ahecha Paraguay en la Alianza Francaise. Nos
gustaría invitarles para venir para la Inauguración de la exposición el
19 de agosto a las 19:30 en la Alianza Francaise (1039 Estigarriba
c/EE.UU). La exposición va estar abierta al publico el 20 hasta el 29
de agosto. Por favor pasar y ver los trabajos de los jóvenes
paraguayos.

Ahecha Paraguay es un proyecto en el cual participa la juventud
paraguaya y está diseñado para dar una oportunidad a los jóvenes de
áreas rurales a desarrollar su creatividad y auto confianza, y ganar
una nueva perspectiva de vida a través del lente de una cámara. El
proyecto pone énfasis en las cámaras y el conocimiento a través de
talleres interactivos de fotografía, en manos de la juventud
paraguaya.

Este proyecto se hace realidad gracias al trabajo de los jóvenes
Voluntarios del Cuerpo de Paz en Paraguay.

Para ver las fotos en una pagina del web, por favor hacer un clic acá.

Si tengan preguntas pueden llamar la oficina de Cuerpo de Paz
(021.600.155) o La Alianza Francaise (021.210.503) ó visitar www.alianzafrancesa.edu.py

Éxito en el CCPA

2008-08-03T18:09:00.000-04:00

Tuvimos muchos éxitos con la inauguración de la exposición de fotos en el Centro Cultural Paraguayo Americano, Sábado el 2 de agosto, 2008. Abajo están algunas fotos del evento.

Introducción al Exposición

Artista y su foto

Entrevista con un artista sobre su foto

Las artistas (participantes), Voluntarios y el Vice-Director de Cuerpo de Paz

Exposicion en el CCPA

2008-08-01T13:58:00.000-04:00

El comité de CoCuMu (Compartiendo Cultura Mundial) esta muy emocionado para presentar la primera exposición nacional de fotografias del proyecto Ahecha Paraguay. Con el apoyo generoso del Centro Cultural Paraguayo Americano la exposición durará dos semanas para que el público pueda ver los trabajos y habilidades de los jóvenes fotógrafos del interior del Paraguay. La exposición expone trabajo de 12 comunidades de todos partes de Paraguay.

Ahecha Paraguay es un proyecto en el cual participa la juventud paraguaya y está diseñado para dar una oportunidad a los jóvenes de áreas rurales a desarrollar su creatividad y auto confianza, y ganar una nueva perspectiva de vida através del lente de una cámara. El proyecto pone énfasis en las cámaras y el conocimiento através de talleres interactivos de fotografía, en manos de la juventud paraguaya.

El BRINDIS será realizado el 2 de Agosto, 2008 a las 11 de la mañana en el CCPA. Van a estar presentes varios artistas de cada comunidad como representantes. Todos están invitados; vengan a conocer los jovenes fotógrafos! La entrada es gratis. La exposicion va estar en el CCPA hasta el 15 de agosto!

El Centro Cultural Paraguayo Americano está ubicado en la Av. España 352 e/ Brasil y EE.UU en Asunción, Paraguay. Para preguntas sobre el horario o localidad, favor marcar: 224-831 (R.A) | 214-544 o correos a: ccpa@ccpa.edu.py

Para ver todas fotos que estuvieron en las exposiciones en las 12 comunidades por favor ver esa pagina de web: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24414253@N05/map

Para cualquier pregunta por favor enviarnos un correo a cocumu@gmail.com

Road to Exhibitions

2008-05-31T00:28:00.000-04:00

This just in-

We are currently preparing for the Ahecha Paraguay Cycle 1 Final Exhibition Series beginning this July in the nation's capital of Asunción, including a Cultural Field Trip that will bring together all of the youth participants from communities all over Paraguay and give them the opportunity to view and celebrate their photographs on display at the Centro Cultural Paraguayo-Americano (CCPA) downtown.

Please refer to the sidebar to the right for a preliminary exhibit schedule.

Latest News:

- CCPA brindis field trip for Cycle 1, Teams 1-3 – dates have been set for Aug 1-2, 2008. See the end of the minutes for the tentative schedule in Spanish. We will be contacting everyone to confirm details SOON AFTER June 16 (date of SPA grant review meeting).

- SPA Grant – The new and old Coordinators turned in some SPA Grants (facilitated by Peace Corps, funded by USAID) for continued project funding! The SPA Grants will include supplemental funding for the Cycle 1 Final Exhibition Series including the CCPA brindis Field Trip. Thanks to Jeff Nicholson, Luke Keeler, Aubrey Stenger and Rachel Newby for signing off on these.

Reminders

- All those on the Final Exhibit long-sleeve shirt pedido, please remember to drop 53 mil (women) or 57 mil (men) in Jen Cheng’s mailbox (g21) by June 23rd. Gracias.

- Please check below for your assigned task team in preparation for the Final Exhibition Series!

Help Wanted

- Partnership Funds Reconciliation – Jim plans to do this at the PCO sometime soon. Anyone interested in lending him a second cabeza (mejor que una)? Contact Jim.

Highlights

- New Coordinators: Rachel Newby, g24 - Ashley Raasch, g22 - Allison Whaley, g22

[Check out the recently added lindo Coordinator-identifying fotos on the sidebar]

***FE Task team assignments***

o foto/frame assembly – Orlando (lead), Claudia, Jim, Sadiya, Matt, Tammy, maybe Kyle
- need to meet in Asunción about 1 week before July 4th to prepare for the inaugural Embassy exhibit
- Orlando will avisar team about set-up and take-down dates

o transportation/set-up/take-down – Orlando (supervising up until COS date), Rachel (supervising after Orlando's COS date), Adam and Ashley (help when possible)
- Let's get PCVC in on this!

o captions – Jen, Jim
- name of photographer and community; assigned number (for print sales); paragraph of each community; map of PY

o self-portrait banner or collage/slideshow assembly – Ashley (lead), Kelly
- the small foto idea morphed into a collage or banner of all the kids' self-portraits (gracias a Rache!)

o publicity – Rachel, Bradford, Luke, Orlando, Jim
- afiches
- invitations (as in to VIPs)
- newspaper (Mariano, owner of Chaco will help, remind him 1 week before Aug 1 Field Trip)
- pasacalles

o sales table/donations box organization – Allison (lead), Sadiya, David, Aubrey

o sales table volunteers – Jill, Jeff (will be contacted by Allison and team)

o products procurement – Jen, Allison, Adam, Jim, Ashley
- see Ahecha merchandise section for specifics

-

Ahecha merchandise (for project sustainment)

o Long-sleeve tees (organic cotton from Aratex (formerly known as Arasy), available to current Ahecha facilitators for now, will be offered to public más adelante) - Jen

o Tote bags (new logo, reorder) – 100 bags
- may need to increase quantity if we get bags as participant CCPA brindis favors
- Allison (bag parchase), Adam (bag printing)

o postcards – Ashley, Jim, Rachel
- got quote from Para Vos graphic design printing place on Rep. Argentina c/ Mcal. Lopez

o participant prints
- Exhibit prints will be numbered
- Prints will be ordered from Kodak in matte (not glossy)
- Purchase form – Jen
- price 50 mil per print (we did market research among PYans AND nortes)
- Will include print and TY slip inside envelope – Anyone interested in prepping? Probably Ashley and Allison (?)
- Buyer pays up front, pick up at PCO, got Michael's OK!
- We need to organize who will do the pedido at Kodak for each Exhibit (help from PCVCs?).

* * *

To Focus on AFTER the Final Exhibition Series is Underway:

Recruiting Volunteers

o Strategies to implement:
- Dispel commonly-held belief that CoCuMu is the artsy group – it is for all Volunteers who want to work with youth on personal development via PYan and world culture & arts tools
- Change meeting time and location (GAD has good time but we wouldn't want to be mean and rob them of their time, would we?)
- Send text messages week before meeting
- More CHP action
• invite Volunteers to CoCuMu meetings during training (like NVAC)
• create a PowerPoint presentation to show trainees (Rachel's suggestion)

CoCuMu Kuat Section
o deadline July 12th
o Ashley will determine optimum order for maximum impact
- Photo spread page – Ashley photos, Jen text
- Meet new coordinators blurb with foto – Ashley
- Ahecha experience – Allison
- How to check out cameras – Rachel
- Camera kit request form – Jen will submit

New Policy: EVERYONE MUST RETURN CAMERA KITS TO THE PCO.
o Why? We found there are issues with direct camera kit hand-off (PCV to PCV)
- can’t check for damaged/missing items
- can’t update manual hard copy
o Is a wear and tear registry necessary? Who will create?
o There needs to be lag time between check-out periods – New Coordinators will decide how long
o Ask Team 3 to bring in cam kits to PCO on June 15th – Jim
o Update manual June 15-16th – Jen, Jim, Orlando

Camera repair – Brad will submit a cautionary what-to-do-in-case doc to include in the camera kit manual about his experience having to fix a camera dropped by a youth participant.

Manual updating and post-cycle 1 overhaul – New Coordinators
o long-term project
o need to include more examples! Adam will get 5 cover-to-cover photocopies of Ashley’s big photo book. We will also include money for more photo book purchase in the SPA Grant.

Ahecha Paraguay CafePress Store
o We set up a CafePress.com account (Kudos to Big B for the idea)
o Here's the link to our CafePress store: http://www.cafepress.com/ahechaparaguay
o When we have some time, we can start uploading products and setting prices and doing publicity
o To make this legit, a Stateside supporter will be authorized to receive money and make official donations via an annual Peace Corps Partnership grant

Peace Corps-Wide Publicity
o Rachel is working on getting us an article in PC's WorldView magazine
o We should also hit up PC Times

-

Tentative CCPA Brindis Field Trip Schedule (in Castellano)

# de participantes - mínimo 36 alumnos y contrapartes paraguayos (adultos), 12 voluntarios
= 48 personas en total

viernes, el 1 de agosto de 2008

A la mañana - llegar al Hotel Chaco para check-in y almuerzo
-después, tiempo para descansar, uso del Salón Bahía para juegos tranquilos-
15:00 - excursión al Museo del Barrio
19:00 - pizza cena en el hotel
20:30 - uso del Salón Bahía para mostrar una película

sábado el 2 de agosto de 2008

7:30 desayuno
A la mañana - llegar al CCPA para el brindis de la exposición de Ahecha Paraguay
12:00 almuerzo y check-out

- Adios Asunción, holajey el Interior!

If you fear change, leave it here.

2008-04-01T16:36:00.000-04:00

Come out to the next meeting where we will be choosing the next Ahecha PY/CoCuMu Coordinators. Throw your hat in the ring and have your say on Saturday, May 24th around noon after the NVAC meeting (meet at PCO to decide on lunch plans).

Team 1 (pilot checkout group) met on March 15th for a super-calidad session to share their experiences from running the first round of Photography Instruction Workshops.

As a result of the meeting, we made these key project changes:
- Camera checkout period extended to 45 days
- Team 4 (formerly the June checkout group) will tag onto Cycle 2’s Final Exhibition
Refer to the checkout schedule posted on the sidebar for revised start dates

The Ahecha PY admin binder has been created and can be found in the Coordinator’s office (on the shelf next to Sarah Fout’s desk). This is your 1-stop source for picking up or turning in project forms and other materials.

The project Flickr page is now up with photographs taken by the first youth participants and other project images! Thanks to Jim and Team 1 for blowing virtual life into Ahecha. Check out the mapped photo feature via the link below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24414253@N05/map

Donor emails – Please send any known donor emails to cocumu@gmail.com. Jim is working on a project update email to about Ahecha. Thanks to Allison and Adam for mailing out the official donor thank you letters. CoCuMu’s got gratitude.

Final Exhibition Concept – Banana crates. See it to believe it. Contact Orlando if you’ve been intrigued into collaborating on the Final Exhibition site development and/or design.

The group decided that In-Site Exhibition material costs will be part of the community contribution. We will create a Shared Resource box that will be stored in Jason’s office (for the time being) along with the camera kits. Ahecha vets can donate re-usable project materials for the use of future facilitators.

Priority project assignments

Photograph examples for camera kit - Ashley, Brad
Final Exhibition site development and design sub-committee - Orlando (chair)
Postcard product development - Ashley, Jim
New logo editing - Orlando, Ashley, (Adam?)
Born into Brothels Spanish subtitling - Jeff

Budget update – We are under-budget! Consult Jim for the figures. Extra funds to be allocated to Final Exhibit materials and potentially to postcards or other product investments.

Más ideas –
- Newspaper publicity – Oscar at Kodak offered help with this for the Final Exhibition; talk with in-site contacts for community workshop coverage
- Integrate Ahecha project introduction into Pre-Service Training – consult CHP
- Creating an Ahecha Café-Press page to sell project merchandise (working towards the self-sustaining model)

If you are still reading these minutes, you just might be a calidad candidate for the CoCuMu-Ahecha Paraguay Coordinator position. Ideally we are looking to select a triple-threat trio of 3 co-coordinators at the next meeting. Please contact Jim, Orlando or Jen to discuss your interest.

Ahecha Paraguay Youth Photography Project Launched

2008-03-12T09:20:00.001-04:00

Check out a few of our first project photos via our new Flickr account. Click on following link to enter: Ahecha Paraguay Flickr Page

Ahecha Paraguay Project Snapshot

2008-03-01T16:41:00.000-03:00

Project Goals: Promote personal development and develop critical/creative thinking in Paraguayan youth via photography instruction; Build local, inter-community and national awareness of participants’ work via exchanges and exhibitions

PCV Responsibilities:
Note: PCV must have been in site a minimum of 6 months before able to participate

Minimum number of PCV trips to Asunción required over 3-7 month period: FOUR
[1) Check out kit; 2) return kit and make exhibition prints; 3) submit exhibition prints for exchange + pick up exchange prints; 4) return exchange prints + prep for Final Exhibition]

Camera Kit – contains 5 digital cameras, accessories and resource manual for Photography Instruction Workshop
Ø Fill out a request form to check out camera kit for period of 45 days (extended from 30 days) and turn it in to the Ahecha PY admin binder located in the Coordinators´ office at the PCO
Ø PCV alone assumes responsibility for all losses and damages to camera kit contents between check-out and check-in dates
Ø After the Photography Instruction Workshop, return the camera kit intact along with completed participant consent and evaluation forms to the PCO

Photography Instruction Workshop – to teach participants basic photography techniques and create opportunities to take photographs in their communities
Ø Find Paraguayan counterpart and/or counterpart organization to co-run workshop (highly recommended)
Ø Select participants that you know well, taking camera equipment liability into account
Ø Hold a minimum of 15 hours of instruction within 45 days - highly recommended to begin workshop BEFORE receiving camera kit with “way of seeing” and other related creativity development activities

In-Site Exhibition – to display participants’ work in a local space and gain community interest
Ø Should be held within 10 days of camera kit return date (keep time frame in mind as In-Site Exhibition prints will be used in the Exhibition Exchange)
Ø Select a public location that is in or near community (school, library, Casa de Cultura, Cooperative, Muni, etc) and make all necessary arrangements

Ø Select and print photographs to be displayed in the exhibition
*Project funds pay for prints-all other materials must come from the community (i.e. fundraiser, local sponsorship, workshop fee, exhibit admission)*

*Refer to Kodak Printing Partnership handout included in camera kit for specific details*

Exhibition Exchange – to connect participating communities and involve participants in photography editing process

Ø After exhibition is held, coordinate with other Volunteers in your team (same checkout period) to exchange copies of exhibition photographs for Exhibition Exchange

Ø Reconvene original workshop participants for a photography critique workshop or informal review of partner community photographs – goal: to select the best images to display in the Final Exhibition series in Asunción

Ø Return partner community’s photographs along with completed form listing selected Final Exhibition photographs to Ahecha PY admin binder

Ø Must be completed before July 15th, 2008 (does not apply to June 15 checkout date Volunteer facilitators).

Final Exhibition – to bring together selected photographs from all participating communities and expose the public at large to the project via a series of formal exhibitions (confirmed at CCPA in Asunción for the following dates: July 31 - August 15, 2008; other locations in development)

Ø Help with organization of exhibition, or at the very least provide exhibition organizers with community and participant description(s) to accompany selected photograph(s)

Seem like a lot of responsibility? That’s how we define commitment to creativity development in youth in Paraguay!

Launch over lomitos

2008-01-31T14:45:00.000-03:00

FYI: The next CoCuMu meeting will be Saturday, March 29, right after the NVAC meeting, around noon. Meet at the PCO and head out for lunch + gelato at 4D.

2008 is off to a snap-happy start, with the official launch of the Ahecha Paraguay youth photography project! Once we got the lomitos arabe order going, here’s how we chomped into the meat of the meeting-

Donor Thank You notes –

We got the list of Ahecha donors (thanks Allison and Jim)!

Some post-meeting developments- Allison is going to create a template thank you letter with the PC logo. If PC does not provide free postage, we are going to use the extra funds from project budget savings. Let Jen know if you are willing to meet in Asuncion mid-Feb to help out with printing and mailing.

Ashley suggested sending out handmade photo postcards. Consensus is yes, we want to do it but it'll make more sense to do come Final Exhibition time in July/August.

Jim emailed out the donor list to the group so people can send out personal thank yous.

Camera kit formation –

Jim and Chris have picked up the cameras from Kodak! They will be stored inside PC “med kits” that will be stored inside water-resistant nylon bags to ensure they are campo-proof! For now, the kits will be held in Jason Cochran’s office.

The Ahecha PY pilot group –
The first month’s project facilitators will consist of all CoCuMu members: Rachel, Jen, Orlando and Kelly.
The mission: to brave the untested campo terreno of organizing a photography workshop and local exhibit with PYan youth. Report back with suggestions to develop the resource manual that will be included in each camera kit.
Timeframe to check out cameras, hold workshop and in-site exhibition: Feb 15 – March 15. Please fill out request form and turn into Chris Spahr at the Coordinator’s office.

Preliminary camera checkout schedule –
February 15: Rachel, Jen, Orlando, Kelly
March 15: Allison, Brad Cannon, Kyle, Matt Nigrelli
April 15: Jim, Tammy, OPEN, OPEN
May 15: Ashley, Adam, Anthony, Claudia

Resource manual – Check last blog entry for topic assignments. Email all materials to cocumu@gmail.com. Ashley, Adam and Orlando will be meeting on or around February 15 to work on layout and assembly. The goal is to have a preliminary resource manual to include with the kits beginning March. Other materials that will go into the kit are a copy of Wanna Take Me a Picture (book in English) and Born into Brothels (documentary).

Ahecha PY tote bags – now going for 20.000 Gs a pop at the Coordinator’s Office. For future orders, we can look into getting goods from the Tienda Pilar in Asuncion.

Looking ahead temas– Project publicity (next Kuat), Camera liability (Jason looking into issue with PC lawyer), Future CoCuMu/Ahecha PY coordinators (are you up for the challenge?)

Lastly, all the focus may be on Ahecha PY but new projects are always welcome! Be it art camps, cultural radio resources or , CoCuMu is your sounding board for all those brilliant thoughts inspired by those gritty micro rides, vecinos be they cerrrad@ o abiert@ and long terere has.

Pool-ing together through 2008

2007-11-28T15:07:00.000-03:00

Right when the holiday heat comes bashing in, CoCuMu's got plenty to celebrate, starting off with our next meeting, Saturday, January 26 at the PCO right after the NVAC meeting around noon - join in on the pizza order or bring your own lunch. We can play Born in the Brothels in the PCV lounge after the meeting for those who want to check out one of the inspirations for Ahecha PY.

As for ahora, our fundraising frenzy is starting to pay off!

Ahecha PY Partnership grant - After Jim announced the Pike's Peak Colorado RPCV group will donate $2000 by check to Washington, that leaves us with a cool $1400 piko to raise. Here's how we're going to bring the plata on home:

Jim - will talk with Michael about getting through to Friends of Paraguay
Jen - will talk with Ceci and Jason about dipping into the Partnership general fund and getting access to the donor list for thanking purposes
Kelly - will visit Kodak headquarters in Rochester for additional funding possibilities/resources
All - Have we exhausted our funding resources? If not, please contact at least 1 more potential individual donor or organization so we can launch Ahecha PY in Feb 2008!

Ahecha PY tote bags - Our bag sale was a complete success (as in we sold all 50) - Kudos to Allison, Chris and our design trio of Ashley, Adam and Orlando. We are using all 200 mil of our proceeds to buy more bags to fund the Ahecha project's community contribution and future CoCuMu activities.

Now that the Ahecha project launch is in sight, we're focusing the next month and a half on the following:

Resource manual - This is going to go in each of the 4 camera kits, to serve as a project guide for volunteers and PYan counterparts. The deadline for assigned content contributions is January 15, 2008. Please email Word file to cocumu@gmail.com. The deadline for hardcopy production is February 15.
Here's how we divvied it up:

Ashley, Adam, Orlando - Layout
Jim - Ice breakers, Project forms (see Partnership proposal for plans)
Rachel - Texture, How to use and take care of camera (can include general advice then add specifics when we make purchases)
Kelly - How to compose a shot (portrait, landscape)
Claudia - Perspective (both camera zoom and photographer's physical position)
Allison - Translate Nicaphoto assignments into Castellano, Interactive activities
Jen - Project guidelines, Glossary, Compilation of possible assignments
? - Light and shadow

If anyone feels an importantant topic is missing, let the group know and write it up!

Resources to make the resource:

Teaching kids photo in Castellano: http://colegota.fotolibre.net/como/apuntes-de-un-curso-de-fotografia-para-ninos/
Jen will give teaching kids photo book to Marianne for in-library use after Jan 3

And with that, Ahecha PY is poised to make a splash!

4D record

2007-10-19T14:19:00.001-04:00

4D record, the next CoCuMu meeting will take place POOLSIDE at PC THANKSGIVING. Saturday, November 24. 10 AM. Bring your task updates and ideas for the Ahecha PY resource manual that will go with the camera kits.

Ha upei, the Ahecha PY fundraising campaign is on! With nearly 500 USD in the bag, we are getting revved up to raise the rest of the plata.

Orlando, Jim and Jen sat down with Jason, who mentioned that in the case that we're falta reaching our goal of just under $5400 come December 1, he will help us try to tap into the Partnership general fund so that sí o sí, this project is going to happen. Here's how we've broken down the campaign strategy:

Task	Who's responsible
Formal intro to institutional donors	Jim will email to CoCuMu group
Fliers posted around PCO	Adam
PCV/staff mailbox slips	Orlando will email to Chris
Copy and paste email to all PCV/staff list	Jen will email to Juany
Kuat full page ad/article	Adam (design), Allison (text)

Target donor networks	CoCuMu strategy
Friends of Paraguay	Jim will send them his prepared text and ask to be included in their next newsletter
US Regional RPCV groups	Let's all contact our local RPCV group – see example email
Community/local newspaper	Ditto above
Schools, service organizations (i.e. Rotary Club), religious institutions	We can send a message to key contacts and/or list-servs (emailing lists) – use Jim's prepared text as template/guide for more formal institutional communications

CoCuMu/Ahecha PY logos – Adam shared his sketches and we picked out 1 fave each for CoCuMu (blowing a dandelion) and Ahecha PY (silhouette and shadow of kid taking photograph of Paraguay country borders with key words written in the middle (and the letters COCUMU spelled out word puzzle style in either bold or caps or both – i.e. rough concept below)

Creatividad

doCumentar

aUto-estima

Mundo

katUpyry

Adam will email out the designs and then he, Allison and Jen will work on getting the bags printed around Oct 31 -Nov 9.

Bag fundraiser – Chris searched high (Arasy, home of the organic cotton PC polo shirts) and low (Mercado 4) to find tote bags ranging from 15.000 – 83.000 Gs. We can get the screen printing done at a Mercado 4 place that's done a lot of PC stuff for 3.500 Gs (1 color). But because we're out to make some plata, Allison will be buying 50 bags at approximately 5.000 Gs a pop. We will reimburse Allison (estimated 250.000 Gs) with the first bag sale profits and in the worst-case scenario commit to splitting losses so as not to screw over our no. 1 investor.

Treasurer – Now that we're talking Gs, Orlando won the election for treasurer by unanimous vote. O-yea!

Looking ahead –

We continued brainstorming on the camera kit resource manual and policy and procedures.

Allison is taking lead on getting materials translated into Castellano. We talked about including:

- project explanation that is community contact friendly

- how to use the camera – technical, artistic and complementary education aspects

- essential charlas and dinamicas for completing basic workshop

- how to organize the community exhibit

- nicaphoto activities

- games

Jim, Dan and Orlando will form the policy and procedures posse. Points discussed-

- check-out priority will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis, with the option to sign up in advance for coming months

- it will be best to reserve the cameras for Ahecha PY use and offer to help PCO buy camera through same discounted deal with Kodak

- We will need locked cabinet space in the ICT office or a locker to ensure camera kit security at the PCO

Jim will keep our connection with Oscar at Kodak fresh, Jen has to deliver our final exhibit pedido to the CCPA to reserve the dates of July 31-Aug 15.

So ends another CoCuMu convening. May all have left the establishment in creatively-juiced if not gelato-fed bliss.

FYI: Here is the link for the Johns Hopkins development photo contest, deadline November 16:

http://www.photoshare.org/contest/2007/2007photosharecontest.php

FYI avei: There's an international film fest going on at Villa Morra for the next couple of weeks. You can pick up the schedule there. Admission is 10 mil before 7PM and 15 mil after.

Fundraising campaign launched!

2007-09-29T18:38:00.000-04:00

Yo veo, nde rehecha, we all see
Ahecha Paraguay

Click here to donate via the official Peace Corps website

What is this project about?
Ahecha Paraguay or “I see Paraguay” in a mixture of the country’s two official languages, Spanish and Guarani, is a participatory photography project designed to provide Paraguayan youth the opportunity to develop their creativity and gain new life perspectives through the camera´s lens.

The project will create four camera kits (five cameras per kit, for a total of twenty cameras) that sixteen volunteers annually will use to organize photography workshops for a minimum of eighty Paraguayan youth in their respective communities. The project includes sixteen photo exchanges between rural communities as a means of expanding inter-community awareness and will culminate with an annual photo exhibition featuring community-selected photographs.

What is the need for photography instruction in Paraguay?
Historically, the nation´s arts and creativity have been limited by a legacy of dictatorships. To this day, much of the art and culture are concentrated in the capital city of Asunción; rural comunities are far removed from these creative outlets. Among Paraguayan youth, volunteers have observed the prevalence of inhibited individual expression and low self-esteem. Research shows that ¨students in after-school arts groups ´had nine times as many opportunities to write original text material (not dictated notes) as their classroom counterparts´"[1] and that ¨high arts children also scored higher from teachers' ratings on expression, positive risk-taking, creativity-imagination, and cooperative learning¨.[2]

To address these issues, Ahecha Paraguay project organizers have drawn from participatory photography precedents such as - Kids with Cameras (creators of the Academy-Award winning Born in the Brothels documentary), National Geographic Photo Camps and Nicaphoto (www.nicaphoto.com), in order to develop a project plan that fits the realities of Peace Corps Volunteers and their Paraguayan communities.

How can I help give 80+Paraguayan youth the experience of expression through photography?

If the direct link above does not work, please follow the steps below:
1. Go to the Peace Corps Website—http://www.peacecorps.gov/
2. Click on "Donate now" located on the sidebar
3. Click on the "Donate to Volunteer Projects" link
4. Under “Choose a Region,” click on the “Latin America" link
5. Scroll down to “PARAGUAY – Ahecha Paraguay"
6. Insert the amount to be donated $$$
7. Go to the bottom of the page and hit "Continue"
8. Insert appropriate information and then continue on to "Insert Credit Card Information"

Contributions of all levels are appreciated. Our goal is to raise $5343.20 by December 15, 2007.

If you are interested in learning more about Ahecha Paraguay,
please contact CoCuMu (Compartiendo Cultura Mundial), the Peace Corps Paraguay volunteer arts and culture interest group behind the Ahecha Paraguay project, at cocumu@gmail.com, for more project details and answers to any and all questions.

Thank you for your support – Gracias por su apoyo – Aguije nde pytyvô haguere

[1] source: Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development, 2002, p.66study: Learning In and Through the Arts: The Question of Transfer
[2] source: Champions of Change, 1999, p.28 Stanford University and Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching study: Imaginative Actuality: Learning in the Arts During Nonschool Hours

* * *

Project budget

(based on in-country price research)

Quantity and Item	Description and source (for community contribution)		Projected Unit Cost (USD)			Projected Total Cost (USD)		Projected Unit Cost (Guaranis)*		Projected Total Cost (Guaranis)*
REQUESTED FUNDS:
20 Digital Cameras	All uniform, Kodak Model C330, 4 Megapixels, including upload cables and camera protection cases; to be divided into 4 camera kits (5 cameras per kit)		$220.00			$4,400.00		Gs 1,100,000.00		Gs 22,000,000.00
4 Carrying Cases	1 case per kit		$50.00			$200.00		Gs 250,000.00		Gs 1,000,000.00
4 Cleaning Cloths	1 cloth per kit		$5.00			$20.00		Gs 25,000.00		Gs 100,000.00
1 Photography Instructional book (I Wanna Take me a Picture, by Ewald Lightfoot)	1 copy for Peace Corps Office use and reference		$20.00			$20.00		Gs 100,000.00		Gs 100,000.00
416 Photographic Prints (In-Site Exhibits and Final Exhibit)	8.5 in x 11; for 1 project cycle. Bulk quantity discount through Ferreteria Americana S.R.L. (Kodak Paraguay)		$1.50			$624.00		Gs 7,500.00		Gs 3,120,000.00
2 package of 500 sheets of white office printing paper	For the creation of project and workshop guidance manual, participant permission slips, PCV liability agreements, and promotional materials; PCV allotted printing paper privileges and CoCuMu fund for Ahecha		$5.00			$10.00		Gs 25,000.00		Gs 50,000.00
10 rolls of double-sided tape	To be used in mounting exhibit photographs to cardstock; Cocumu fund for Ahecha		$0.40			$4.00		Gs 2,000.00		Gs 20,000.00
5 rolls of fishing line	To be used in final exhibit as a means of displaying photos		$6.00			$30.00		Gs 30,000.00		Gs 150,000.00
4 packages of clothespins (12 per package)	Will be used to hang photos from fishing line		$0.40			$1.60		Gs 2,000.00		Gs 8,000.00
16 pieces of photograph mounting material	To mount photos for in-site and final exhibit photos		$0.60			$9.60		Gs 3,000.00		Gs 48,000.00
10 rolls of masking tape	To mount captions to exhibit walls		$2.40			$24.00		Gs 12,000.00		Gs 120,000.00

SUB TOTAL						$5,343.20				Gs 26,716,000.00

Quantity and Item		Description and source (for community contribution)		Projected Unit Cost (USD)	Projected Total Cost (USD)		Projected Unit Cost (Guaranis)*		Projected Total Cost (Guaranis)*
COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION:
20 Memory Cards		Size:512 MB; Ferreteria Americana S.R.L.		$40.00	$800.00		Gs 200,000.00		Gs 4,000,000.00
20 Sets of Rechargeable Batteies		Size: AA; Ferreteria Americana S.R.L.		$5.00	$100.00		Gs 25,000.00		Gs 500,000.00
20 Battery Rechargers		2 rechargers per camera kit-the remaining 12 will be held in reserve at the Peace Corps Office;Ferreteria Americana S.R.L.		$20.00	$400.00		Gs 100,000.00		Gs 2,000,000.00
1 Copy of the Academy-Award Winning Documentary DVD Born into Brothels		Participatory photography project, model resource, to be held and loaned by PCVC; PCV in-kind donation		$15.00	$15.00		Gs 75,000.00		Gs 75,000.00
1000 Sheets of Computer Printing Paper		For the creation of project and workshop guidance manuals, participant permission slips, PCV liability agreements, promtional materials, and Final Exhibit captions; PCV allotted printer use privileges and CoCuMu fund for Ahecha		$0.10	$100.00		Gs 500.00		Gs 500,000.00
300 Photocopies		For the creation of project and workshop guidance manuals, participant permission slips, PCV liability agreements, and promtional materials; PCV photocopying privileges and CoCuMu fund for Ahecha		$0.20	$60.00		Gs 1,000.00		Gs 300,000.00
16 Community In-Site Exhibit Space Rentals		Including set-up, monitoring, disassembly, electricity; PCV Paraguayan community in-kind donation		$15.00	$240.00		Gs 75,000.00		Gs 1,200,000.00
1 Asunción Final Exhibit Space		at CCPA, in-kind donation		$30.00	$30.00		Gs 150,000.00		Gs 150,000.00
480 Sheets of Cardstock Paper (Certificate Paper)		To be used as backings for exhibit print mounting; PCV allotted certificate paper privileges		$0.25	$120.00		Gs 1,250.00		Gs 600,000.00
400 Participant Copies of Exhibit Prints		Size; Ferreteria Americana S.R.L.		$0.50	$200.00		Gs 2,500.00		Gs 1,000,000.00
64 trips of required transportation of participating PCVs to Asunción		4 roundtrips per PCV during course of project, average; PCV in-kind contribution		$12.00	$768.00		Gs 60,000.00		Gs 3,840,000.00

SUB TOTAL					$2,833.00				Gs 14,165,000.00

TOTAL					$8,152.20				Gs 40,761,000.00

Projected Timeline

Month	Task
August 2007	Submit Parternship proposal to Peace Corps Paraguay
September 2007	Proposal under review – plan financial support campaign
October 2007	Given approval, Ahecha Paraguay goes live on the Peace Corps Official website – financial support campaign is launched
November 2007	Prepare project and workshop guidance manual – continue financial support campaign
December 2007	Finalize project and workshop guidance manual – complete financial support campaign by end of month
January 2008	Receive funding – make purchases – set up camera kit administration system with PCVC
February 2008	Initiate Project Cycle 1 – 4 more PCVs complete workshops ands In-Site Exhibits
March 2008	Project Cycle 1 continues – 4 more PCVs complete workshops ands In-Site – Exhibits Exhibit Exchange takes place among February group
April 2008	Project Cycle 1 continues – Ahecha sub-committee conducts mid-cycle evaluation – 4 more PCVs complete workshops ands In-Site Exhibits – Exhibit Exchange takes place among March group
May 2008	Project Cycle continues 1 – seek out PCVs interested in participating in Cycle 2 – 4 more PCVs complete workshops ands In-Site Exhibits – Exhibit Exchange takes place among April group
June 2008	Exhibit Exchange takes place – seek out PCVs interested in participating in Cycle 2 – Exhibit Exchange takes place among May group
July 2008	Exhibit Exchange takes place among June group – prepare for Final Exhibit – train interested PCVs to facilitate Cycle 2
August 2008	Hold Final Exhibit – evaluate Cycle 1 – Cycle 2 planning begins

Yo veo, nde rehecha , we all see Ahecha Paraguay

2007-09-04T11:01:00.000-04:00

With all the 40th anniversary mayhem, the hardcore gente got together to finish up the Ahecha PY participatory photo proposal for PC Partnership. Great news – we got it done and turned it in the final version, complete with budget and timeline, to Ceci! The biggest updates have been forming ties with Kodak Paraguay (thanks to Walid and his contacts from the Ud. Puede photo series, we are working out some camera and printing deals with Kodak) and the CCPA (we can reserve their space for exhibits! Gratis!).

So – as long as we don't run into any roadblocks from the Peace Corps Paraguay review committee and Washington (in a conversation I had with our PC Regional Director Allene Zenger, she said that she would sign off on the project!), the next step is to ramp up for donations publicity!

Here's how it's going to work – if we get approved as a Partnership project, PC Washington will put our project on the official PC website by mid-October (according to Ceci's estimate). Then we need to bombard all of our connections to get them to make tax-deductible donations via the PC website. As soon as we reach our goal, PC will cut us the check! Y así es.

Caught the excitement? Come on out to our next meeting on Saturday, September 29 (day of NVAC meeting) at 3 PM at the food court at Shopping del Sol . After the meeting, some of us will be heading over to check out modern Paraguayan art at the Museo del Barro, just a short walk from Shopping del Sol.

Sol-ong,
Jen Cheng
for CoCuMu

la onda at Ocean

2007-07-31T17:43:00.000-04:00

The third CoCuMu general meeting came afloat at Ocean. First up, Jim tested the waters with a recap on the 40th anniversary exhibit at the CCPA (where attendees will get grub and revel in PC photos and artwork after the ceremony). Anyone interested in helping us install the exhibit is welcome to join us in the late afternoon/night of Sunday, August 19th. Please reply to this email so we can keep you posted of the plan.

Then we launched right into the Ahecha Paraguay participatory photo project discussions. Jason was on hand to give us his support and insights. He will help us look into the possibilities of getting funding through Partnership, or at the very least, setting up fund transfer via Peace Corps if we end up soliciting outside funding. Ashley will send Jason an example of how a similar project was run in another PC post. Other people to contact are Ceci (PCO grant guru), Washington (I believe that refers to PC Partnership Washington staff), G18er Walid (who did a stellar social photo exhibit with Kodak´s support) and the ambassador (later down the line for support, collaborations). Jason suggested that we think about project timing and sustainability. Since funding could potentially take a long time to come through, we may want to look at short-term work-arounds for launching the project before we establish the official camera kits.

One giant leap toward sustainability came in the form of ICT Coordinator Dan Westerhof´s agreement to plunge fearlessly into the responsibility of camera kit caretaker and administrator. Ideally, Dan will set the precedent for ICT coordinators to come to manage the camera kits while at the PCO.

To cap off the meeting, we organized ourselves into focus teams-
Funding - Ashely, Allison, Jim
Resource Gathering - Claudia, Kelly, Jen, Ashley(2)
Policy and Procedures - Orlando, Jim(2)
Asuncion/PCO go-to guy - Dan Westerhof
Stateside cheer squad - Hannah (COS-ing soon)

If anyone not at the meeting is willing to dedicate some time now and in upcoming months to an Ahecha focus area, please come to the next Ahecha Paraguay sub-committee session on Monday, August 20th, at 2PM at Freddo (2 for 1 helado!) at the Las Carmelitas shopping location on España (after 40th anniversary at CCPA, easy to get from CCPA by bus).

Orlando will be emailing out the updated drafts of the proposal and policies this week.

The radio resource improvement project has been put aside for the moment unless someone wants to take lead to get it going.

Stay tuned as the resident designers duke it out for the rights to best Ahecha logo, which we´ll be able to use for auxillary fundraising efforts like Ahecha tees, hats and bags.

I´m not going to sign off with ¨until the ocean waves¨because you know I´m not into cutesy cliches,
Jen Cheng
for CoCuMu

News Cafe

2007-07-11T12:30:00.000-04:00

The biggest headline is we hashed out a preliminary plan for the participatory photo project that we all voted on at the first 4D meeting. Orlando, Ashley and I met for a follow-up session and fleshed out the details. We will email you all the proposal when it’s complete and present it at the next meeting.

Here’s a bite-size recap-

Project name: Ahecha Paraguay
Target beneficiaries: Paraguayan youth in PC communities
The need: A common volunteer experience in site has been colliding into community organizing obstacles due to the inhibited creativity development prevalent in the population.
Immediate goals: Create digital camera kits with resource guides so that PCVs can facilitate youth photography workshops in site and exhibit participant photos in local institutions. The aim of the photography workshops is to create an outlet for Paraguayan youth to develop creativity, identity and more technical skills.
Long-term goals: Organize a traveling gallery between participating communities; sell participant photos in form of greeting cards, postcards, calendars etc. to sustain project activities.
How: Apply for initial funding from outside sources via Peace Corps Partnership Program; possibly SPA.
When: We’re working on it now but let’s set some concrete goals for fechas at the next meeting

Other noteworthy points:
- Most of the money should ideally come from local, Paraguayan sources
- Liability will be a major issue
– 1 initial proposal is that camera use must stay in PCV presence
- For imminent printing needs, we should try to work out deals with friendly photo labs

As for the creative radio resource pooling project, ICT coordinator Dan Westerhoff was on hand to give us the scoop:
- a recent donation of Caribbean-flavored CDs was added to the ICT library
- we can get recordings made (i.e. Orlando brought up Guaraní poetry)
- Radio Viva is a quality potential resource
- we can send him any radio resources we want to be included in the ICT collection

Roll on out to Ocean for our next meeting, set for July 28 at 1PM, oh-so-conveniently after the NVAC meeting. Directions to Ocean: From the US Embassy on Mcal Lopez, walk down Brasilia, past España, until you see a white temple-top inspired building on your left-hand side. Give yourself 20-30 minutes from the PCO.

Signing out,
Jen Cheng

4D @ 4

2007-06-08T13:25:00.000-04:00

First meeting's lluvia de ideas can be read here soon.

Any feedback? Announcements? Ideas? Post away...