Andale! An environmental voice for workers in Bolivia

Region, city or village: City of Uyuni, Southern Altiplano region, Bolivia

Résumé of internship objectives: 

•  Consolidate the first phase of the internship project launched with the FRUTCAS 
•  Participate in the creation of an environmental radio program linked to the realities of the community of Uyuni (public environmental politics, environmental agreements, impacts of the regional economic activity (mines and agriculture), land claims 
•  Raise awareness of the Bolivian population to the environmental issues of the region 
•  Participate to inform and mobilize the region’s population on issues that concern them 
•  Promote the integration of community members, especially women 
•  Share Alternatives’ knowledge and best practice on communications strategies 
•  Acquire practical knowledge in communications for development 
•  Undertake public awareness activities to sensitize Quebecois to issues related to sustainable development and indigenous issues

Résumé of field activities: 

•  Visit a number of the region’s peasant and indigenous organisations 
•  Participate in a workshop with indigenous leaders of the communities represented by the FRUTCAS 
•  Create a radio program on environment and on indigenous rights 
•  Install radio equipment 
•  Put together a radio committee, composed of members of the community 
•  Train members of the community on how to produce radio content 
•  Train members of the community on technical radio producing skills 
•  Air the radio program 
•  Launch the radio program.

 Number of project participants : 6 interns and 1 accompanier 
 Overseas placement : From 31 May to 13 August 2010 (75 days) 
 Pre-departure training : From 9 November 2009 to 31 May 2010

Eligibility requirements for participating interns

•  Be at least 18 by the beginning of the overseas placement and no more than 35 by the application deadline 
•  Have a permanent address in Quebec for at least over the past year 
•  Have Canadian citizenship status or permanent residency status 
•  Show proof of interest for international development issues and North-South dynamics 
•  Demonstrate interpersonal capacities appropriate for living and working in a multicultural context 
•  Demonstrate the interpersonal capacities appropriate for living and working in a multicultural context 
•  Be ready to participate in all steps of the internship (fund raising, pre-departure training, overseas placement, return activities) 
•  Be in good health (a medical certificate will be required if you are accepted into the program) 
•  Not have already participated in a Québec sans frontières internship program and not have already participated in an overseas internship in a "southern" country for more than six weeks 
•  Have a good knowledge of French

Other :

•  Have a basic knowledge of Spanish 
•  Have a proven interest in alternative communications

Eligibility criteria for the accompanier :

•  Be at least 21 years of age at the beginning of the overseas placement 
•  Have permanent residency in Quebec for at least the past year 
•  Have Canadian citizenship status or permanent residency status 
•  Have a secondary V diploma 
•  Have a proven interest in international development issues and North-South dynamics 
•  Demonstrate a capacity for coordinating an intern group 
•  Demonstrate interpersonal capacities appropriate for living and working in a multicultural context 
•  Be in good health (if your candidacy is retained, a medical certificate will be required) 
•  Be ready to participate in all steps of the internship (fund raising, pre-departure training, overseas placement, return activities) 
•  Have a good knowledge of Spanish 
•  Have a good knowledge of French

Other:

•  Have already undertaken a cooperation internship in the internship country or region 
•  Demonstrate an interest for communications and alternative media