Blogs

As a crisis that heavily impacts vulnerable populations, the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic could push millions of vulnerable children into child labor. Today on World Day Against Child Labor (WDACL) Partners of the Americas commemorates its dedication to preventing child labor in Latin America and the Caribbean. Our Child Protection Unit (CPU) continues its efforts to combat child labor in the region while tackling the unique problems that COVID-19 has created.  

The Comité Paraguay Kansas (CPK) and Kansas Paraguay Partners (KPP) Chapters of Partners of the Americas are developing new ways to support activities and strengthen communities during the pandemic and beyond.  

The Tennessee and Venezuela Partners of the Americas Chapters are documenting four decades of partnership together and continue their efforts despite the barriers of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Tennessee Chapter incorporated in Nashville in 1967, and the Venezuela Chapter was established in Caracas several years later (1974). They have worked together for the mutual benefit of Venezuela and Tennessee for 46 years.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, people from all over the world have come together to connect in positive ways. Today, on the International Day of Living Together in Peace, we would like to highlight how our Network perseveres during this time by spreading peace through virtual people-to-people connections.

Just like a third of the world’s population, our Farmer-to-Farmer staff at the Washington, D.C. office and in our six field offices around the world (Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, and Myanmar) are currently working from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While it may be from the safety of our homes, today on April 22, we would like to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.

The specialty coffee business Chica Bean provides Guatemalan women opportunities to succeed at every stage of their coffee making and selling process.  

Since 1964, Partners of the Americas has championed equal educational opportunities for all. In honor of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we would like to highlight the importance of supporting women and girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math).
 

Beekeeping is Cathy Shaw’s passion. She has found that most beekeepers feel the same way she does, and this was no exception in the Dominican Republic. Shaw helped beekeepers raise healthy and strong beehives as a Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) volunteer in June 2019. 

In 2017, the Partners Honduras Chapter launched a new education initiative to help prepare secondary school students to graduate in the country. These graduates often need more resources than are provided to develop the communication and technical skills necessary to succeed in today’s global workforce. For this reason, the Honduras Chapter’s work is crucial to help more students complete their education. 

Partners has accomplished a lot in 2019, thanks to all of our supporters and members! We have compiled our top 2019 highlights from each of the four units: the Education and Global Citizenship Unit, the Economic Development and Health Unit, the Child Protection Unit, and the Membership Unit. We are excited for all of the life-changing partnerships to come in 2020.