LIU Costa Rica Project

The Costa Rica Project Briefing is being Webcast!

2007-11-29T15:53:00.001-05:00

DPI/NGO Executive Committee Outreach Project Briefing on

"The Costa Rica Project"

1 November 2007

The following web address is a link to The Costa Rica Project
Summary, Briefing Filer, and Webcast

http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/fall07/briefings/Brief_1nov07.asp

Provided by DPI/NGO

Invitation to join a briefing on "The Costa Rica Project"

2007-11-13T19:09:00.000-05:00

By The DPI/NGO Section

Follow-up Meeting: Day 2

2007-09-10T21:15:00.000-04:00

Mission Accomplished!

In the morning, Christina and Jose came to the center and drove us to their facility where the presentation of CIDH and RUMBA took place. El Centro Internacional para el Desarrollo Humano (CIDH) was a non-profit, multidisciplinary, educational and applied research organization based in San José, Costa Rica, whose mission is to promote the sustainability of the development process in Latin America and the Caribbean. CIDH works with international agencies, including the World Bank, UNDP, and IADB, to promote sustainable human development through programs of social dialogue, applied research, and academic exchange, giving individuals and organizations access to the knowledge and skills they need to play a major role in the development process.

For RUMBA, it was affiliated with the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action (WABA), which was a global network of individuals and organisations concerned with the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding worldwide. WABA action is based on the Innocenti Declaration, the Ten Links for Nurturing the Future and the Global Strategy for Infant & Young Child Feeding. Its core partners are IBFAN, LLLI, ILCA, Wellstart International and ABM.

Then, we visited Omar Dengo Foundation (ODF). It was a private non-profit institution which had launched national and regional projects in the area of educational innovation and the social benefits of new technologies. The ODF's projects were varied and benefited a large number of Costa Ricans, especially young and adolescent students, educators, members of the communities, and senior citizens. The ODF had extensive experience in the fields of education, evaluation, research, and the design, management, and execution of projects of an educational and social nature. The Foundation currently developed programs in the following areas, for example, Educational Informatics, Professional Development and Training for Educators, Educational Innovation, Digital Technologies for all, and etc.

After that, we went back to the center due to some NGOs' representatives would like to come see us at the Global College to have a further discussion about their fields of work and also the the application form. Unfortunately, most of the NGOs that visited us at the center were more comfortable with speaking Spanish than English so the Spanish speakers had to be involved in the discussion. And the rest who could not understand Spanish got to write the reports about the NGOs that we had been met in the past 2 days. Nevertheless, we got a good number of NGOs that interested in affiliation with the NGO/DPI as expected. In conclusion, a Breakfast Meeting and the Follow-up Meetings were considered successful and we were glad to see our mission accomplished.

By Sudarat Adirek

Follow-up Meeting: Day 1

2007-08-30T19:27:00.000-04:00

Visiting NGOs' Headquarters!

Today, we had an appointment with 4 NGOs to visit and have further discussion at their facilities. In the morning, we went to Radisson Hotel in San Jose to attend the meeting as invited by an NGO. It was also an anniversary celebration of this NGO, where the presentation was mainly about the work of this NGO in the past years. Unfortunately, we could not stay until the meeting was over because we also had an appointment to meet with another NGO in the morning. Therefore, in order to save time we decided to have a quick breakfast at the hotel and took a van to meet with another NGO at their headquarter.

We soon arrived at the National Children's Hospital, which was also the headquarter of Central del Movimiento de Trabajadores Costarricenses (CMTC). They focused their work on improving children's education, health, and well-beings by providing children's hospital and fundamental education. Even though CMTC based in Costa Rica, it also provided help in other Central American Countries. CMTC found the affiliation with the NGO/DPI interesting so they let us help them filled-in the application form. After we finished our discussion with CMTC, their staff offered us a ride to another NGO's facility near by and we accepted that offer.

In the afternoon, we arrived at Credimujer's headquarter safely. This NGO offered opportunities of easy access to the credit and the training to the women and men micro-entrepreneurs in order to strengthen their commercial and productive activities, improve their quality of life, and be able to join the economic and social development of the country. Credimujer found the association with the United Nations useful for them in terms of reliability so they decided to affiliate with the NGO/DPI.

After that, we visited ACICAFOC, the last NGO of the day at their headquarter in San Jose, which was a little bit far from the location of the previous NGO. ACICAFOC stands for "Asociación Coordinadora Indígena y Campesina de Agroforestería Comunitaria Centroamericana" meant that Central American Indigenous and Peasant Coordination Association for Community Agroforestry. It was a community-based, non political and dynamic organization characterized by flexibility to the fast changes experienced by Central American rural communities. Their mission was to work with the communities in order to increase their competition, and the correct use and management of natural and cultural resources.

During the meeting, they seemed interested in affiliation with the NGO/DPI as they had already affiliated with ECOSOC. However, they alone could not decide whether to affiliate with the NGO/DPI or not because ACICAFOC was well-structured and decision-making could only do during their annual General Assembly where 7 Broad of Directors who represented 7 member countries gathered together. Therefore, they would deliver their decision to us after they had discussed during their General Assembly on June 22nd and 23rd, 2007.

However, we realized that we had not eaten anything since morning and now our stomachs were craving for food. Finally, we stopped by a seafood restaurant for dinner and went to a huge souvenir store to buy some local handicrafts for the people back home.

By Sudarat Adirek

A Breakfast Meeting at the Barcelo San Jose Palacio Hotel

2007-08-29T13:09:00.000-04:00

June 8th, 2007

Early morning, all of us met at the Barcelo San Jose Palacio Hotel to make sure everything was in place before the first participant arrived. Prof. Lee practiced her speech in Spanish and did the final check-up of everything in general. Fabiola reviewed her presentation and tried to match them with the Power point presentation created by Sudarat. Sudarat linked her laptop with the visual aid equipments provided by Global College and made sure both visual and sound were alright and ready to present. Cindy and Abdul helped Clarice and Brenda set up the front desk and arranged the documents and leaflets around the meeting room for the participants to take what they saw useful. Clarice and Brenda stationed at the front desk so they prepared the sign-up sheet and the list of prospective participants.

We encountered some problems such as the hotel did not put up the sign showing where a breakfast meeting took place, the deficient amount of light in the meeting room, and how we could figured out who was who so that we could take them to the appropriate tables. By all means, we had all the problems taking care of. First, we had the hotel put up the sign just in time of the arrival of the NGOs. Then we tried to turn the maximum light on but still not sufficient so we decided to open the curtains around the meeting room to get the sunlight from the outside. And to make sure who was who, we let each of them signed-up at the front desk and had the members took them to the tables where they belonged.

At 8 o'clock, the participants arrived one after another. We had them signed-up at the front desk with Clarice and Brenda and gave them a package of information necessary to complete the application process. Cindy and Abdul were the receptionists stationed at the entrance greeting the participants. Sudarat was a receptionist responsible for taking the participants to their tables. We let the participants socialized and enjoyed their breakfast while waiting for the rest to arrive.

Soon, the UN Resident Coordinator, Sr. Jose Manuel Hermida, opened the meeting. Followed by the speech from Prof. Lee explaining who we are and why we are here. Then Sarah gave a speech on behalf of Global College's staff explaining what they are doing and serving Costa Rica. After that, Fabiola represented all of us to give the formal Power point presentation to the NGOs about the benefits that an association with DPI at UN headquarters would bring and the complete guidance to fill-up the application form, followed by a question and answer period. During the meeting, many NGOs expressed an interest and raised questions about the application process. Some NGOs invited us to meet the following week either at their facilities or at the Global College for further discussion.

When the meeting was over, we had breakfast together to discuss about the meeting and estimate our success, in which we believed that it would bring a good number of NGOs to be affiliated with the NGO/DPI. Finally, we all felt relieved and satisfied with the outcome of the meeting that we put so much effort in.

By Sudarat Adirek

Last Day of Hard Work

2007-06-08T19:58:00.000-04:00

Mission on the Go!

1. Finalize and translate the power point, agenda and registration and application forms into Spanish.

2. Practice presentation

3. Decide on the best content from the UN Website to use with the participants, in response to their queries.

Since the morning, we continued what we have been tasked to do, rotating shift sometimes, and we put together copies of all the necessary documents in a package; ready to distribute to the participants who attend the conference. As a result, we had lunch late and we went home late ~__~!

"All we can hope for is to impress the participants as much as we can…"

By The Members and edited by Sudarat and Cindy

Third Day of Work

2007-06-08T19:34:00.000-04:00

We are in good shape!

On 6 June, the phone calling continued, there were several more acceptances to the invitation to the breakfast. Professor Lee and Abdulmohsin went to the Barcelo San Jose Palacio Hotel to discuss and settle all requirements for the meeting. They rejected two rooms before settling on the third. A contract was issued to provide breakfast and meeting facilities for 41 persons. Government officials were contacted by UNDP and our team.

By the afternoon, the presentation was taking shape and the sign-up sheet was finished (in English). It was agreed that the meeting was going to be taped and discussed with officers of the center to materialize this task. Cindy would be asked to assist on this.

After discussion the following tasks for the meeting were distributed:

1. Registration desk and welcoming of participants by Brenda and Clarice
2. Computer access for participants for questions at the resource desk by Brenda and Clarice
3. Prepare an Informal Translation (into Spanish) of NGO/DPI application form to provide to participants by Brenda and Abdulmohsin
4. Resource Desk and Power Point by Sudarat
5. Filming presentation/interaction by Cindy
6. Informal Question and answers about availability of documents/leaflets/etc.; follow up to our presentation by Cindy
7. Presentation of power point by Fabiola and Abdulmohsin, following an introduction by Phyllis Lee

By The Members

Second Day of Work

2007-06-08T16:14:00.000-04:00

Working in Progress...

On 5 June, Fabiola had made about 70 phone calls and had to request (via Sudarat and Clarice and Brenda) Professor Lester Wilson to re-send several invitations by e-mail and by fax. He added a few more NGOs to the list to be contacted. There were few successful responses to the invitation on the first day. Cindy and Abdulmohsin worked all day in outlining the presentation and preparing the first draft. UNDP was contacted and Ms. Sofia Torres helped in finding addresses of NGOs in the list whose address was not clear. The Resident Coordinator was pleased with his talking points.

By Fabiola Knight and Clarice Luzia

First Day of Work

2007-06-08T15:34:00.000-04:00

At Global College - Costa Rica Center

We received a warm welcome from Sarah, Marci and her staff at Friends World Program and a full briefing on practical points to get around in San Jose, Heredia and the surrounding neighborhoods, with the host families, and at the center.

We then met separately to plan the tasks ahead, to ensure a successful leading to the breakfast meeting on 8 June 2007 at the Barcelo San Jose Palacio (at 8am).

The tasks were listed as follows and members of the team were assigned.
Deadlines were given:

Call NGOs on the list who had been invited to follow-up on the invitation, by Mrs. Fabiola Knight
Prepare the first draft of the Power Point presentation to be delivered at the meeting, Mr. Abdulmohsin Alojaili and Cindy Narcisse
List of acceptances, preparation of sign up sheet (with logos) by Brenda Monterroso and Clarice Luzia
Coordinate with UNDP/San Jose, Professor Wilson in LIU by Clarice Luzia
Computer issues and blog by Sudarat Adirek
Coordination with the Resident Coordinator, preparation of his introduction remarks and arrangements for the 8 June meeting by Professor Lee.
Agenda by Clarice Luzia
Documents/booklets/leaflets control and distribution by Abdulmohsin

By Clarice Luzia and Fabiola Knight

The Real Journey Begins!

2007-06-06T20:43:00.000-04:00

"Beautiful Sunday"

Sunday morning, we make the first contact with Abdul and Brenda, the latest arrival. Abdul invited us to go out in order to check out the city. But Brenda decides to stay with the host family for the day. First, we have delicious Mexican lunch at the Mall in Heredia. Then we go to the center of San Jose and visit "Museo: Banco Central de Costa Rica". After a while walking around the center of San Jose, we stop by at the mall having coffee and dessert. Actually, before we have coffee, members of Abdul's host family drive us to the highest point of the city to enjoy the spectacular view of San Jose. After coffee, Abdul and Sudarat go to the supermarket in order to purchase the umbrellas due to we are in the season that rain pours down everyday. Finally, we end up having dinner at "Fresas", a restaurant near the LIU Center in Heredia since we have already have a long journey today. What a beautiful Sunday we have!!!

By Clarice Luzia and Sudarat Adirek

First day in Costa Rica!

2007-06-05T19:14:00.000-04:00

"The 3 Pioneers"

Cindy, Clara and I are the first group to arrive at Costa Rica International
Airport. We arrive on the same flight from New York. It is different from
something I think I would see regarding airport architecture. It looks very
modern, clean, and busy which reminds me of JFK in NYC. After we pass
through customs, we are impressed by the large number of bright orange
taxis that are lined up in front of the arrival exit to pick up the passengers who were traveling to this nice little country.

In the airport, there are several shops selling local handicrafts and the way they decorate
the shops is very impressive. The colors they use are a combination of
bright and natural colors which give us some energy after the 5-hour flight.
Also, the decoration style is like a jungle that represents their famous
rain forest and vast variety of biodiversities. However, we encounter a
little problem, which is that we cannot find the one who comes to pick us up
(Marci) because she put the sign on the window of the arrival exit after we
are outside out and we cannot go back inside.

Hours pass. Brenda's flight from Miami is delayed but we still have hope so
we decide to wait for both Brenda and Marci. A little later, we cannot just
wait any longer by not contacting Marci, so we go all the way to the
departure terminal to buy the domestic phone card that works with the public
telephones at the airport (they have several public telephones that use
coins but they are all broken). Finally, we are able to call the center.
Oscar picks up the phone and he contacts Marci for us right away.

Half an hour later, Sarah and Marci arrive but Brenda still does not show up
so we go to the center, take some rest, and our host families come to pick
each of us up one by one. Accordingly, I was informed before I arrived in
Costa Rica that each host family will accommodate 2 people (1 Spanish
speaker and 1 non-Spanish speaker) but it turns out that I, a non-Spanish
speaker, end up staying alone with the Costa Rican family, who understands
very little English. This is definitely a real challenge for me to survive
in this Spanish speaking country of Costa Rica...

By Sudarat Adirek

Meeting with Ambassador Saul Weisleder of the Costa Rican Mission

2007-05-23T00:11:00.000-04:00

Abdulmohsin Al-ojaili, Brenda Monterroso, Fabiola Knight, Saul Weisleder, Clarice Luzia, Sudarat Adirek, Sister Joan Kirby, and Prof. Phyllis Lee

Announcement

2007-05-22T14:15:00.000-04:00

Next Meeting

Day: Tuesday, May 22^nd, 2007

Time: 4.30 pm., 5.00 pm., and 6.00 pm.

With: Prof. Wilson & Prof. Lee, Mr. Saul Weisleder, and Friends World

Location: 225 E 43^rd St., 4^th Fl., Costa Rican Mission next door, and 225 E 43^rd St., 4^th Fl.

Minutes with Ms. Sol Oca

2007-05-20T17:35:00.000-04:00

Minutes with Ms. Sol Oca from the United Nations Department of Public Information, on Tuesday 15 May 2007 at 4:30 pm. in the DPI/UN Resource Center.

Ms. Sol Oca welcomed the group of graduate students from Long Island University who have been designated ambassadors from the NGO Executive Committee, and who are to travel to Costa Rica. She indicated that DPI has granted accreditation to 1,600 NGOs, but very few are from Latin America. The purpose of the trip to Costa Rica by this group would be to bring back some NGOs who will be interested in joining DPI in spreading information about the work of the United Nations. She indicated that that there are barriers which prevent NGOs from joining, i.e. Language barriers, non availability of resources and the long distance to participate in activities at UN Hqs. She informed that there are two United Nations Information Centers which could provide information and materials on the UN activities, them being in: Mexico and Panama. Professor Wilson has the address and telephone numbers of these Centers.

Ms. Oca explained that while there are two main UN groups involved with NGOs, DPI is the one concerned mainly about the dissemination of information. DPI and NGOs form a partnership. DPI seeks to relay information about the work of the UN, and the NGOs to report about their work and concerns.

The first step in the process of establishing this partnership is to write a letter to the head of the DPI/NGO Office, Mr. Juan Carlos... stating the reasons why the NGO wants to associate itself to the UN. This letter could include six samples of the work the NGO is doing or has carried out, i.e. a brochure, a flyer, some kind of advertisement, website, articles written about the NGO, information on workshops organized by the NGO or cooperated with, DVDs, or any other tangible proof of its existence or work.

While in Costa Rica, the ambassadors could find out about the work of NGOs by visiting the sites, taking photos, talking to their personnel. It is a requirement, though, that the NGOs have had at least a three year record of activities. It would be beneficial if the group could establish at some point, about their infrastructure for dissemination of information, and their former or present association with UN organizations and bodies. This is important because their work/association with a UN body is a requirement for their acceptance in the UN.

Ms. Oca emphasized the need for NGOs to meet the requirements and the submission of the application and supporting documentation: Financial statements, letters of recommendation, etc… (ensure you have this info from the UN website)

NGOs could benefit from the partnership with DPI/NGOs by:
1) attending the annual conference
2) attending the weekly briefings (or seeing them in the web cast)
3) attending the orientation program for NGOs
4) attending workshops/conferences
5) gathering information from the Resource Center (at Headquarters, or UNIC centers)
6) using the UN website
7) indicating that they are associated with the UN in their activities (use of UN logo required special permission from the Office of Legal Affairs)
8) Disseminating their activities in the NGO Newsletter (forthcoming)
9) Appointing a representative/coordinator in New York
10) Networking with other NGOs with similar interests
11) Participating in regional conferences/workshops

The meeting ended with a discussion on: Requirements to travel, funding made available for the group, logistics about the trip, and on site activities which could be carried out by the ambassadors in Costa Rica to involve the local NGOs and in preparation to the trip.

The following was suggested:
1) To find a slogan/theme for the groups activities: “Solo con su voz” used by the UN to support the work towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (leaflet is already available).
2) To organize a workshop (possible on Wed, 6 June to allow sufficient time to prepare) in cooperation with UNDP/San Jose and other local representatives of UN related organizations and bodies with the theme, “In preparation to the Annual NGO Conference on Climate Change”
3) For this it will be necessary to contact UNDP Office soonest to plan the event and set a date, plan logistics, list of invitees.
4) To contact Costa Rica Government to connect with a Ministry or a Department which could be invited to participate in the event
5) To invite the media/newspapers in Costa Rica to cover the event
6) To contact UNIC centers in Mexico to acquire the application and other material in Spanish
7) To gather posters or leaflets which could be distributed to NGOs in Costa Rica.
8) To ensure that a Press Release is issued about the trip and the event in New York and in Costa Rica
9) To send the letter of presentation to Costa Rican NGOs now, to be followed up by the actual invitation to the event.
10) After the workshop the group will visit sites of NGOs which did not attend the workshop or the ones who invited the group to visit.
11) It is suggested that a “note verbal” be prepared for signature by the NGOs who are to be visited indicating something like: NGO (title) whishes to express appreciation to the Long Island Graduate Students who, in the name of the Non-Governmental Organizations Executive Committee of the United Nations have approached our organization with the intention of informing us about the possibility of establishing a relationship with the United Nations. It has been an interesting exchange of information. Sincerely (signed by the representative of the NGO)

Meeting's Summary by Fabiola Knight

About NGO Association with the UN

2007-05-15T13:48:00.000-04:00

Non-governmental organizations have been partners of the Department of Public Information (DPI) since its establishment in 1947. Official relationships between DPI and NGOs date back to 1968. The Economic and Social Council in its resolution 1297 called on DPI to associate NGOs with effective information programmes in place and thus disseminate information about issues on the UN’s agenda and the work of the Organization. Through associated NGOs DPI seeks to reach people around the world and help them better understand the work and aims of the United Nations.

The DPI/NGO Section is part of the department’s Outreach Division and acts as its liaison between the United Nations and NGOs and other civil society organizations. It oversees partnerships with associated NGOs and provides a wide range of information services to them. These include weekly NGO briefings, communication workshops, an annual NGO conference and an annual orientation programme for newly associated NGOs.

Currently there are 1533 NGOs with strong information programmes associated with DPI out of which 634 are also associated with ECOSOC. While consultative status with ECOSOC may be obtained by NGOs whose work covers issues on the agenda of ECOSOC, association with DPI also requires having effective information programmes in place and the ability and means to disseminate information about the work of the United Nations.

Source: Non-Governmental Organization/DPI Website

About LIU Costa Rica Project

2007-05-12T12:55:00.000-04:00

History:

On February 22nd, 2007, the DPI/NGO Executive Committee, with the intention of broadening the representation of NGOs from Latin America, established a Sub-Committee to provide guidelines and supervision to a Costa Rica Out Reach Project sponsored by Long Island University's Institute for the Study of International Organizations. Juanita Carrillo is the subcommittee chair; members are Joyce Braak, Aaron Etra, Muriel Hertan, Eudora Pettigrew and Lester Wilson.

Objective:

The objective of the NGO/DPI Executive Committee Outreach Project is to identify and recruit NGOs in Costa Rica to affiliate with the DPI/NGO Section at the UN Headquarters in New York City. Graduate students from Long Island University's United Nations Graduate Certificate Program will spend two weeks in Costa Rica and meet with prospective NGO candidates. The Executive Committee will support their affiliation applications.

Participants' Duties and Responsibilities:

Three teams of two students each will travel to San Jose, Costa Rica with the objective of initiating contact with previously identified NGOs and inviting them to apply for affiliation with the DPI/NGO Section at UN Headquarters in New York. Participants will arrive in San Jose on Saturday, 2 June, and depart on Sunday, 17 June.

Greeting for Blog Visitors

2007-05-12T12:33:00.000-04:00

Dear Blog Visitors,

"Welcome to LIU Costa Rica Project"

Please do not hesitate to post any suggestions, comments, and questions regarding NGOs in Costa Rica so that we can all share opinion and information together in order to use this blog as a medium of idea exchange place for anybody who wants to know more about NGOs in Costa Rica!

Sincerely,
Sudarat Adirek
(Blog Supervisor)

Greeting for the Members

2007-05-12T11:35:00.000-04:00

Hi Members of LIU Costa Rica Project,

Welcome to the Blog"... From now on we can share the information about the Costa Rica Trip through the Blog! Please feel free to post your suggestions, comments, or questions related to LIU Costa Rica Project on this blog at anytime in order to help me improve the content and quality of this blog!

Thank you,
Sudarat Adirek