Second Day of Work

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

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:

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

By Clarice Luzia and Fabiola Knight

The Real Journey Begins!

"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!

"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

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

Announcement

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

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