MARCH NEWSLETTER
Partners of the Americas Staff and Board Hone Strategic Plan
From March 26-27, Partners of the Americas staff and our International Board of Directors convened to work on the final stretch of our 2019-2023 Strategic Plan. Staff and members explored and developed how to implement our mission and goals. 
Economic Development and Health Unit
Partners' Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) Program is underway, with staff visiting offices in Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, and Jamaica. Offices in Colombia and Burma open later this summer. F2F volunteer assignments focus on areas of livestock and horticulture production, rural resilience and adaptation to climate change, and youth in agriculture engagement. This month, the F2F Agricultural Volunteer Opportunity Project (AVOP) hosted the community of practice meetings for the Outreach and Project Directors committees.
Child Protection Unit

In March, the CPU traveled to Colombia to begin activities for the USDOL-funded Palm Oil Project to fight against child labor and forced labor. Project partners Social Accountability International (SAI) and J.E. Austin (JAA) joined the team to meet with local private sector stakeholders. While in Colombia, the team visited local organizations Palmas del Cesar in Bucaramanga, Biocosta in Santa Marta, and the National Federation of Oil Palm Growers of Colombia (FEDEPALMA) in Bogotá, to discuss their participation in the project.

Education and Global Citizenship Unit
The 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund celebrated a five-year milestone achievement at an event hosted at the U.S. Department of State on March 19. The event also announced the fourth round of winning higher education institutions from the ExxonMobil competition. Remarks were given by the Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Kimberly Breier, as well as by Ambassador Craig Kelly of ExxonMobil and John McPhail, President & CEO of Partners of the Americas.
Chapter Highlight: Rochester, NY Chapter Improves Community Health and Safety
Last month, Partners Rochester, New York Chapter President, Theresa Bowick, donated tennis rackets and balls to a rehabilitation center and a care facility in Antigua, as a part of their Wheels and Racks Initiative. Bowick created the Initiative with her Conkey Cruisers program, which works to make neighborhoods safe and healthy. This is one of many initiatives that the Rochester Chapter has worked on with the Antigua and Barbuda Chapter.
Leveraging the Unique Skills of U.S. Exchange Alumni
Career Connections Seminar Participant, Leorah B. McGinnis , recently attended the inaugural Career Connections Seminar for U.S. exchange alumni. She discusses how the Seminar helped leverage the unique skills she developed abroad for her career development.
Higher Education Partnership 2019
Partners of the Americas invites you to be a part of the third annual Higher Education Partnership Conference from October 1-3 in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Meet with decision makers representing higher education institutions from across the Americas and build strong, new partnerships for the internationalization of your campus community. Submit your proposal to lead a session and register with the Early Bird rate before April 30!
What Works 2019
Go global with Partners of the Americas at What Works 2019! Join us for our most important regional learning and networking event of the year in Goiânia, Brazil from November 16-20.  Capítulo Profissional de Goiás  and  PartnersCampus Goiânia  will host the Conference. Stay tuned for details!





Agricultural Journalist Finds Joy in Volunteering for Farmer-to-Farmer Program
Former agricultural journalist and photographer Pam Karg regularly travels abroad to support farmers in developing countries like Senegal and Zimbabwe with Partners' Farmer-to-Farmer Program. Though Karg is not a farmer, she has written about agriculture her entire career, and teaches farmers about cooperatives and business planning. Karg said it is her "personal mission to spread, keep, and find joy in everything."

Paraguay Okakuaa Project Meets with the Ministry of Childhood and Adolescence
The Vice President of the CPU, Carmen S. Peña, and representatives from Partners’ Paraguay Okakuaa Project met with the Minister of Childhood and Adolescence (MINNA), Teresa Martinez, and representatives from the USDOL and the U.S. Embassy in Paraguay to share the various initiatives that the Project has with the MINNA, and to discuss the key initiatives the project should focus on in its last year of implementation.
Open Job Opportunities
Partners of the Americas is hiring! We are currently seeking a Business Development Associate, a Senior Accountant (GAAP) , and an Accountant I (AP/AR) to join our growing team. Positions will remain open until filled.




Open Internships Opportunities
Partners of the Americas is looking for interns! We are currently seeking a Global Citizenship Intern, Communications Intern, Child Protection Unit Intern, Youth Engagement Intern, Program Development Intern, Higher Education Intern, Finance and Administration Intern, a Membership Intern, and a Business Development Intern to join our team.