San Francisco delegation visits Bolivia

by Joan Huff, Secretary Joining Hands San Francisco

San Francisco Joining Hands recruited, trained and sent a delegation to Bolivia May 2-17. The delegation included: Brian and Jean Cole, Douglas Ferguson, Jean and Joewoen Gregory, Nancy McKeever, and Art Paull. Susan Hunn coordinated the preparation work for this trip. Brad Hestir, Joan Huff, David McPhail and Jean Norris, members of the coordinating committee who have traveled to Bolivia before, contributed to the training sessions. Youth delegate Rachel Medema brought fresh word to the group from her experience in Bolivia at the Youth Congress on the Environment in January.

In-country trip leaders Jean and Joewoen Gregory. The Gregorys are members of Montclair Presbyterian Church, Oakland, CA		Susan Hunn, trip coordinator in San Francisco Presbytery

Several of the group also took part in training provided by Alexa Smith, Associate for Joining Hands in Louisville, KY. Bob and Julie Dunsmore, Companionship Facilitators in Bolivia, worked with UMAVIDA and the California delegation to devise an itinerary specific to the needs of the group.

To facilitate acclimatization to the high altitude, the group began its time in Bolivia with three days in Cochabamba. They then traveled into the Andes to La Paz where they met with the UMAVIDA board and members.

The delegation visited the Huayna Potosi Mountain and its melting

glacier to continue our study of water pollution and global warming as experienced in Bolivia.

There were many opportunities for group interaction and study in the days following. Then three days were spent traveling to Potosi to spend time in a community affected by contaminated water because of the mining activities. Returning to La Paz, the delegation met again with UMAVIDA leadership to talk further about potential water campaign plans. A trip to the southern edge of Lake Titicaca concluded the activities for this two-week sojourn.

Each delegation had a unique experience as relationships were formed, built upon previous experiences in North-South relations.

Even as this group went south, we in San Francisco prepare to welcome Dr. Rolando Yanapa, current president of UMAVIDA, when he comes to San Francisco in July accompanied by Bob Dunsmore. The ties that bind us together are strengthened through these visits and through the work we do together to the end that all have sufficient, clean, fresh water to drink.