FSD Project – Resource Directory

Shortly after arriving and assessing the needs at the comedor and panadería I realized how much I missed having a resource network of friends and family.  Had I been at home, my dad, brother and various friends, I am sure would have been available and ready to help with the construction needs of the comedor.  However, I am thousands of miles away and that is not an option.  How am I supposed to find people who are willing and able to help those less fortunate…in Argentina?  (Of course, this is before I realized and felt comfortable asking Claudio for help.)

 

At the same time my host mother, who is slightly pushy, but very giving, repeatedly offered to give knitting classes to the comedor.  She herself knits, sews, crochets, and other various sorts of “manualedades” or handcrafts.  She also sells her products as her own microenterprise.  She had apparently learned that “talleres” or workshops were common projects of interns and wanted the comedor to start a knitting business.  However, seeing as they can’t quite get the panadería up and running, it is probably best they stick with one thing at a time.  However, her repeated offering for this and multiple things (every time I mention a need she has an idea of how to help – apparent in her immediately buying a can opener for the comedor after I told her they didn’t have one.)  It occurred to me that what the interns and program lacked was an extensive directory of resources that interns could use to tap while they are here.  Most internships are short-term and the interns are not here long enough to find the appropriate and most cost- and time-effective way of helping. 

 

My second project for my FSD internship will be to create a directory of resources for use by FSD interns.  It is still in the process of design, but I believe it will be an excel database that has contact information for individuals who are willing to volunteer there time with various projects.  The directory would include people that want to teach workshops on hand crafts or cooking; volunteer manual labor; organize projects for kids; or teach computer classes, etc.  I will probably also include all the organization that currently partner with FSD.  My plan is to put together a request letter that people can fill out and return that includes the type of service they would like to volunteer.  I will then enter it into the database I have designed and make it available to future interns.  The trick is to write a letter that best explains the need in order to collect the type of individuals needed and to design a database that can “stand the test of time” and include categories for future needs.  The goals is to have a well designed database that can be updated in the future as interns meet more people that may be of help and add them.  Currently I am still in the process of designing the database and writing the letter.  My goal is to facilitate connections between FSD interns and useful Argentine resources to make the most beneficial outcome to the organizations and people in need.