Pssssst! I have a secret!

I'm on island where they're filming Russian Survivor!! It's quite surreal seeing the 'tribal' heads and crewmen scattered about the isle.

More to come on Sunday!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Certification schmertification?

My supervisor, Annie Vial, recently went to a conference in El Salvador that was sponsored by the GIZ (formerly known as GTZ), INTEGRARSE, and SUMARSE.  Integrarse and Sumarse are both foundations that work with Corporate Social Responsibility issues, and GIZ is Germany’s foreign aid agency. 

The conference was called, "Transferencias de la Metologia de Mentoring," and it covered topics such as 

1) How to implement a mentoring Program

2) How to guide mentors and mentees

3) Types of Mentoring Programs 

4) Recommendations on how to be an effective Mentor

The goal of the conference was to train program managers to conduct mentoring programs for women leaders in small and medium enterprises.  This conference is only one of many workshops to come that seeks to make mentoring programs more robust in Latin America. 

The women who participated came from El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, and Panama and all received a Diploma upon its completion.  They had two key action items to complete upon receiving the Diploma. 

A. Receive RSE certification 

RSE stands for responsabilidad social empresarial or corporate social responsibility (CSR). I asked Annie why it was necessary to receive the RSE certification, and she said it was a guarantee of program quality.  In order to get the RSE, Annie will have to design an agreement with SUMARSE, a renowned CSR foundation in Panama.  As part of the agreement, VVPA's projects will fall under SUMARSE's programs, and both organizations will work together in future projects. 

Overall, I think it's a great idea.  As everyone is saying here in Panama, CSR "es muy de modo" or "it's very in," which is as true here as it is in the U.S.A..  Having the RSE certification and the partnership with SUMARSE will attract future partners to VVPA and place VVPA in the arena they need to be in -- creating viable economic opportunities for women in Panama. 

The certification reminds me of a project my roommate carried out this past semester.  She researched the meaning of CSR and how different organizations utilized this ‘brand’, focusing on Net Impact, a student organization I'm involved in at GWU.  My roommate interviewed three of Net Impact's Board Members (including myself) and the results were eye-opening.  Each of us had a different response for how Net Impact defines CSR…that's bad, right?  Maybe not.  

According to her paper, adopting a flexible, less defined CSR definition is helpful because it allows organizations to pursue a wide-range of activities.  Everything from constructing green roofs, to holding a conference on alternative energy solutions, to managing a mentoring program for women entrepreneurs can be considered CSR if you adopt a broad definition.  

However, using too broad of a definition can lead to some fuzzy situations.  For example, should something like using recycling bins qualify businesses for a RSE certification?  No.  Under an expansive definition though, recycling bins might qualify a firm for an RSE certification.  Don’t we want more from the RSE brand?  If a RSE certification is to have real value, it must have a meaningful and clear definition.  

Furthermore, once you have the RSE certificate, how are you accountable to it?  How will GIZ and SUMARSE follow-up with VVPA and the other participants to assure they are adhering to the RSE brand? 

B. Train 10 Mentors

Annie informed me that each conference participant must return home and train at least ten mentors by August 15^th, and launch her Mentoring Program by August 30^th.  VVPA already has double those numbers, and will have started its program by August 8^th.  These requirements are a good start. I’m anxious for SUMARSE’s website to start working again, so I can read up on its differing policies related to RSE programs.

Corporate social responsibility is an important and relevant issue today.  It would be a shame, then, if lax certification processes damaged its reputation as a powerful tool for development. 

Hazing Panamanian Style

Hashers are a group who gather once a week to run an impromptu, but still marked, course.  Oh, and they drink together in an undisclosed location afterwards.  

Hashers

Jackie Hyland, the Director of Education for Global Brigades Panama, invited me to check it out.   A designated person marks the running path with chalk to make sure everyone stays the course.  On the path, there are Xs or arrows.  Arrows point you in the direction you need to go, but Xs are bit trickier.  They're placed at intersections and indicate that the group must figure out which way to go.  Usually, the faster folks run ahead to find the next arrow, i.e. not me.

Not actual view from the hill 

We ran up a famous hill in Panama that has a fantastic view of the city.  Throughout the run, people are grunting "on on!" and "vamos abuelas" or "let's go grandmas!"  Despite the macho goading, there was actually a real sense of camaraderie among the bunch.  


When we were running up the 1600 ft hill, one of the veteran runners hung back to encourage me to keep going.  He'd walk with me, but when the time was right, he'd say, "Vamos! Corremos!" or "Come on! Time to run!"  Thanks in large part to him, I was one of the few people in the group who made it all the way to the top!


Upon completing the run, we were greeted with coolers of beer and juice.  People of all nationalities (gringos, Italians, and Panamanians of course) hung out for while, until it was time to haze the newbies. 


They made all the 'virgins' circle up with a full beer in hand.  Then they began to sing a song, whose words I couldn't decipher (there were a lot of grunty-old dudes singing in the crowd), and when they gave the signal, we had to chug our beers.  


If you finish too early, they pour beer on you.  If you stop chugging before your can is empty, they pour beer on you.  Basically, you can't escape it.  By the end, I was soaked with beer and sweat.  Mmm -- the sweet smell of victory!!

Taxi Driver of the Week - August Edition

I know it's only Monday, but I'm pretty sure this guy is going to beat out all the rest. 


Within the first minute of getting in the taxi, I thought 'and today will be my last.'  OK -- that was a bit dramatic, but he was driving like a prison escapee on speed. 


Then I realized that he was 'salsa driving.'  That is, every turn, acceleration, and lane change he made (which he made many) was exactly like a paso in salsa!  He even held the steering wheel as if it were the waist and hand of his dance partner.  He'd so vigorously snap his fingers and tap his feet to the rapid salsa tunes thumping from his radio that I couldn't help shaking my hips and tapping my feet by the end of the trip.