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Project Uplift And Unesco: Begin A Technical Human Resource Partnership In Costa Rica

Hispanic Times Magazine - November 1, 1998

Project Uplift, based in New Mexico, for the past twenty years has developed a systemic, statewide series of initiatives dedicated to increase the awareness and preparation of young students, reflective of the population mix of the state, for those careers and disciplines required by an ever growing technological global work place.

After a number of briefings at the United Nations Science, Education and Cultural Organization headquarters in Paris, France, an executive delegation accepted a PROJECT UPLIFT invitation to have a Site Mission to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Purpose of this Site Mission was to see first-hand and interact with key players who made the PROJECT UPLIFT New Mexico model attractive. This Delegation consisted of one member of the UNESCO Director General's office, the head of UNESCO Learning Without Frontiers and the Director for the Central America and Panama Office. The member of the Delegation stated, "You have showed us more in five days in New Mexico then what it would have taken seven weeks in New York, if we could." The Delegation visited and were briefed by Vice Presidents at Sandia National Laboratory, the President of the University of New Mexico, Deans and Department Heads at the UNM School of Engineering, the Secretary of State and saw a specially arranged Distance Learning Demonstration held at the Department of Energy's/Wakenhut's Distance Learning Facility on Kirtland Air Force Base. Senator Jeff Bingaman was in attendance and was introduced to the delegation. They also met with officials at the world-renowned Santa Fe Institute. The warm welcome and briefing by the Sandia National Laboratories Vice President of Environment Initiatives, Dr. Joan Woodard, and the excellent briefings on world-wide environment research, was very well received. UNESCO and Sandia are conducting projects parallel with each other in Africa. Viewing other research and development activities left a great, positive impact on the delegation. Mayor Martin Chavez, through the Albuquerque City Council President, Ms. Vicky Parea, presented a proclamation to the delegation and declared a day last September as UNESCO Day in New Mexico.

Of very special interest and important impact to the delegation, was the information shared by six New Mexico high school participants in the Spring and Summer PROJECT UPLIFT High Technology Institutes. The students from Albuquerque, Capitan, Gallup and Tohatchi made such an impression in their presentation and had such a willingness to share their transformational experiences with other young people around the world, the Director for the UNESCO Central America and Panama Office extended an invitation for the students to visit San Jose, Costa Rica, the capital city where UNESCO has an office. The invitation was accepted and shortly thereafter a student planning committee was established. It consisted of the students presenting to the New Mexico delegation and others who chose to be part of this important group. Thus, the plans were developed with Director Don Juan Chong for a delegation of New Mexico, PROJECT UPLIFT students to be the UNESCO guests in Costa Rica. The Site Visit was to take place in June.

Thus, the ground work was laid. Between the UNESCO Central America and Panama Director and the PROJECT UPLIFT Director a series of activities were proposed for a possible Costa Rica/UNESCO/Project Uplift Site Mission. The PROJECT UPLIFT director, with two senior advisors, one a retired State Department Official, visited San Jose and the UNESCO Director to review the proposed UNESCO/Costa Rica/PROJECT UPLIFT activities, develop a timeline for the week long visit and to provide shared information for a meaningful interchange.

A delegation of some seventeen high school students and four senior advisors comprised the Costa Rica/UNESCO/PROJECT UPLIFT Site Mission. There were no charges to any participant who was selected. The selection process was evaluated on the basis of their written essay interests, having a GPA of 3.00 and they would had to have attended a PROJECT UPLIFT Spring and Summer Youth Institute. The youth planning committee participated in the selection of students. The average GP of finalists was 3.8, one-third (1/3) were Native Americans, one-third (1/3) were Hispanic and one-third (1/3) were Anglo. Fifty one percent (51%) were female.

The students were housed in the five star Intercontinental Hotel, Camino Real, so that a subtle lesson could be instilled in their young minds, that is, with sound technical careers, with dedication to excellence and advanced studies and skills, they, as they enter the work force, could stay in hotels such as this, if they so desired.

The delegation of students was welcomed by national television, a media crew from Motorola, the UNESCO Central America Director and staff as well as other dignitaries. Our students where overwhelmed by the reception they received. A special tour bus, with driver, was assigned to our students as the base transportation for the week.

During the seven day trip abroad, the students were welcomed by the U.S. Ambassador Thomas Dodd, who, as one student observed, was the highlight for her. She had never met a person in such a high position. "He was gracious, warm, informative and made the students feel very welcome to Costa Rica and the U.S. Embassy."

The President of the University of Costa Rica welcomed the student delegation into his conference room, provided an overview of higher education in Costa Rica and the University. He fielded whatever questions asked by the students and escorted that group interested in Medicine, along with the Dean, to tour the medical school. The Vice President of International Programs also met and interacted with the students about the University of Costa Rica's international programs. This program is interested in developing some international internships as a result of the Site Mission. The students also visited a number of research and development institutions, especially those dedicated to environment remediation, such as INBIO, Nature, La Selva, the rain forest. They visited an elementary school computer class where they interacted with individual elementary students as they demonstrated their computer skills. One of our students said, "they (children) made us feel dumb and I thought I was computer literate." The students were able to interact with high school students from UNESCO Affiliated Schools as a way to begin interchange between students of the same age. A wonderful meal in an old monastery had students from Costa Rica Universities and High Schools selected to come to PROJECT UPLIFT Summer Youth Institutes. Each group was divided according to the Summer Institute focus, Environment, Medical/Health, Advanced Computing/Robotics, Advanced/High Tech Materials Manufacturing and Astronomy. The students were able to make new friends and learn first hand what to expect in the Albuquerque Summer Institute.

A number of highlights of the Site Mission were the welcome by the Motorola and Intel plant managers. They personally provided their views on globalization, international global competition, required skills needed in these arenas. The Site Mission participants also interacted with workers in a production setting and were treated to a meal.

The UNESCO/Costa Rica/PROJECT UPLIFT delegation had a great learning experience. The were favorably impressed with the Costa Rican dedication to education; the appreciation of the concept of Nation and Country, Research and Development having an economic development impact; the fact that all elementary students must know English and Spanish to graduate, and the overall passion for a sustainable environment.

In return for such wonderful real life leaning experiences in Costa Rica, PROJECT UPLIFT invited four students and a professor to come to one of five PROJECT UPLIFT High Technology Summer Youth Institutes. In all twenty-one Costa Rica university and high school students were accepted, along with a university professor in each of the Institutes. These students, like the UNESCO Site Mission Team visited some of the worlds most advanced and cutting edge research and development facilities in the fields of Environment, Medical and Health, Advanced Computing and Robotics, along with those students from New Astronomy. The Costa Rican students, along with those students from New Mexico, experienced hands-on, world class facilities. The Costa Ricans were excited to see technology here in New Mexico applied for so many useful purposes, some they do not have in their country. The experiences provided some new direction, for others they were fortified in their goals. Many were convinced to pursue graduate studies some in the U.S., others in Costa Rica.

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