Cuso International announces winner of the Bob Ward Memorial Fellowship

OTTAWA, Oct 28, 2014 /CNW/ - Cuso International is pleased to announce Christian Orellana Obreque as the winner of the 2014 Bob Ward Memorial Fellowship Award, which supports research on the role of volunteers in international development.

Mr. Orellana recently completed a 3-year Cuso International volunteer assignment in Bolivia where he worked on knowledge sharing and strengthening of local partnerships within the Chiquitano Model Forest initiative.

His research for the Bob Ward Memorial Fellowship will focus on practical ways to integrate new technologies into Latin American Model Forests. A Model Forest is based on methods of community stewardship that achieves social, environmental, and economic benefits.

"The research that Mr. Orellana will be working on is key to development," says Derek Evans, Cuso International Chief Executive. "Recent advances in information and communication technologies have unlocked so much potential, but rural communities are struggling to harness these new opportunities. This research will go a long way to showing us how we can introduce technological advances in appropriate and effective ways."

Mr. Orellana obtained his degree in Sociology with a concentration in Social Management and Local, Urban and Territorial Development from the University of La Frontera in Chile. He has provided technical management advice to tourism entrepreneurs as well as worked on the implementation and evaluation of socio-economic studies in Latin America. His experience includes work on knowledge management projects in Chile, Bolivia and Honduras.

Open to candidates globally, the Bob Ward Memorial Fellowship is awarded to an individual who is or has been engaged in social change work in the NGO/non-profit sector. Valued at a maximum amount of $25,000 for up to one year, the award is intended to allow the recipient to make a significant contribution to the volunteer sector through research that demonstrates the impact of volunteering and advances related issues of policy and practice.

This fellowship is awarded in collaboration with the Carold Institute, which aims to promote and fund research and writing civic engagement, adult education, and the voluntary sector. The Carold Institute recently announced the recipient of the 2014 Alan Thomas Fellowship award (www.carold.ca)

SOURCE: CUSO International

Related Links

http://www.cuso.org