Bolivian Voices

As the start-up funding from Rising Voices comes to an end, Voces Bolivianas must find new and creative ways to find funding to continue our projects. The list of participants and communities that want to be a part of this web 2.0 world continues to grow. The number of bloggers that want to become trainers also increases as word gets out. As a result, we must find new and creative ways to find funds to pay for many of the expenses, such as internet cafe rental, overhead projector rental, and travel expenses for volunteers (i.e. the latest projects in Achacachi).

With the help of two of our bloggers in El Alto, Voces Bolivianas is pleased to offer the sale of laptop sleeves made from the traditional aguayo textile with a fleece lining. The sleeve is held by velcro. If this is successful, we will continue to manufacture more in different sizes. For now, the exact size is made for the dimensions of a Macbook (laptop measures 12.78 x 8.92 x 1.08 inches (WxDxH). Numbers are very limited.

There is a choice of two style (#1 and #2) and the cost is $25 USD and includes shipping within the US only (for now). Payment may be made via Paypal. 100% of proceeds goes towards Voces Bolivianas activities.

For more information please write: info [at] vocesbolivianas [dot] org or eduardo [at] vocesbolivianas [dot] org Please specify style #1 or #2.

To purchase:

Sorry, we are sold out. Please check back for future sales.

Note: We are trying this to see if there might be future interest in other sizes.  If you have a laptop that is not a Macbook, but would be interested in helping support Voces Bolivianas through the purchase of a laptop bag, please indicate what size you would be interested in (Survey Monkey)

Voces Bolivianas is an organization that seeks to create spaces where Bolivian voices from underrepresented groups or regions can be heard. Using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), such as blogs, digital photography, video and audio, Voces Bolivianas continuall looks for ways to promote this mission.

Through the use of workshops, Voces Bolivianas teaches the use of participatory and citizen’s media to underrepresented groups. In order to support and promote greater representation from other regions, cities and other sectors of societies, Voces Bolivainas is offering travel scholarships for bloggers from these groups to attend the national bloggers conference on August 29-30.

Travel Grants

In the spirt of supporting persons from these underrepresented groups, so that there is constant participation and dialogue, Voces Bolivianas will offer travel grants to bloggers or others who are using these participatory media tools (photos, videos, audio) in Bolivia so that they can attend and participate in Bloguivianos 2008 in the city of El Alto and La Paz on August 29 and 30.

The number and amount of each scholarship will depend on the amount of requests received and amount requested.

In order to be considered:

Write in your blog an entry responding to the following question (300-400 words)

How can blogs help create bridges between regions, social classes, ethnicities or cultures in Bolivia? Do you have an example from your personal experience?

Once you have completed the essay, please send the link to: becas (at) vocesbolivianas (dot) org with the following information:

1. City where you will be traveling from/where you live
2. Full name / e-mail / telephone / cell phone
3. Blog address or of the site where you use citizen’s media (videos, photos, podcasts, etc.)
4. How much funds will you need? (please only ask for the amount that you really need so that more people can receive assistance – we cannot cover plane tickets).
5. Deadline: August 10 at 17:00

Scholarship winners must be able to commit to attending both days of the gathering (August 29 and 30).

We will contact winners by August 15 via email and we will announce winners on the websites: vocesbolivianas.org and 2008.bloguivianos.org

The scholarship will be reimbursed upon presentation of a receipt of the transport or housing company. The scholarship can also be used for accommodations.

For more information, please write to Eduardo [at] vocesbolivianas [dot] org.

Our friend Rosa Jiménez Cano from the Spanish newspaper El País was present at the Global Voices Summit in Budapest, Hungary. She wrote an article called, “Listen to the World to Improve it,” about the presentation by the Rising Voices projects and where blogger and Voces Bolivianas participant Cristina Quisbert shared her experiences.

Cristina Quisbert shared her experience with Voces Bolivianas, a network of blogs and citizen news based in El Alto, a city near La Paz, but located at an even higher latitude. In her opinion, a project like this was more than necessary, “The indigenous represent 63% of the residents, but they never received the necessary attention.”