Vivienne Solís
A biologist, she graduated from the University of Costa Rica (1983), also holding a masters in Ecology from the University of Lawrence, Kansas (1986). She has participated in institutional and interdisciplinary projects on environmental education, training and academics on issues regarding conservation and community use of Biodiversity. The professional activities she has developed in the last decade have been directed toward promoting community management of wildlife and an integral and interdisciplinary discussion of biodiversity, focusing on achieving a more just and equitable distribution of the benefits derived from this use. Currently she is a founding member of Coope Sol I Dar R.L. (Self-action Cooperative of Professional Services for Social Solidarity). She is married with a Costarican and has 2 girls ( 9 y 7 years old). E-mail: vsolis@racsa.co.cr
Yazmín Alfaro
I am the administrative coordinator managing all the administrative matters of the LAC. I have worked at the center since 1987. I love what I do, especially working with the students and seeing their process. I do not have formal education as an administrator. I have a title as Commercial Secretary, a second year of English for translation at the University of Costa Rica and different courses in computers. During the years of work at the LAC, I have developed an interest on organic agriculture and medicinal plants. I have been taking different courses related to that interest and I am putting all that experience into practice in a small farm that I have with my dad. I make and sell creams and lotions from natural plant extracts and I have also started to sell some of my organic products. I love outdoors activities, reading and very quite moments.
Amparo García
Amparo is interested in rural development, and community work. She has a background working with rural populations in Costa Rica and Africa, as well as with institutions. She studied Social and Economic Planning (writing projects, implementing and evaluating them). She has been a faculty advisor with Friends World since1990. Amparo also worked for several years as a co-facilitator for workshops (personal growth), held in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Guatemala and Canada. She sees Friends World as a rich opportunity for personal, cultural and intellectual growth both for students and staff. She is personally interested in natural ways of healing. Outside of Friends World, she is active in yoga, sports, and tai-chi. She is currently working on her Ph.D. thesis in Communication.
Antonio Leitón
I was born and raised in Costa Rica. I attended the
University of Costa Rica for one year in 1987 and then
moved to Washington State to continue school. I
attended Watcom Community College and Western
Washington University where I earned a B.S. in
Environmental Studies with a Major in Environmental
Policy and Assessment. In August 1994, I returned to
Costa Rica to settle back here. In January 1995, I
began to work for FWP as Academic Assistant and later
became Students Affairs Coordinator as well; I
currently hold both positions.
About two years ago, I enrolled in a Masters Program
in Educational Leadership offered by Framingham State
College from Massachusetts. I have only one more
course to finish and will be done by the end of
October 2001.
Iliana Castro
I have formal studies in Psychology and Sociology and independent
studies in Political Sciences, Massage, Natural Healing Methods, Herbal
Medicine, and Jewelry. Currently I am studying Documentary Video
Production.
I am Guatemalan and I have been with Friends World since 1981, when the
Lac had just moved to Costa Rica from Guatemala due to the political
violence in this country. Along these years
I am a very creative person with very good organizational skills. I
highly value the opportunity I have had to work in different areas at
the LAC.
I coordinated the Spanish Program for 9 years, which gave me a true
appreciation of the effort of learning a new language.
I was Administrative Coordinator for 1 year, which gave me a global
perspective and the clarity that my heart was with working directly with
the students.
I worked as Students Affairs Coordinator for 5 years, a position I loved
but had to leave because of time problems.
I coordinated the Central American Reality Seminar for 2.5 years,
sharing with students my experiences and knowledge of the reality of
this complex region of the world.
I have coordinated the Field Trips in Costa Rica and Central America for
the last 7 years. It is always so enriching to provide students with new
experiences, to go out there and explore, see, ask.
Leda Trejos
Leda, who also has a private practice outside of Friends World, is a very active in psychology and women's issues. She has worked as a school psychologist,
the director of a
counseling department at an El Salvadorean high scool, and an instructor of psychology
at the Universidad Centroamericana José Canas. She has done extensive research in women's studies and offers an elective seminar on the topic at the LAC.
She is an outdoor enthusiast, fluent in Spanish, English, and Portuguese and is an avid dog lover.
Rafael Bolanos
I became involved with FWP in 1984 while I was working in the Social Science Institute of the University of Costa Rica. I was attracted to the promise of a very fascinating methodology of learning that FWP promoted. As a historian educated in a traditional school, I assumed the challenge of methodology with passion and enthusiasm.
I continue since with FW, enjoying our processes of learning and growth in the community, and trying to do my best to help in the improving of the program, at least in the L.A.C.
Rafa has served as Director, Academic Coordinator and Faculty Advisor of the Latin American Center. His area of specialty is Latin American History as well as development issues. Outside of Friends World, he has worked with many differentgrass roots organizations as well as with poor minorities in Central America. He was the Minister of Treasury for Costa Rica from 1969-76 and has also worked with the Coalition of Central American Universities and the Social Sciences Institute of the University of Costa Rica.
Ana Lorena Vargas Gonzalez
Lorena has been a part of developing the intensive immersion Spanish
program at the Latin American Center. She has also worked at the Cuerpo de Paz (Body of Peace) Institute as a Spanish professor. Lorena has a Masters Degree in Teaching Spanish as Foreign Language.
Outside of Friends World, Lorena is interested in holistic medicine, literature, theater, and Latin American music. She believes that not only does Friends World
allow the student to have international experiences, experiential education forces them to integrate intellectual, emotional and psychological learning.
Marcenette Chavarria
Marce has a varied background in translation, management and business experience. She enjoys being able to use her linguistic talents when dealing with
Friends World Students as well as her opportunities to expand her experiences with foreign students. She feels the team at the Latin
American Center provides a supportive environment in which to work as it offers a lot of opportunities to the community.
"Mi interes personal y professional es terminar mi carrera de abogada. Mi trabajo en Amigos del Mundo ha sido y es incredible, me gusta muchismio ir al aeropuerto y recoger los estudiantes cuando vienen por primera vez a Costa Rica, observar sus rostros atemorizados y a la vez, ver sus caras de alegria cuando ven el rotulo que dice FRIENDS WORLD PROGRAM. El compartir el momento cuando escogen la familia y presentarlos por primera vez. Como secretaria mi experiencia es enriquecedora y disfruto cada momento del día en el Centro Latinoamericano compartiendo con los estudiantes de sus diferentes culturas. Tengo dos mascotas, un perro que se llama Samuel y una lora de nombre Lolita."
"My personal and professional interest is to reach a career as lawyer. My work in Friends World has been and is incredible. I really like going to the airport to pick up students when they arrive for the first time in Costa Rica, observe their fearful faces and then see their faces light up when they see the sign that says FRIENDS WORLD PROGRAM. I like sharing the moment when they choose their host families and meet them for the first time. As secretary, my experience is enriched and I enjoy each moment of the day in the Latin American Center sharing with students about our different cultures. I have 2 pets, a dog named Samuel and a parrot named Lolita."
Emilio Vargas
Emilio joined Friends World in 1987. His academic interest and specialty in Environmental and Rural Sociology. These topics include participatory research and planning, environmental education, environmental oral history, cultural ecology and others. He is also a part-time faculty member of the Regional Program on Wildlife Management for Mesoamerica and the Caribbean, and a volleyball coach for children in his home community. "I am committed to a kind of education that values independence and cooperation, self awareness and cultural respect, feelings and knowledge, creativity and long-term traditions. I think that Friends World has and is making relevant contributions towards that kind of socially and ecologically responsible education, a kind of education our planet and society need for a sustainable future."
Sarah Moran
Sarah first came to Costa Rica as a visiting student with the Associated College of Midwest's Tropical Fields Research Program during her junior year of college, and Costa Rica has played an important role in her personal and professional life ever since. Since 1983, she's lived in Costa Rica off and on, the rest of the time in Chicago where she worked as an adult educator (ESL, alternative high school, and GED) with Latino immigrants and as a union organizer, steward and officer. She has been a faculty advisor and Central America Reality Seminar facilitator, a job that has "reawakened her academic curiosity, reignited her activist spirit and strengthened her committment to experiential education, community, and equitable and sustainable development." Outside of Friends World, she works as training director for Peace Corps volunteers in the Urban Youth Program and in her free time enjoys exploring Costa Rica's natural beauty or spending time at home with her husband, dogs, chickens and garden.
Guiselle Román
My name is Guiselle Román, 37 years old. Single, mother of a lovely 12-year-old daughter. I was born in Costa Rica and have lived here my entire life. I´ve been working as one of the Spanish facilitators at LAC, for a long time. Besides that, I´m a sociologist with a Masters Degree in processes related to Central American issues; a reason why I've been involved in many research projects. Also, I've been able to develop my teaching skills at different universities in my country. Not long ago, I started getting in touch with women issues, which have turned out to be a very important fact in both my personal and professional life.
All this background has been applied to my Spanish lessons, resulting in an in-depth learning process on Latin American culture. The opportunity of working at the LAC has enriched my world vision. Therefore, I have accomplished an inner and intellectual holistic growth throughout the years.
Yóbeth Cabalceta
Empleada como facilitadora de español en Amigos del Mundo desde 1991, bachiller en Literatura y Linguística con Concentración en Español por la Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica.
Yóbeth has been employed as a Spanish facilitator with Friends World since 1991. She has a bachelor's degree in Literature and Linguistics with a Spanish Concentration from the National University in Costa Rica.
Odalí Lara
Mi nombre es Odalí Lara y tengo de trabajar con el LAC un año. Yo soy la encargada de mantener limpio el centro. Nací en Heredia centro y fui criada en Birrí de Santa Barbara, donde aun vivo, y es un lugar lleno de vida campestre, donde los atardeceres son bellisimos. Tengo 2 hijos, una hija y un hijo. Mi interes personal es terminar mi profesion de modista (costurera). Para mi trabajar con Amigos del Mundo principalmente en el Centro Latinoamericano ha sido y es una experiencia muy bonita, y emocionante.
My name is Odalí Lara and I have worked with the LAC one year. I am in charge of keeping the center clean. I was born in Heredia and was raised in Birrí de Santa Barbera, where I still live. It is a place of country life, where the sunsets are beautiful. I have 2 children, one son and one daughter. My personal interest is to be a professional tailor (seamstress). For me, working with Friends World in the Latin American Center has been a nice expreience, and an exciting one.
Jorge Cáceres
"I like the FWP for its original approach to education. Being apart is a refreshing experience after many years in traditional universities, for both students and faculty or staff." Jorge received training as a lawyer in El Salvador, his native country, and then studied Politics in England and the US, where he received a Ph.D.in Latin American Studies. He has served as Adviser at LAC since 1997, and has been the Academic Coordinator since 1999.He also teaches International Relations at the National University in Heredia, Costa Rica.
Mario Fernández
Soy Mario Fernández. Nací en Costa Rica en el año de
1965, y me crié (crecí) en Desamparados, un cantón de
la provincia de San Jose. En el LAC mi trabajo es el
de Handyman y otras labores administrativas. Los
estudiantes me reciben con miradas de anhelo porque
soy el que recojo el correo del centro. Me aficioné
desde niño a la lectura y a la música. Ahora estudio
enseñanza del castellano y literatura para la
secundaria en la Universidad Nacional. Estoy motivado
por un deseo de inculcar el amor a la literatura a las
generaciones jóvenes de costarricenses. Mi trabajo en
el LAC también me ha motivado a estudiar enseñanza del
castellano para extranjeros, creo que el idioma puede
ser un medio para unir a los pueblos del mundo, lo
cual es un gran ideal. Me gusta la música Rock y más
aún el Blues. Estudio guitarra eléctrica y me encanta
la música de Steve Ray Vaugham, Buddy Guy , John L.
Hooker, Santana, Jimmy Hendrix, etc.
Mario was born in Costa Rica in 1965, and grew up in Desamparados, a place in San Jose Province. He is the Handyman of the LAC, and does other administrative work as well. Students get really really excited to see Mario, because he brings in the mail to the LAC. He has loved school and music since childhood, and right now is studying to teach Castilian Spanish and Literature in the National University. He wishes to share his love of literature with Costa Rican students. Working at the LAC has also motivated him to study Spanish as a second language and teaching foreigners. Language is a means of uniting the world, he claims, a very great ideal. He likes Rock music, and the Blues are even better. He is learning to play electric guitar, and loves the music of Steve Ray Vaugham, Buddy Guy, John L. Hooker, Santana, Jimmy Hendrix, etc.
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