An Introduction: AJWS WPF Central America 08

Hey Everybody,

you've reached the blog of Elsita Kiekebusch and it sure has been a while since I last posted. The previous posts are coverage of my 2006 study abroad experience and travels in Ecuador, as well as Peru and Bolivia, so feel free to take a look.

More importantly though, my next group of posts are going to be about my upcoming trip. I have recently been accepted as an American Jewish World Service (AJWS) World Partners Fellow and will be living in Central America during the 2008 year. I currently don't know my placement yet, but I will be working for a local grassroots non-governmental organization for about nine months, in either Nicaragua or El Salvador. I'm super excited. This blog will be used to make a record of the trip and my experiences, thoughts, questions and everything else, during that time.


The American Jewish World Service is an international development organization that aims to alleviate poverty, hunger and disease worldwide. AJWS supports grassroots organizations in the developing world through grant making, technical assistance, emergency relief, advocacy and service programs. By the way, it was through the American Jewish World Service that my parents (along with my brother and I) traveled to Zimbabwe as volunteers in 1994.

Happy Reading!




nB: it seems like I wont be able to mention the NGO and people I work with by name due to privacy concerns. If you're more interested, feel free to drop me an email.