Visit to Natales

This week has had its ups and downs. On Thursday we decided to go to Puerto Natales and visit some stakeholders there. It was actually a very productive visit and we wanted to see whether the follow positions that were written were still valid.

I met up with Hugo Bahamonde of Natales Emprende to get an idea of what they were up to and tell him a little bit about what we were doing. I also asked him if it would be possible that they sponsor one student. He quite liked the idea because he felt that the work taken forward by our volunteers had been really useful and would like it to continue. He will get back to me this week.

Marnix met up with Jovito of CONAF who seems to have received money to start managing la Reserva de los Alacalufes. Although i am still not 100% sure about CONAF and whether it is really a good idea to work so closely with them, the meeting did seem to be positive and the follow up of Marions work still stands. Although good news, i think it is still important to see how this develops into a useful constructive relationship.

We also visited Cerro Castillo. We went to the municipality where we found out that the waste management project was still on hold. They had been very busy, and the project had been deprioritised, although this did not mean that they were not interested in its implementation in the future. On the other hand the municipal tourism office is interested in receiving a proposal for the development of a strategic tourism development plan. This is good, and hopefully this week we can get something on paper. They do not have the money, but based on that they would be looking for funding within the regional government. I think this is a really good opportunity, i also think it is very interesting, and above all i think we have the capacity to do it.

Meanwhile back in Punta Arenas...................

We had a meeting with the director of CORFO and they are interested in working with us within a specific framework. I wont go into details now, but it is really up our street....working on micro enterprise facilitation......, but we have to see if we have the capacity. Ill keep you informed.

This week was also peppered by business plan evaluation activities. This was quite fun until i reached number 125. Well, what i really mean is that it is actually super interesting to get an insight into the ideas that are out there. Although many are not so innovative, it is giving me an idea of what entrepreneurs are looking for, and maybe the skills that the have, or don't have, to get there. There are quite a few from williams, so keep your fingers crossed. I am not going to evaluate them though. For ethical reasons of course.....how honest is that!

We have worked with carine and she is busy taking forward the selection process for the PW coordinator, and organizing the other available positions. So basically, we all updated the available positions and have sent that to wouter so when he gets back from holiday he can get straight into it......

Alejandra is back from williams. Man, i moved 200 boxes from one place to another, and then around, and then another 15 from a third place to a fourth place. Now everything is where it should be........well almost. Patty is also in Punta Arenas and i met up with here a few times. She is trying to get the hell out of Williams, (her words), but is well. She misses all of you! Obviously we caught up with all the capucha de Puerto Williams.

Meanwhile back in NL.....its nice weather apparently......