REPORT AILD Business Trip to Bogota

The President of The Americas Foundation (TAF), Victor Pinzon, visited Bogota, Colombia last June 13 to June 19, 2001 to inform and launch TAF’s exceptional “Empowerment -Agents of Change” Internship and Leadership Development (AILD) program.

The goal was to promote and start identifying the type of individuals and groups of individuals to start bringing them to Washington, DC within the ambitious AILD scope. TAF's goal is also to develop an exchange program taking Hispanics and others from the United States to Colombian, just as TAF is working to do the same throughout other countries of Latin America and the Caribbean; and throughout the United States itself.

For details of TAF's AILD program please visit above shown links.

The business visit was a success because of the strong interest and support Pinzon was able to generate everywhere he went and from every official or individual he met with. Pinzon met and establish working relationships on the AILD program and other programs with the following personalities:

1. At the Colombian Senate with Senator Antonio Guerra de la Espriella’s most capable and professional aid, Mr. Juan Carlos Leon.

2. Dr. Agustin Lombana, Chairman and Executive Director of the Colombian Fulbright Commission, who graciously offered a working-luncheon at his office. Two other persons were invited, Mr. Terry Kneebone, the Cultural attache at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota and TAF’s Representative in Bogota, Mr. Nestor Raul Quinones.

3. Various officials at Universidad de los Andes, the meetings were possible thanks to Mr. Juan Carlos Leon of the office of Senator Guerra, among which were Dr. Elizabeth Ungar, Maria Teresa Latorre, Tatiana Villate, Sandra Rojas, Marcela Rincon and Karen Vargas.

4. At the Escuela Superior de Administracion Publica, ESAP, with Mr. Ivan Roberto Santoyo and the office of Dr. German Ramirez, Director of the Asociacion Colombiana de Administracion Publica.

5. Mr. Clifford Brown of USAID at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota along with Ms. Virginia Martinez.

6. At the Colombian American Chamber of Commerce with its Subdirector, Ms. Maria Mercedes Ochoa.

7. A radio interview by RCN’s Francisco Tulande

8. Ms. Angelica Cordoba, Promotora Cultural del Fondo Promocional de la Cultura del Banco Popular.

9. A presentation to a group of 13 persons that coincidentally included Colombian Senator Francisco Chaux, which was organized by Ms. Adriana Garrido, daughter of the Architect and Developer Jose Fernando Garrido, The group “Somos Colombia” is made up of highly motivated high school Colombian students with a vision to Colombia’s future.

10. Mr. Pedro Pablo Herrera, Professional and Business Consultant, former staff Advisor to various Colombian Ministers.

11. Various others, including Mr. Guillermo Londono, Gerente General de Refocosta, Grupo Bavaria; Dr. Gerardo Paris of the Colombian Red Cross; Maria Costanza Gutierrez of Tiempos del Mundo: Mr Alfonso Pinzon and Leonor Pinzon; Mr. Hernando Garzon an active Tanner Industialist; and the office of Mr. Luis Carlos Martinez (TAF thanks his hospitality).

    Also, TAF thanks Delta Airlines, particularly Mr. Joe Diaz in Washington, DC and Mr. Felipe Arbelaez in Bogota for their vision and support of TAF’s AILD initiative in Colombia. As a result TAF is able to offer a competitive airfare rate to any TAF member involved in its AILD program in the amount of $499 round trip ticket, either Bogota-Washington, DC or Washington, DC-Bogota.

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