History of the Asunción Zoo Project

From the left: Edie Jorns (far right), Jim Jorns (blue shirt) and Marina Petrovic (center)
on the bridge to the new aquatic/monkey exhibit under construction at the Asunción Zoo (April, 2009)

This project began in 1992 based on a request from the Municipality of Asunción and the Botanical and Zoological Garden Foundation in Asunción for assistance in the development of a Master Plan for the extant zoo in the Jardin Botánico. The Sunset Zoo appeared to be in an ideal position developmentally and functionally to provide such assistance. Thus, in 1994 a Sister Zoo relationship was established between Sunset Zoo and the Asunción Zoo; with the blessing of both CPK/KPP and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the national accrediting entity for legitimate zoos in the country.

In March of 1994 I spent one month in Paraguay consulting with architects, members of the municipality’s Directorate of the Environment and Foundation & Zoo officials. While this was an official CPK/KPP project, it differed in that funding for that initial visit and a follow-up visit in 1995 was provided by the Foundation and the Municipality. The 1995 visit was made by Mike Quick, then General Curator at Sunset Zoo who developed a Master Plan in concert with the Architects. They also prepared an Operating and Husbandry Manual for use by the zoo administration. Funding of all subsequent yearly visits on zoo operational matters was provided by the Friends of Sunset Zoo, the Sedgwick County Zoo (to which Mike Quick subsequently moved), and the Paraguay Conservation Action Partnership (CAP Paraguay) of the AZA, which is headquartered at Sunset Zoo.

An ancillary Education Project under CAP Paraguay was initiated with zoo educators from Topeka Zoo, Sunset Zoo and Sedgwick County Zoo providing workshops for teachers in public schools and institutes in Paraguay as well as providing new signage for zoo exhibits. This project was supported by t he CPK and funded strongly by KPP through the PoA Education and Culture Grant program as well as by CAP Paraguay and the zoos involved. It is a separate aspect from the focus of this report.

In 1994, the Asunción Zoo was a place which citizens of the city refused to visit owing to smells, poor housing and inadequate husbandry for the animals and generally very poor environmental conditions. Over the intervening 13 years from 1994 to 2007, there were inconsistent improvements: some years the zoo moved ahead significantly, others it moved significantly backwards. Much of the problem lay in the lack of direction by zoo and municipal officials, lack of consistency in zoo administration and perceived directional competencies, lack of funding and especially lack of understanding of the value of the zoo. Incidentally, these facts were recognized to by municipal officials as much as by we observers. That situation began to change in 2003 when the Municipality and CAP Paraguay signed a Memorandum of Understanding on husbandry, organization and exhibit development. A series of disastrous events in the city, however, (Ycua Boleños fire and the death of a child caused by the elephant at the zoo) drew attention away from zoo matters and there was a major reduction in steps to improve the zoo.

In approximately 2006, the city and foundation approached the Fundación Ricardo Boettner and its President Marina Petrovic to assume oversight of zoo development and patron development. Ms. Petrovic was the first individual from Paraguay with whom I and the Zoo project members began working in 1992 and she remained continuously and strongly active and concerned about zoo development. Marina and her foundation took over in 2006 began developing patrons (exhibit sponsors). Ultimately in 2008, through an MOU with the Junta Municipal and the Mayor, the Foundation Ricardo Boettner assumed broad responsibility for oversight and development of the zoo. That fact, coupled with the appointment of a new, young Zoo Veterinarian, Dr. Nelson Scappini. Immediately as the result of these events, there have been continuous, on-going interactions and consultation between us on major aspects of zoo matters. Zoo improvement literally shot forward. Dr Scappini was subsequently appointed Director of the Zoo and then Director of the Jardin Botánico y Zoológico of Asunción.

From the left: Edie Jorns (in red) Jim Jorns (blue shirt) and Marina Petrovic (center) and
zoo staff/volunteers in Foundation Office at the Asunción Zoo. (April-09)

In the period since the Foundation Boettner assumed responsibilities, the zoo has undergone significant development. Cement sidewalks have been installed, many “cages” have been renovated into habitats (the standard exhibition mode for zoos), Amersfort Zoo in the Netherlands donated €10,000.00 (US$15,000.00) to develop an Educational/Volunteer program resulting in docent programs, zoo maps for distribution, improvements to the zoo entrance, and a small zoo gift shop. A “modern” office/working center has been installed, and management practices related to animal care and housing have been upgraded. Zoo “keepers” who previously just carried out assigned responsibilities are now making suggestions on how to improve the zoo. Proceeds from an admission fee (approximately 30¢) are now going to the Foundation rather than into city coffers. In other words, 13 years of disappointment and exasperation have finally paid off in a remarkable renaissance of zoo activity.

The Zoo director, Dr. Scappini has been invited by Sunset Zoo to visit Manhattan for conferences and visits to Kansas Zoos and I will be spending several weeks in Paraguay, in July (on request) to consult on further improvements and advances in zoo husbandry at the Zoo. Finally, Jim and Edie Jorns (Edie is a long time docent at Sunset Zoo) visited the zoo in July ’09 (see photos) while on a visit to Paraguay in association with a Church project. They were hosted by Ms. Petrovic and came back with very favorable comments regarding the zoo; Marina’s sole regret (and mine) was that they had not seen the zoo in its “original” state. Obviously the zoo is far from meeting the standards set by our accrediting agency but it is a far cry from its origins. I guess it just proves that if you wait long enough, collaborate long enough and find the right individual(s) in place, things can happen. I’ll report on the reality after my visit in July.

Bob Klemm, Chair, Natural Resources Committee

A Big Thank You to KPP!

This top photo is a big thanks from the kids for their books because many of the books were shipped down with funds from the last KPP annual fundraiser.–this photographic thank you  is for the Kansas Paraguay Partners!

Beth Chronister has returned from her Peace Corps stint in Paraguay. She sent us a note with the enclosed photos from the library which KPP helped build with our donation of books. The  photo below is  of the “ribbon pulling” ceremony.
From left to right: Beth Chronister, the Peace Corps Director, the U.S. Ambassdor Liliana Ayalde, and the local school’s
principal.

(There are more photos of the library in the Rincon VIP section of our website)

Here is Beth’s note:
I have returned from Paraguay upon completion of my two years of Peace Corps service at the end of April. Before I left many exciting things happened with the school library project that Kansas Paraguay Partners supported. The last few months of my service was full of fund raising and construction as we built a classroom (supported by a fund from Peace Corps and money/materials from the community) to house the library collection which almost reached a 1000 books starting from 0! This all came to a culmination with a wonderful building dedication that was attended by the Ambassador of the US to Paraguay and the director of Peace Corps Paraguay. From my communications since with the community, the library is being used weekly for check out to the homes, cared for by the principal, 6th grade teacher and new volunteer.

The library, Arandu Rekavo (a place of learning and discovery roughly), is located in a compania of La Colmena in Paraguari (about 3 bus hours from Asuncion). It is a community of about 500 people, 100 homes and the elementary school has approximately 90 students. It is a rural community, largely based on agriculture and animal husbandry, though there are also people working as teachers, nurses or sending money from work in the capital or from other countries. The building was built Feb-Apr 2009 with a grant from US Aid through Peace Corps, and supported by the community through donated supplies, labour and fundraising. The collection was made through donations from here in Kansas and from within Paraguay.

I would say most importantly, before the creation of this library, there were hardly any books in the community. Books in Paraguay are too expensive for the majority of the population and generally there is not a culture of reading. But once the library began circulation– over 200 books were going into the homes and classrooms each week! These are not only read by the students, but also their older siblings and family members. It was incredible to see a love of reading being begun in the community. I hope that the books serve as a spark to a sustained ability and desire to read, research and expand the mind for the rest of the students lives.

Here is a copy of the plaque that was unveiled at the dedication that recognizes the donors including KPP.

What am I up to now? I am currently living between Lawrence and Topeka and preparing for entering graduate school in 2010 to pursue a masters in divinity. I am also spending my downtime the same way I did in Peace Corps, with my Paraguayan cat and drinking terere I miss the people very much and am fortunate that there are now ways to continue communications. I hope I will be able to visit within a couple years.

And once again, gracias, thank you, aguje for all the help and support to the make the hope of a rural library a reality.

Submitted by Beth Chronister

Brazil Fellows Exchange 2008

KPP Members Lorraine Richards of Newton and Melissa Warren worked with the Georgia and Brazil Partners on this collaborative effort to host firefighters from Perhambuco Brazil in Newton, Wichita and Lawrence, Kansas.
Muito bom!

Liliam Rodriguez Tour of Kansas

Liliam Rodriguez, the best soprano in Paraguay, has been working with Arlo and Kathy Kasper, in Paraguay. Liliam toured Kansas, with her accompanist Diego Sanchez Haase, in 2008 and gave a number of concerts as well as working with music students. Below are some photos from Liliam’s time in Kansas:

Liliam Rodriguez, Arlo Kasper, Victor (Liliam's Husband)

 

Master class at ESU, Diego and Liliam observing student singing traditional Paraguayan song. (The pianists were also critiqued/coached)

 

 

Liliam performs with her accompanist Diego Haase

Alice Sagehorn–las noticias!

Alice Sagehorn was featured in an article in the Paraguayan newspaper ABC Color

CATEDRATICAS DE LA UNIVERSIDAD DE PITTSBURG (KANSAS) EN ASUNCIÓN

Asunción, Paraguay, Jueves 26 de Marzo de 200

En abierta misión
A través del Comité Paraguay Kansas y en la búsqueda de captar nuevos universitarios, estuvieron las profesoras estadounidenses Alice Sagehorn y Lynette Olson. Entre otras cosas, dicen: “Las carreras del futuro son las tecnológicas”. “En EE. UU. las mujeres ganan menos que los hombres”. “Obama nos trajo esperanzas”.

Alice Sagehorn hace su 15ª. visita al Paraguay; ella es Dra. en Educación y directora del programa en Paraguay “Pittsburg State University (PSU)”. Por su parte, Lynette Olson es decana de la Facultad de Ciencias y Artes (PSU) y nos visita por primera vez. Ambas tienen 35 años de trayectoria educativa. Alice se decidió a los 18 años –felizmente, aclara– por el magisterio: “Era uno de los 3 únicos caminos que existían para las mujeres en esa época, aparte de secretariado y enfermería”, comenta. Por su parte, Lynette, heredera de la vocación de su madre, encuentra en la educación la oportunidad de ejercer su meta de vida: ayudar a los demás. Olson, Dra. en Ciencias de la Familia, es la primera y única mujer que ocupa un decanato de las 7 facultades de la Universidad de Pittsburg. “No busqué ser decana, simplemente fue un paso más en mi carrera; no lo hice sola, fui muy apoyada por otras mujeres de la universidad. Allá la mayoría de los decanos son hombres”.

–¿Diferencias en el país de la democracia?
–A.S.: Sí. Solo en las carreras más tradicionales, como enfermería y profesorado, hay igualdad de género.
–¿La desigualdad incluye el salario?
–A.S.: Desde hace mucho. Hasta Obama en su campaña mencionó el asunto: por la misma tarea, el hombre gana 1 dólar y la mujer 78 centavos. Por eso es muy importante que las mujeres trabajen juntas y se impulsen a conseguir buenos puestos; esto no solo las ayuda para el bienestar de sus familias, sino que abre paso para todas las mujeres.
En campo universitario
El Comité Paraguay Kansas existe desde 1968; fue creado para desarrollar vínculos de desarrollo y solidaridad. El convenio educativo, firmado en el año 2005 por este Comité con la Universidad de Pittsburg, permite a los alumnos paraguayos comenzar los 2 primeros años de la carrera universitaria en Asunción, ahorrándose así el elevado costo que significa trasladarse y vivir en Kansas. Las clases se dictan en inglés y las materias son las básicas requeridas en todas las carreras. Los alumnos continúan estudiando luego en Kansas, con tarifas especiales. La Dra. Sagehorn nos explica cómo se implementó este programa: “Primero obtuvimos la aprobación de 4 comités diferentes dentro de la universidad, luego conseguimos la firma del presidente de la institución. Después pasamos por un Consejo del Estado de Kansas; luego por el gobernador y, por último, por una agencia de acreditaciones que debe estar al tanto de los programas que realizan todas las universidades”.
–¿Qué porcentaje de jóvenes (allá) van a la universidad?
–L.O.: La gente piensa que en EE.UU. todos tienen dinero para ir a la universidad, pero no es así. El Estado brinda préstamos, pero muchos prefieren no endeudarse porque son cuentas muy grandes. El porcentaje de estudiantes es de un 55, 60% (hoy, más mujeres que varones; mayormente de 18 y 20 años). El resto suele seguir una carrera técnica de 2 años (Ej.: refrigeración, cosmetología, computación) y con eso tienen asegurado un trabajo bien pago.
–¿Cuál es el actual énfasis de la educación norteamericana?
–A.S.: Antes se enfocaba mucho sobre la enseñanza de la educación primaria, ahora va más hacia los métodos para enseñar a estudiantes extranjeros. Y como carrera se están promoviendo las tecnológicas (para el auto –que viene todo computarizado– ya no necesitás un mecánico, sino un ingeniero). La tecnología está cambiando todo, hasta el estudio. Tengo un estudiante on line en Taiwán, al que no conozco personalmente y seguramente nunca conoceré en mi vida.
–¿Qué les pronostican a carreras como Historia o Literatura?
–A.S.: La tecnología puede fomentarlas. Por ejemplo, yo tengo un dispositivo con el que, pagando 10 dólares, puedo bajar hasta 200 libros en 1 minuto.
–L.O.: Yo creo que Historia nunca va a desaparecer, porque es una carrera que nos ayuda a entender de dónde venimos y adónde vamos. Nos ayuda a corregir los errores que cometimos como nación y a redactar nuestras leyes. Si desaparecieran Historia y Literatura, perderíamos la esencia de nuestra cultura.
–¿El grado universitario llegará a dividirnos en un futuro?
–L.O.: ¿Dónde? ¿en el mundo o en EE.UU.?
–Donde lo entiendan ustedes.
–L.O.: La educación universitaria en mi país está en crisis, porque necesitamos crear nuevas carreras. Claro que todas las sociedades deben tener gente educada. Pero tu pregunta es difícil de responder, porque quizás algunas personas no estudien, pero tengan habilidades naturales para tomar riesgos y montar un negocio próspero que les dé bienestar.
–¿Qué impresión les causa Paraguay?
–L.O.: Me disculpo, solo estoy hace 2 días.
–A.S.: A mí me impresionaron los colegios públicos; si enseñar ya es difícil, es mucho más cuando no hay recursos. Sentí un gran entusiasmo de los chicos por aprender y también mucha calidez, algo que no estamos acostumbradas a ver; allá los jóvenes son menos comunicativos, viven pegados al celular o a los auriculares.
–¿De qué modo afectó la caída de la bolsa a la educación superior?
–A.S.: En la universidad se contrataron menos profesores y tuvimos un recorte en el presupuesto, pero hacemos todo lo posible para que esto no afecte a los estudiantes en ningún aspecto.
–L.O.: A nivel particular también lo sentimos. Yo ahorré por años para mi jubilación, pero con la caída de la bolsa, mis ahorros perdieron el 50% de su valor. Por eso voy a seguir trabajando después de retirada; lo más seguro es que haga asesoramiento en colegios y universidades.
–No las puedo dejar ir sin preguntarles por Obama.
–(Risas) A.S.: ¿Si votamos? Yo voté por él.
–¿Fue su gran preparación académica el secreto para ganar?
–A.S.: No, también McCain tenía preparación. Obama ganó porque tenía un lenguaje esperanzador.
–Qué cosa, de potencia mundial a buscar esperanzas de recuperación económica…
–A.S.: Lo que pasó es bueno para que se sepa que a los americanos también nos pasan cosas. Más que toda disidencia ideológica, creo que, por el factor económico, el mundo entero espera que EE.UU. se recupere.

Dicho en femenino

Lynette nació en Nebraska. Soltera, sin hijos. “La vida de la mujer en EE.UU. no es fácil. Allá no hay mucamas y, aun con altos estudios y buenos sueldos, seguimos ocupándonos personalmente de las tareas de la casa. Las solas, como yo, ‘alquilamos’ fuerza masculina para arreglar el jardín o el auto”.

Alice nació en Missouri. Casada, madre de 2 hijos ya profesionales. “También tengo 2 hijas de corazón, 2 chicas paraguayas que vivieron en mi casa mientras estudiaban en Kansas. Las acompañé mucho; cuando se tienen hijas mujeres hay que esforzarse el doble para que hagan la mitad del camino que hacen los hombres”.

Lourdes Peralta
lperalta@abc.com.py
*(Agradecemos la traducción a Graciela Ocampos, del Comité Paraguay Kansas)