Travel to Uruguay, Update on Projects
For this newsletter we bring you the report of an amazing trip to Uruguay carried out in April by Gerard Lagos and Juan Carlos (JC) Ghiringhelli.
The trip was full of exciting events and impactful meetings. It also reinforced several collaborative opportunities for our partnership between Minnesota and Uruguay. Gerard’s trip centered around Sports; Arts and Culture; and Educational exchange opportunities. JC’s visit had an expansive range which included Education, Technology, Infrastructure, Sports, Medicine, and Criminal Justice.
One of the most impactful things about international travel and our partnerships is meeting new people. The agenda was coordinated by Uruguay–Minnesota president, Gilda Battagliese, and the head of the Sports committee, María José Pesce Cutri. Gerard was hosted by two amazing artists, giants in the Uruguayan art community, and Partners members, Beatriz Tobler and Daniel Tomasini.
“Listening to Beatriz, Daniel, and Diego, and seeing their creativity is a new connection that I will cherish thanks to these three creative minds.”
– Gerard Lagos
ARTS
Please reach out if you are interested in working on Art exchanges. Daniel will be visiting Harvard in July and we might be able to talk him into a side trip to Minnesota.
The trip was full of exciting events and impactful meetings. It also reinforced several collaborative opportunities for our partnership between Minnesota and Uruguay. Gerard’s trip centered around Sports; Arts and Culture; and Educational exchange opportunities. JC’s visit had an expansive range which included Education, Technology, Infrastructure, Sports, Medicine, and Criminal Justice.
One of the most impactful things about international travel and our partnerships is meeting new people. The agenda was coordinated by Uruguay–Minnesota president, Gilda Battagliese, and the head of the Sports committee, María José Pesce Cutri. Gerard was hosted by two amazing artists, giants in the Uruguayan art community, and Partners members, Beatriz Tobler and Daniel Tomasini.
“Listening to Beatriz, Daniel, and Diego, and seeing their creativity is a new connection that I will cherish thanks to these three creative minds.”
– Gerard Lagos
ARTS
Please reach out if you are interested in working on Art exchanges. Daniel will be visiting Harvard in July and we might be able to talk him into a side trip to Minnesota.
SPORTS
One focal point of the trip was to expand our sports connections. The main program centers around an opportunity to bring two U13 teams from Uruguay to Minnesota in 2025 or 2026. The goal is to break cultural barriers and stereotypes while forging new lifelong people-to-people connections. In Uruguay, we received support, perspective, and insights from the Organización Nacional de Fútbol Infantil (ONFI) and the US Embassy in Montevideo.
One focal point of the trip was to expand our sports connections. The main program centers around an opportunity to bring two U13 teams from Uruguay to Minnesota in 2025 or 2026. The goal is to break cultural barriers and stereotypes while forging new lifelong people-to-people connections. In Uruguay, we received support, perspective, and insights from the Organización Nacional de Fútbol Infantil (ONFI) and the US Embassy in Montevideo.
US Embassy staff Kerri Spindler-Ranta, Lauren Holt, and Verónica Perez Urioste and MUP sports committee members María José Pesce Cutri (2nd from left) and Gerard Lagos (2nd from right)
Please contact the sports committee if you are interested in helping with the soccer or other sports opportunities.
EDUCATION
JC and Gerard connected on a second focal point of the trip, opportunities in education.
Uruguay Partners organized a tour of the Alianza Cultural Uruguay – Estados Unidos and a meeting with teenage students. The students shared a bit of Uruguayan culture and the similarities and differences between Uruguay and Minnesota.
They also visited Rural School #23 in Maldonado. It was a wonderful experience in a one-room school with children from ages 4-11. We were able to see a portion of their English language class developed by the “Inglés sin límites” program under the Administración Nacional de Educación Pública, ANEP. There were several opportunities that the Education committee will be working on with the ANEP team.
- In-line Hockey
- Futsal Exchanges
- Youth Sports Club Partnerships
- Equipment donations
EDUCATION
JC and Gerard connected on a second focal point of the trip, opportunities in education.
Uruguay Partners organized a tour of the Alianza Cultural Uruguay – Estados Unidos and a meeting with teenage students. The students shared a bit of Uruguayan culture and the similarities and differences between Uruguay and Minnesota.
They also visited Rural School #23 in Maldonado. It was a wonderful experience in a one-room school with children from ages 4-11. We were able to see a portion of their English language class developed by the “Inglés sin límites” program under the Administración Nacional de Educación Pública, ANEP. There were several opportunities that the Education committee will be working on with the ANEP team.
Meeting at a local private school, Crandon, with Cecilia Baridon and follow up meetings with ANEP were very fruitful in laying out even more ways to partner.
Please contact the education committee if you are interested in helping with exchanges and partnerships, for example:
OPPORTUNITIES
Notes on the trip and additional partnering opportunity from the itinerary:
The trip was not only impactful in terms of potential collaborations and projects but also on a personal level, with reconnections with family and friends and the building of new friendships. While it was an exhausting trip, it was also one of the most fulfilling we have ever had.
Please contact the education committee if you are interested in helping with exchanges and partnerships, for example:
- Internet-based student or teacher support
- Hosting students during the school year
- Developing content for English classes in Rural Uruguay
- Participating in online lessons during English classes in Uruguay
OPPORTUNITIES
Notes on the trip and additional partnering opportunity from the itinerary:
- On April 10th with a meeting at Alianza Uruguay USA, Gerard spoke to teenagers in an English class. Potential projects discussed included student and teacher exchanges.
- On the 11th, a trip to La Paloma was made where we met with Rodrigo, a ranch owner who provides horse therapy to children, and Diego Lafuente at Deportivo La Paloma. The latter expressed a need for help, particularly in the form of used equipment donations.
- On the 12th, we visited the number 23 rural school in Maldonado and engaged with students and teachers. The godparents project representatives, particularly Laura Motta, provided insights into their efforts to teach English to rural students. Potential projects discussed included recruiting more volunteers, improving connectivity by using Starlink, and including a specialized teaching instance for teachers.
- On the 15th, meetings were held with the public school’s administration (ANEP) and Laura Motta to discuss their “Inglés sin límites” program, an initiative meant to teach English remotely to rural children. Potential projects included recording short media pieces and setting up a reciprocity program for teaching Spanish in Minnesota schools.
- On the 16th, we met with Ney Castillo at the child cancer foundation and Monseñor Luis Castillo, former archbishop of Montevideo. Potential projects discussed included medical staff exchanges and exchanges of lawmakers for Uruguay to take inspiration from Minnesota on legislation.
- On the 17th, we met with Rodrigo Riera, director of camara music of SODRE, and Teresa Dominguez, who specializes in environmental awareness. Potential projects discussed included musical collaborations and a waste reduction awareness program in US schools.
- On the 18th, we met with Mabel Izon and Gabriela Fulco to discuss various projects including repairing rural schools and revitalizing probation and therapeutic law reform, to provide contention for all type of addictions.
- On the 19th, our final day of meetings, we met Laura Motta and Yamandú Aispurú, a trainer of Nacional Fútbol club. Potential projects discussed included helping with the “Inglés sin límites” program and bringing soccer teams, one of each gender, to the states for the 2025 USA youth cup.
The trip was not only impactful in terms of potential collaborations and projects but also on a personal level, with reconnections with family and friends and the building of new friendships. While it was an exhausting trip, it was also one of the most fulfilling we have ever had.
Upcoming Events
December Gathering - save the date Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 6:00 PM
- La Estancia- 4751 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55419
- Watch for the email invitation in November - join us for our December meeting and dinner.
Get Involved
Why join Minnesota-Uruguay Partners?
"The best part of joining MUP is the people you meet -- both Minnesotans and Uruguayans! MUP members are interesting human beings with amazing stories and extensive life experiences. They love travel, culture, food, soccer, and hospitality. We are an organization that lives to bring about greater understanding between cultures North and South."
"The best part of joining MUP is the people you meet -- both Minnesotans and Uruguayans! MUP members are interesting human beings with amazing stories and extensive life experiences. They love travel, culture, food, soccer, and hospitality. We are an organization that lives to bring about greater understanding between cultures North and South."
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A donation in any dollar amount makes you a member of Minnesota-Uruguay Partners for 2024.
A donation in any dollar amount makes you a member of Minnesota-Uruguay Partners for 2024.