Archive for April, 2010

Miscellaneous

Citizen Participation: Assuming an Active Role in Change

SABF Board

Like the common saying goes, there are three kinds of people: those who “make” things happen, those who “watch” things happen and those who “wonder” what happened. And though we would all like to believe that we fall into the first category, in terms of citizen participation most of us are very far from it. It is necessary to make a critical analysis and decide whether we are actively helping make the changes that we demand, whether we take interest and keep ourselves up to date with what goes on in our community or whether we at least make a conscientious, informed decision when we vote.

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SABF News

A story from which to learn: Words converted into actions.

General Editor & Ex-participant

Some time ago, I told Nicolás Loreti, member of the Media and Communication Group from the South American Business Forum, what I was doing as a volunteer for Espacio Agua (www.espacioagua.org.ar); we inmediately decided to start working together. That was how we designed a flyer for Espacio Agua and other institutions, like, for example, schools that have handed in the flyer during the Water Week.

We considered it a way of giving a Little bit of ourselves in favor of the world; letting others knows ways through which they could reduce the consumption of wáter which is a very important issue for our lives.
In this post, we want you to learn a story of a school located in LA RIOJA, an Argentinean province, that got in contact with us by means of the SABF BLOG.

School Number 136, Chamical, La Rioja, Argentina. “ We are teachers from Second Cicle of the primary school number 136, Nicolasa Vera Luna, from the city of Chamical, La Rioja and we are working along all this year with the wáter issue; we want to take part at the marathon with activities for the students. We will be waiting for an answer. Thanks!

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SABF News

SPONSORSHIP EXPERIENCES

SABF Board

We want to keep on adressing testimonies of students who were capable of being sponsored when travelling for SABF.
Today, we offer you the story of two students from Brazil who took part in the 5th Edition of SABF.
We really hope these stories help you to take part in our forum, and what’s more, allow you to know, financial situations are not a limit nor a main factor to be a SABF participant.

Hânder Costa Leal,
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Hânder received financial help from his university. Here is his story.
“The Department of Research from my university (PROPESQ/UFRGS) provides students who want to go to academic-related activities (both in other regions of Brazil and in the MERCOSUR contries) with a small financial help of R$300,00 (~US$ 150,00) in a reimbursement to be paid when the student presents the certificate. This, provided that he or she orders the financial help at least a month prior to the event date. It does not cover all the travel expanses, but is a good help.

I live in Porto Alegre, the closest Brazilian large-sized city to Buenos Aires, and paid R$500,00 for my travel tickets. One important thing is that the financial help only applies to students that have some kind of paper or essay to be presented in the event, as is the case of a SABFER applicant. This essay must be attached on the online financial help application form. I guess that this frame is worth to most of Brazilian public universities. The private ones use to provide more generous financial help to their students.”

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Uncategorized

Do you still not know what to write?

SABF 2010 Ex-Organizer

In a few days the inscription process will take place (May 9th) and surely most of you are still thinking what to write and how to do it. If this is the very first time, this will undoubtedly happen to you… but this does not mean that you cannot achieve it! Everyone of us had our first time once and remember that practicing is how you’ll learn, so I encourage all of you to give it a try!

What we’re asking for is your opinion about one of the 3 subtopics of this year and to relate it with South America. In our SABF website you will be able to find a description of everyone of them. Besides, it would be dazzling if you investigate even more by your own and then put your ideas on the essay.

You can find essays from some past participants of previous editions, but this is only a guide, remember that we really value originality and that it does not necessary need to have the perfect structure of a model essay!

If you have any doubt, please do not hesitate to contact the Student Relations Departmen at students@sabf.org.ar

I hope everyone of you give it a try! Lot of luck!

SABF News

World Business Dialogue Experience!

SABF Board

During March 16th, 17th and 18th, Valeria Luna, Martin Siniawski, Agustín Izzo and I, attended the 13th Edition of the World Business Dialogue, an international business conference organized by students of the University of Cologne from Germany (Cologne, Germany).

The World Business Dialogue gathers 50 prominent leaders of different contexts together with 300 students from the entire world, selected through a contest of projects that have to be sent and presented (selected by the quality and creativity of their applications. In the past editions, leaders like Bill Gates and Michael Blomberg have delivered speeches.

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SABF News

Doug Casey in Argentina!

SABF Board

Doug will be delivering a speech in the Aula Magna of ITBA during the afternoon of Thursday 22nd, April (starting at 16.00 pm GMT: – 03:00).
The entrance is free and anyone who’s interested can come.
Douglas Casey is a liberalist economist, born in the United States, international investor and writer of some financial books that are now best sellers.
He is also the founder and President of Casey Research, a financial consultant that mainly deals with vertical markets of the entire world. Continue reading…

Miscellaneous

A SABFER experience at ENDEAVOR

General Editor & Ex-participant

This is Patricia Soledad  Fernández Bugna, participant of the 5th SABF Edition (2009) and delegate for the city of Mar del Plata. Once again, I am writing to show you how SABF opened up my mind and many doors and opportunities, that allow me, today, to act as an active citizen.

Through this post, I want you to read part of my experience at a conference developed by ENDEAVOR, during the past friday of April, in my city. The truth is that there were many speakers, that’s why, I will only refer to some of them. Those interested in knowing more, do not hesitate to contact me by sending me an email, pfernandezbugna@gmail.com Continue reading…

SABF News

Why you should all participate at SABF?

SABF Board

The following statement describes the experience of a student who managed to get sponsored to be able to participate in a previous edition of the South American Business Forum. As it is known, SABF waives all participants their costs of activities, transportation within Buenos Aires, accommodation and meals. However, it is not possible to waive, besides, the costs of transportation to and from Buenos Aires.
For this same reason some students find themselves in the need of looking for financial aid – as they cannot afford paying for their own tickets. The purpose of the following story is to encourage all SABF 2010 postulants who need external help not to stop writing their essay (needed to be eligible) despite their financial situation. There are several ways of being sponsored and Walter Monterroza, from El Salvador tells us his experience on how to make it happen. We very much thank him for his contribution!

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Events

Wendy Kopp in Argentina

SABF 2010 Ex-Organizer

Wendy Kopp will be in Argentina the coming april 19th and we want you to have the possibility of participating
at the speech she will deliver in the Aula Magna of the ITBA at 21.30 (GMT + 0:00)
In case you cannot attend it, Follow it via live stream.

Wendy Kopp, CEO and founder of Teach For America, comes to Argentina to tell us how her undergraduate thesis, since 20 years, is changing the education system all around the world.

Teach For America is a nonprofit organization compromised with education and works in order to become a particular path where, in the future, every single child could receive good quality education

Today, this organization in the United States, reaches more than 450.000 students where the best students of the world become leaders in education and social reform.

Wendy Kopp is recognized as one of the 100 most influential people of 2008 by the Times Magazine, together with, numerous awards, thanks to the foundation Teach For All, which brings support in order to develop the model of Teach For America in other countries of the world.

In this opportunity, the local headquarters Enseñá Por Argentina, and the South American Business Forum (SABF), invite all of you to listen to this dazzling history from one of the most important NGOs of the United States.

See you there!

Uncategorized

You still have one month to apply for SABF

General Editor & Ex-participant

Along the following post, we provide you with essential and useful information for all of those who want to take part of an amazing experience. We have introduced links for each of the subtopics you may be interested in.
We really hope this is useful for you and we are available for further doubts and inquires.

The South American Business Forum (SABF) is an event that takes place annually in Buenos Aires for 3 days in the month of August. Each year the forum receives 100 outstanding university students from around the world, together with 40 leaders of business, political and academic areas.
The event will explore topics of global relevance and particularly applicable to the reality of South America. We expect that, through dialogue and the interaction between the current leaders and the future leaders, a contribution to the development of the region can be made. Continue reading…