The League of Women Voters of Clermont County has been awarded a grant by the League of Women Voters Education Fund, with the support of the United States Information Agency, in Washington DC to host two women leaders from Chile as part of their "Making Democracy Work in the Americas" program. Sue Craig, League president said, "Our League was in competition with Leagues from across the nation for this grant, and we are very excited about being one of four Leagues selected."

Making Democracy Work in the Americas is a citizen exchange project that encompasses four Latin American nations. Eight women from Chile, Paraguay, Nicaragua and Guatemala will begin their month-long grassroots internship program April 11 in Washington, DC with training workshops at the LWV national office and meetings with congresswomen and prominent non-governmental (NGO) activists. The women will then depart for communities across the United States where they will be hosted by local Leagues to participate in training programs to observe and exchange information regarding women in politics, government and NGO collaboration, and ethics in government.

Jacqueline Van Rysselberghe, a Chilean city councilwoman and legislative aide, and Renate Francia, community activist and international leader in the women’s movement, will arrive in Clermont County on April 16 for a 15-day stay. Both women share a commitment to increasing women’s political clout in their country and transforming relationships between policy makers and the communities they serve. Ms. Francia says, "Women play a key role in changing the politics of Chile in the form of organizing, networking, creating alliances and representing the people."

While in Clermont County, the interns will: shadow State Representative Rose Vesper in Columbus; attend a Milford City Council meeting; attend a "Campaign Finance Reform" meeting sponsored by the local League; attend a regional Mayors Breakfast; participate in an international conference on "Making Democracy Work" sponsored by the Kettering Foundation in Dayton; meet with staff from Clermont 2001 and the Clermont Leadership Institute; attend a T.R.I.F.O.L.D.S. (local grassroots organization) meeting; meet with staff from Kids Voting; meet with Cincinnati Mayor Roxanne Qualls; meet with the executive director of the YWCA in Cincinnati; tour the Alice Paul House; meet with staff from the Ohio Citizen Action Group; participate in a domestic violence workshop sponsored by Clermont College Women’s Center; and participate in a "Women in Politics" session hosted by the League of Women Voters for all Clermont County women who hold elected offices. According to Craig, "the local League has planned a program designed to emphasize hands-on training and to stress skills key to participatory democracy."

For additional information about this project, please contact Sue Craig at 831-7340.