Short update

Hi there everyone,
 
I just realized it's been quite a while since my last update. Things have not changed much yet ;-) I continue my International Business degree at UPC (www.upc.edu.pe) in Lima, yeap I'm becoming the never-ending student.
 
At the same time, I have been involved in a very innovative program at Ashoka's Regional Office in Lima (www.ashoka.org) for civil society organizations called Moviliza Award (a Business Plan contest aiming to mobilize all kind of resources for the organization's sustainability) I've been actively involved running the award since October last year. So as you may imagine, changing from export/import in the pharmaceutical sector in Brasuture (www.brasuture.com.br) to working in the third sector and getting a ground perspective of the Peruvian reality it was all the way a learning experience.
 
I had the opportunity to see in practice how the concept of Business Plan could be usefully applied to non-for-profit organizations. McKinsey & Co. (a strategic partner of Ashoka worldwide) has been a key player at providing the trainning and consulting to the participating organizations.
 
That's a bit of a summary of my work and studies endeavours. Besides, I've been trying to pull out with 4 other friends a SME whose primary purpose is to provide mercandising solutions to other companies, including a web platform for end-user selling. This venture is still on a development stage but we plan to make it alive quite soon. We are working on identifying key suppliers and all the tech issues.
 
Furthermore, this is gonna be the longest period I will be settled in Lima (4 years already on a road), I mean after the Secondary school when I moved from Trujillo to Lima ( the city I was born in the north of Peru) I moved to Paris and after 2 years to Prague. In a way I am trying to re-connect with old friends and making new ones, ups and downs in the way, at end they are making my life less stressful and funnier. However, for those of you who have been asking, I'm not in love yet ;-)
This year some friends have visited Lima, and therefore I met Marketa (an AIESEC friend from the Czech Republic, now living in London), Dan and Klaus from Germany, and some friends of friends. So If you are planning your next destination, Peru is the place to visit and experience. (www.peru.org.pe)
 
The next months will be very intense since I am ending my involvement with Ashoka, it means take over'ing all the learning points and finishing this year's award evaluation to get ready for the 2006 Moviliza Award (www.moviliza.org), plus the second half of this year semester at the university and yes! finding a new job in Lima, or abroad for the summer break (Dec-Mar). If you get acrossed with any suitable opportunity for me, don't hesitate to write.
 
Finally, I'd love to know what's going on in your side? how's life?... some of you are already married... some with children, so just take some few minutes to update me, if possible.
 
Un fuerte abrazo, mej se fajn,
take care,
 
Alvaro
 
 
The many ways you can reach me: 
 
http://alvaroi.nomadlife.org/ (my weblog, barely updated thought) 
MSN Hotmail: alvaroipanaqueb
Skype: alvaro_ipanaque
ICQ: 174-449-199
Hi5, Plaxo, LinkedIn
alvaro_ipanaque@hotmail.com
alvaroi@peru.com