WHAT IS THE LATIN AMERICA HIKING NETWORK? The Latin-American Hiking Network (LAH Network) was established in October 2012 in Piriápolis (Uruguay) on the occasion of the First Congress of Planning and Management of Trails of Mercosur. Its objectives are:
- Permanently foster democratic hiking in Latin American countries
- Encourage the inclusion of hiking in public policies, private initiatives, academic institutions and civil society
- Promote the extension of the network to other Latin American countries and other actors in order to attain a broad representation
- Encourage the exchange of knowledge and experiences among the members of the Network
- Disseminate and promote the offer of hiking trails and programs in Latin America
Hiking is considered by the LAH Network as a means to achieve better local development and improved environmental protection in remote rural areas. It also sees the promotion of hiking "for all" as a key to improve public health in Latin American countries
Currently, the LAH Network is active, through its institutional members and individual members, in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela, but it also disseminates quite information on the situation of hiking in other countries
In May 2015, the Latin American Hiking Network received the "International Partnership Award" at the 2015 American Trails Symposium held in Portland, Oregon (USA), from 17 to 20 May 2015. This award is a "recognition for outstanding collaborative work -out of US- that enhances hikers movement within a specific country or group of countries. "
¿WHAT ARE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE LAH NETWORK? Presently the activities of the LAH Network are the following:
- Maintenance of http://senderoslatinoamericanos.org a website that provides information and documentation on hiking and trails in the countries of Latin America
- Maintaining a page and a Facebook group for exchange of information
- Organization of face-to-face conferences and online seminars about hiking
WHAT ARE THE NEW PROJECTS OF THE LAH NETWORK? At this moment the LAH Network has two main projects:
- The extension of its action to all the countries of Latin America, from Mexico to Tierra del Fuego, with the election of coordinators in each country. So far the LAH Network has only coordinators in seven countries.
- Creating a magazine on Hiking and Trails in Latin America, allowing all stakeholders in promoting hiking in Latin America to exchange information and experiences, to define guidelines and coordinate actions.
WHY DOES IT NEED FUNDING THE LAH NETWORK? To undertake its new projects (and others to come), the LAH Network needs an increased coordination among its members. So far, the organization has no budget nor it has received any funding and LAH Network activities are based on voluntary work of some of its members.
This method has reached its limits. It is necessary to institutionalize the LAH Network to gain more representation and ability to carry out concrete action. It is the role of the new coordination under the shape of a Secretary.
WHAT IT WILL BE DONE WITH THIS FUNDING? The Secretary and coordination of the LAH Network involves the following activities, among others
- Publication of news, updating and maintaining the website
- Continuation of activity in the Facebook page, Twitter account and other social networks
- Writing and sending a newsletter
- Searching for new institutional and individual members
- Management of members
- Creating a digital magazine on Hiking and Trails in Latin America, with its editorial board
- Call for articles for the magazine
- Coordination of editorial work of the magazine
- Other administrative matters
It is estimated the minimum Secretary costs (including some fixed costs such as hosting and domain name) at US$ 500 per month. With the aim of saving office expenses, rent, phone, it will operate from a private home and with the communication tools offered by Internet.
The requested funding of US$ 6700 covers a year of operation for the Secretary (including the commission received by the Idea.me crowdfunding platform).
>> See en Youtube the complete version of the video (10 minutes) to have more information about the Network and its objectives.
En caso de no recaudar el 100% de nuestro objetivo económico haremos lo siguiente:
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Con el 10%
It is calculated coordination costs at 500 US dollars per month. Therefore with 10% it will be covered 5 weeks costs for the Secretary.
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Con el 25%
It is calculated coordination costs at 500 US dollars per month. Therefore with 25% it will be covered 3 month costs for the Secretary.
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Con el 50%
It is calculated coordination costs at 500 US dollars per month. Therefore with 50% it will be covered 6 month costs for the Secretary. By this date, the first issue of the magazine will be published.
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Con el 75%
It is calculated coordination costs at 500 US dollars per month. Therefore with 75% it will be covered 9 month costs for the Secretary. By this date, the second issue of the magazine will be in preparation.
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