Ambassador Thomas Pickering and President of the Carnegie Endowment, Jessica Tuchman Mathews, will speak on Iran-U.S. relations at the Union Club tomorrow at 6 pm. Admission is $25 for Cleveland Council on World Affairs members, and $35 for non-members (email Madeline at mrife@ccwa.org for the member rate!). Visit the website for more information and to register.

One of the most rewarding parts of Service Saturday is finding a way to help someone get access to services they need. I'm so proud of NORVA members who have taken the time to really listen to the folks who come for help and find a way to provide it. This past week, a few of us helped new beneficiaries apply for  library cards and get email addresses. This will give them access to computers in the library that they can then use to apply for jobs online. Demonstrating that they are actively…

This Summer's World View Magazine, a publication of the National Peace Corps Association, featured our own "Service Saturday" on page 10.  Congratulations to Co-President Miranda Lange who originated Service Saturday, our Service Committee (Charity McDonald and Sara Contineza) and all of the volunteers who have given time an energy to our tutoring program.  NORVA Members Kathryn Baus and Noell Zalar are pictured in the magazine.  If you haven't had a chance to participate, join us in…

Thanks to all who attended Service Saturday on June 22!  We had a record turnout of volunteers including several of new faces.  The next Service Saturday will be on July 27th at 10AM at the Cleveland Public Library Walz Branch (7910 Detroit Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102)  …

On June 22, a group of NORVA members visited the venue for Soups of the World this fall, the Slovenian National Home ("The Nash") in Slavic Village.  As a service project to help offset the cost of the facility, members helped clear a items from a stage.  Afterward, members had lunch, toured the facility, and learned more about the Slovenian community in Cleveland.…

Hello NORVA community,

As the go-to people for cultural exchange and international friendship, I'm writing you to let you know about two short-term hosting opportunities for Northern Ohioans this summer:

Jóvenes en Acción (“Youth in Action”) program is a U.S. State Department program run by CCWA in Cleveland. It brings 16 student leaders from Mexico to the Cleveland area July 20-August 1. These high school…

The Soups of the World! committee is busy at work planning for the event next fall, which will take place on Saturday, November 16th from 6-9pm.  Soups is a major biennial fundraiser and third goal cultural event hosted by NORVA.  The committee has selected the Slovenian National Home in Slavic Village as the venue.  Please join us on June 22 at 10am for a day of service, which will help NORVA reduce the cost of rental.

NORVA members enjoyed an extra special Service Saturday on June 1.  Members met with 13 refugees and worked diligently on improving the participants English skills.  Immediately following class, NORVA members, students, members of the Ethiopian community, and friends enjoyed a feast of Ethiopian food prepared by a local Ethiopian immigrant, Tigist Gebremichael.  Dishes included homemade cheese, teef bread, and lots of sauces, that according to the cook took 50…

On Sunday, May 18th, NORVA members woke up early in the morning to help at the water stop between miles 5 and 6 in the annual Rite-Aid Cleveland Marathon.  Members setup tables on both sides of the street, filled hundreds of cups with water, and handed them out to runners as they passed by, all the while cheering them on!

NORVA Members ready to hand out water…

Peace Corps Volunteer Catherine Campbell-Morrison of Cleveland is working with rural mothers in Peru to improve their kitchen stoves to minimize the amount of indoor smoke they produce. Additionally, the mothers are being taught better nutrition and cooking techniques. A portion of the funds for the project will be raised through the Peace Corps Partnership Program (PCPP), a program that helps support Peace Corps volunteer community projects worldwide.

Check out her story…

There has been some great press recently for a project by recent RPCV and current NORVA board member Benjamin Gascoigne.  

See a great short video about the efforts by Ben in Sengal and other Africa RPCV's to stamp out Malaria. …

RPCV and NORVA member Madeline Rife has the following opportunity for Cleveland Area families.

BRING THE WORLD TO YOUR HOME

with the Kosovo Youth Exchange Program (KYEP)

a program funded by the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo

What is KYEP?

KYEP is an exchange program for accomplished high school students from Kosovo. The program is

funded by the U.S.…

Do you know a great location to meetup with RPCV's for an evening of fall fun and lots of delicious soup?  NORVA is searching for the perfect venue for our annual fundraiser.  The place should:

-Accommodate 200 people

-Include Tables and Chairs and small presentation space

-Have parking for those people

-Have a kitchen, or at least an area where soup can be prepared with Microwaves and Hotplates.

The ideal location would also

-Allow beer…

One of NORVA's primary goals is to help support currently serving Northern Ohio Volunteers in the field.  With a donation of $501.00 to this Peace Corps Partnership Project, we were able to complete the funding for this excellent project from volunteer Nehama Rogozen .

Thanks to everyone who attended last nights Nomination Party and Annual Meeting.  We had a great turnout for both events.

Detailed meeting notes will be published, but I wanted to congratulate the new officers elected last night.

Co-President - Miranda Lange - Mali 09 -12

Secretary - David Wylie - Georgia 06 - 08

Membership -…

It's been exciting planning the 2013 Annual Meeting, we really hope you can attend.  In addition to our regular business, we'll be electing some new leaders for NORVA.  If you are interesting in taking a leadership role, or would like to nominate someone, please contact any current member of the NORVA board.

We'll also have numerous available slots on our committees.  We'll need a lot of help with this year's Soups of the World fundraiser, so please consider contributing your…

10 Northern Ohio RPCV's had a great time today practicing conversation with refugees on Cleveland's Near West Side.

For the second month in a row, we had a strong turnout and we were able to provide a shared perspective with those learning a new language in a new culture.  Our experience was deeply felt as the volunteers worked one-on-one or in small groups.…

Here's an interesting article from the Bangkok Post:

http://www.idealist.org/view/job/Mm7XThWGpGW4/

NORVA member and repeat Peace Corps Volunteer Richard Strauss reached out to NORVA during his current stint in the Phillipines.  He had an opportunity for us to provide 400 books for a school he is serving for $100.00.  

We're thrilled to report, that after the usual developing world complications, the books have arrived!  …

Thanks to all of the Volunteers at our first Service Saturday!  10 RPCV's helped 18 refugees with simple conversation and cross-cultural practice.  

Volunteers met for a few minutes prior and got pointers and logistics from Amy Moniot.  Once the beneficiaries arrived, things got fun quickly.  Volunteers asked some basic questions provided on index cards to get an idea of the beneficiaries language ability.  Our refugees varied in skill from one man who taught English…