I started writing this while sitting in a classroom on the Georgetown campus with my fellow Advocacy Project Fellows during our three-day pre-departure Advocacy Project training while learning the ins and outs of the AP model, how to use our Flip cameras, conduct interviews, edit clips, create voice overs, make a film from start to finish, write a blog, tag photos on AP’s flickr site, create Google sites, and much more!  Most of all we were reeling with excitement in eager (and nervous) anticipation of the fellowship adventures we were about to begin.

At the same time, I was in the midst of finishing a wonderful job of four years, packing up my portion of an apartment of just as long, saying hundreds of goodbyes to friends and family, and a city I’ve lived in for the past 8 years, and packing a bag (make that two heavy ones) full of warm clothes for my winter (summer) fellowship in Buenos Aires, Argentina.  As overwhelming as much of that was, I couldn’t wait to board the first of three planes to BA, take my seat, lean back, and gaze out the window with only one site in mind: touchdown Argentina!

I’m happy to announce that I have arrived safely to Buenos Aires and have hit the ground running!  In just a few days I’ve managed to: recover from the 20-hour journey, orient myself to the “subte”, find a place to live for the summer, think that I could and later realize that I can’t quite understand the Argentine accent (yet!), and most importantly, meet with the wonderful staff at the Asociacion Para Politicas Publicas (APP) and begin my work with them as an AP fellow this summer!

For those of you who haven’t already read or heard a few (hundred) times about the work I’ll be doing this summer as an AP fellow, here is a short introduction…

Asociacion Para Politicas Publicas is an organization based in Buenos Aires that works on issues of human security, disarmament, and civil society strengthening in Argentina and the region.  They are a new partner organization for The Advocacy Project, via IANSA (International Action Network on Small Arms), and as their first AP fellow, I will be working with the staff to help integrate some of the AP tools (media advocacy through blogging, video logging, newsletters, new media, to name a few) into their campaigns.

This coming week is the “Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence” and APP, along with many other IANSA partners around the world, will be launching actions and events to build awareness about the issues surrounding gun violence in Argentina and the region.  The focus of the campaign is on “Disarming Domestic Violence” and the impact of gun violence on women and within the home.

Stay tuned to see and hear more about APP’s campaign launch!