PPAF, along with many other non-governmental organizations, relies on volunteers and interns to add to the capacity of its Board and staff.  This is especially important under current global economic conditions.  PPAF offers a real program with real priorities in sustainable development, working in the Caribbean and Africa and with connections to the United Nations. 

Summer 2009 has been a particularly good time for high school, college and graduate school students to gain experience in new and different areas of work. 

PPAF has benefited from the dedication and hard work of a number of volunteers and interns.  Seven assisted at PPAF’s June 17 event on ethanol and bioenergy:  Charlotte Ambrozek, Alieda Baig, Rosanna Capalbo, Katia Diaz, Kristyn Kadala, Julie Lee, Rosario Rodriguez and Jean-Noel Roges – see their brief bios in the annex to the report.   Katia, Rosario and Kristyn have translated articles from English to Spanish and Spanish to English, while Jean-Noel has translated to and from French.  Rosario, Jean-Noel and Kristyn have researched materials for the upcoming meeting on biofuels and bioenergy investment in the Dominican Republic; Jean-Noel has also researched cross-border work with Haiti.   Rosanna has focused on corporate social responsibility and sustainable development.  Mario Sosa, a Dominican student at Vassar College, has also translated and researched materials.

Alexander Baldwin, a Program Assistant at PPAF, brought his strong skills in web-based communications and social marketing to PPAF.  This has resulted in creation of the PPAF Blog, “Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Development”, PPAF’s greatly improved presence on YouTube, and increased engagement in new media.  Alec has also written a proposal for a packing and storage warehouse for fruits and vegetables in the Dominican Republic.  He has a B.A. in Economics and History from the University of Virginia and an M.Sc. in Political Economy of Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London.

Continuing volunteers include David Forbes-Watkins, Senior Financial Consultant; Marc Perry, Web Master; Iris Koren, Researcher and Carlos Lithgow, Business Specialist.  Senior Fellows include V. Judith Bowman, John L. German, Tom Kadala and Hanifa Mezoui.

PPAF’s board – Daniel Mejia, Francis Lorenzo, Zina Andrianarivelo, Herb Oringel, Jeanne Betsock Stillman, Jorge Suarez-Menendez, Scott Wright and David Stillman (ex officio) provide the direction and support needed.