25 years of Jepa history

On the 25th anniversary of the Jepa-Limmat Foundation, I would like to briefly summarize the evolution of our projects and the complexities involved in development activities. Our original logo included the diction “Advanced Education in Developing Countries”. Indeed, we began our activity working on advanced educational projects at the university and post-university level for scientists and managers. We had initiated these projects in several countries, but eventually concentrated the efforts in Central Asia (Kazakhstan) and in Central America (Guatemala). We soon realized that development at the university level was important and feasible in the former country. In the latter country, development of the poorest sections of the communities was the priority.
Accordingly, we initiated in Guatemala development projects related to our advanced educational activity. For instance, we assembled small biogas plants for single families, and small clinics in rural areas. It became clear that we would not concentrate in extensive involvement in any single project, as generally done by ONGs and several Foundations for the benefit of a limited number of needing people. We decided therefore to run model projects addressed to the solution of problems affecting the whole country. Local groups, Municipalities and Government Agencies were contacted for replicating our models, with contributions from the Foundation.
Following several years of activity on advanced education projects in Kazakhstan and on development projects in Guatemala, it appeared that we had met with considerable, apparent success in the former country whereas only modest results were achieved in the latter country. In particular, the chronology of activity in Kazakhstan reveals that the small number of child neurologists we trained in Italy succeeded in establishing a large National Children Hospital in Astana, which has now expanded to neighboring Central Asia countries. Over 50 specialized professionals occupy positions of relevance in Kazakhstan and are organizing an Association of Jepa Alumni, that will further increase the impact of their work. The country is rich in energy and material resources and appears to have easily shared several values of the western world. Regretfully, social harmony remains problematic.
On the other hand, the specialization abroad of several young professors at the San Carlos University in Guatemala did not catalyze significant activities. Model clinics and model houses, elaborated by the Foundation in cooperation with Municipalities and the Public Health Service, promoted only limited improvement in housing and medical care in remote areas (see archive). The Country was not been able to exploits its important energy resources. Moreover, its rural tradition and Latin culture have not favored the development of an efficient economy and implementation of technological innovation.
The Foundation was necessarily involved with the analysis of the root-bases that hinder an authentic development. Particularly in Central America, we realized that development is greatly hindered by sectarian interest, political vision and corruption. A modest economic development remains concentrated in the hands of small elite primarily interested in preserving their privileges. Leaders endowed with charisma and vision do sometime emerge, but the democratic alternation of different political parties does not produce growth and rather favors the approach of “doing everything again”.
On the other hand, important components of the poor rural population of Guatemala evidence a remarkable happiness and social harmony in spite of limited economical resources. We investigated the reasons for this situation and attributed it to strong family and social ties, simple activities, and reduced competition. Further analysis of the situations observed in the governing elite and in the rural areas of Guatemala led us to the conclusion that authentic development could to be promoted only by projects that would allow a proper balance of wealth distribution and social harmony.
Attempting to generate economic growth without stimulating corruption and without compromising traditional cultural values is, however, a most difficult task. One nearly insurmountable difficulty is that positive cultural values, which may be worth preserving, are intimately connected to features that may be regarded as negative ones from the developer’s point of view. For instance, mobility of workers will stimulate productivity but reduce family ties.
We faced the difficulty of promoting changes within the establishment and concluded that only a systemic change could stimulate economic growth compatible with social harmony, local culture and resources. We felt appropriate to stimulate the interest of young uncorrupted students (16 to 18 years old at the pre-university and Bachelor level) and became involved with the functioning and the programs of a few high schools in Antigua. We attempted to introduce suitably tailored courses and elaborated a history textbook based on socio-economic developments in the American continent (see archive). The first course, offered to a classroom of students working for a Bachelor degree in Art and Science, met with unprecedented success. The students were provided with a pool of information (extracted from our history book and complementary material) that they use to embark on discussions and searches relevant to the development of their own country. A recently adopted "laboratory" methodology relies on the elaboration of parameters that characterize the relative level of social and economic development (see archive). The methodology favors the identification of novel strategies for the harmonization of different ethnic groups and economic development.
The new projects approved for 2019 include the implementation of the concept of model town in which Jepa’s approaches to education, medical care, decor and architectonical preservation will be implemented by new strategies for the preservation of cultural values. Our view of authentic development will no longer be limited to the improvement of the socio-conomic conditions in developing countries, but also include a reassessment of social harmony and traditional, cultural values in economically developed nations.
During the past 25 years, education remained the most important objective of our endeavors.
The actual projects evolved from biogas energy to the planning of model owns and new systemic approaches to authentic development. It was a long and rewarding journey. Great appreciation is expressed to the many people who accompanied us. Particularly, to the specialists who generously thought our grantees and established a long-range cooperation with them. To the grantees themselves who acknowledged the teaching received on behalf of their countries. To the members of the Jepa, Jepa-Limmat and Limmat-Stiftung Boards, and local Associations established by former grantees. To our financial administrators and publishers.