Table of Contents

PERSONAL STATEMENT: I HAD A DREAM

By Walter Victor Castro Aponte

To have been selected as a 2001-2002 Ford Foundation International Fellow of the Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP) for doing a master degree abroad is a dream become reality for me. Really I am very happy for this award that I share with all HORIZON International. Without the help and advice of everyone who is related me, it might never have come into being.

I am part of the set of 28 Fellows selected by the IFP in Latin America. About 2000 Peruvian and Chilean professionals applied for it.

The scholarship is for doing a master degree in environmental management. In the years since I finished the university, I have been working in environmental fields. I have a particular interest in environmental health, human security and sustainable development.

Since I was a child I have worked very hard for getting it. Each thing that I have done led me to this award. Now, I think this award is a new challenge for me. It will let me achieve my dreams and goals.
Each thing that I have done, for instance being an Associate of HORIZON for one year, has played a important role in my accomplishment to make it possible.

I have worked with HORIZON in many ways to foster initiatives that will help our fragile and very needy world, everywhere. I have the privilege to be part of HORIZON and its challenges. I consider to HORIZON part of my life. Thanks in special to its Chairman and President, Janine Selendy, who has helped me with everything to encourage our effort here in Peru.

I will use this Fellowship for promoting and contributing to the development of my country, improving the quality of its inhabitants' lives, taking advantage of our strengths and improving our limitations. Another interest of mine is the transfer of the knowledge to the society with the purpose of building capacities with a sustainable development perspective and, finally, the promotion of applied investigation, especially in biological sciences addressed to development. Specialists in environmental issues will be able to contribute with more efficiency to the sustainable solutions of the environmental problems of the Peru and the fight against the poverty.

Since I finished the university some years ago, I began with some colleagues, biologists and other young professionals, a joint strong effort to encourage other young people to undertake social and environmental responsibility as well as to hold conferences and workshops on leadership for sustainable development.

My love of life and of my country Peru have motivated me day by day, acting with altruism, to encourage the young professionals (scientists, engineers and others) to participate in social activities. An example of this is the foundation of the Organization of Leaders Applied to the Service-OLAS, juvenile association founded and led by young people that promotes leadership for the development of and participation of youth in the diverse levels of environmental decision making and of development of Peru. I think young people should become development agents instead of instruments of one.

I think this award is not for one person, it is for all people who make efforts every where. People who work and study and overcome difficulties. Now I understand that everything takes time we must not be discouraged by the challenge.

Finally, I encourage continuing to work together on the HORIZON Mission: To improve conditions throughout the world!

Walter Victor Castro Aponte, Biologist, is a HORIZON Associate with the HORIZON INTERNATIONAL base in Peru

(c) HORIZON INTERNATIONAL 2001