Santiago's Children (Charlie)

Can you say “fut-bol” ?!? The excitement is quite palpable here and continues to build, as national soccer teams globally enter the final stages of their qualifier matches for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Chile currently holds 3rd place in the South America division standings and only the top four teams will advance to next year’s big event. The national soccer stadium is less than a mile from our apartment and the roar of the crowd (as well as from our neighbors in nearby apartment buildings) can be easily heard with our windows open. With all the rich history of soccer success in Brazil and Argentina, it would be welcome news indeed to give Chile a taste from the cup.

But even without the soccer triumphs, this country scores higher than their peers in several categories. The economic growth story in Chile continues to impress – sure, this year will probably be a downer like everywhere else, but at least its severity will be tempered by support from the government’s Copper and Social Stabilization Funds. The planning and foresight in investment and infrastructure in Chile has been exemplary (private pension funds, decent health care, world class metro transportation, etc) and should keep this country in the lead for years to come.

Yesterday I had the good fortune of meeting Steve Reifenberg, who is the Director of the Regional Office of Harvard University’s David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies. In addition to managing Harvard’s study abroad and work internship programs in Chile and neighboring countries, Steve is very involved in many of the community organizations (schools, orphanages, after-school centers, etc) which strive to bring hope and opportunity to the city’s underprivileged and at-risk youth. Steve’s altruistic relationship with Chile began in the early 1980’s working at a small orphanage in one of Santiago’s poorer neighborhoods (“poblaciones”). His story is an interesting one, especially given the timing which coincided with a severe economic crisis and the consequent political uprising against Pinochet’s military dictatorship in Chile. I’m currently reading and very much enjoying Steve’s captivating book, Santiago’s Children, which he published just last year.