The Foreign Service Journal, September 2014

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2014 65 AFSA NEWS Making a Difference in Mexico City AFSA EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCE AWARDS : THE AV I S BOHLEN AWARD FOR A FOREIGN SERVICE FAMILY MEMBER When Kari Osborne arrived in Mexico City with her husband, a political officer, she was struck by the poverty she saw and the huge gap between the living conditions of the rich and the poor. With two daughters of her own, she found the plight of poor children especially hard to accept. “It is the children of Mexico who captured my heart and pushed me to act on their behalf,” says Osborne, winner of this year’s Avis Bohlen Award. Osborne’s dedication to volunteerism and leadership has made a real difference in the lives of many in Mexico City. Soon after arrival at post, she joined the embassy’s Charities and Activities Com- mittee and later became vice president for activities and membership. Her first task for the CAC was to assist with the Major League Soccer Ambassador’s Cup Tournament and Clinic in August 2012. This event gave children from five area orphanages a chance to be trained and coached by for- mer U.S. national soccer team players over three days. “It was amazing to see the camaraderie of the teams and spirit of competition through the shared love of soccer,” Osborne recalls. Her application to the J. Kirby Simon Foreign Service Trust resulted in a $3,000 grant, which the Hogar Dulce Hogar (Home Sweet Home) orphanage used to replace an archaic electrical system. The orphanage supports approxi- mately 70 displaced children who typically come from the streets or shelters. Through CAC, Osborne worked with Fundación Dar y Amar, a home for at-risk girls, where she coordinated the creation of a vegetable and herb garden. She also aided the “Angel Trees” campaign to provide disadvantaged families with gifts for Christmas. The annual Holiday Bazaar raised funds to bring orphans of Fun- dación Eugenia to the ambassador’s house for a holiday party, which brought the local community even closer to the embassy and those who work there. “Over the years we have provided aid to many different orphanages, senior homes, shelters for victims of human trafficking and pet adoption agencies,” says Osborne. “Each event we held helped make a posi- tive impact in our local community. For me, the smiles of pure joy on the faces of the Mexican children have made the hard work all worth it.” Kari Osborne and her husband, Matthew Osborne, have two daughters, ages 12 and 9. They have lived in Lux- embourg, Switzerland and Spain. Osborne says she was always active in the volunteer community wherever she has lived. On being recognized by AFSA, Osborne says: “I am honored and humbled to receive AFSA’s Avis Bohlen award. But I must share the credit with the many oth- ers who have volunteered to serve with me on the Chari- ties and Activities Committee in Mexico City. The true win- ners are the adults, children and animals of Mexico City that we have helped through our fundraising and service efforts.” n (Top) Kari Osborne leads a craft with the children at Fundación Hogar Dulce Hogar in Mexico City. (Above) Osborne, second from left, and friends at Fundación Hogar Dulce Hogar. (Below) Embassy volunteers plant flowers at Fundación Dar y Amar. COURTESYOFKARIOSBORNE COURTESYOFKARIOSBORNE COURTESYOFKARIOSBORNE