Pennye Nixon-West, executive director of Etta Projects, a nonprofit humanitarian organization working in Bolivia, has earned received the “En el Dia Internacional de la Mujer” (International Woman’s) award while visiting Etta Projects’ service sites in Montero, Bolivia.

The award was presented by the Civic Committees of the City of Montero as part of the celebration of International Women’s Day recognizing the economic, political, and social achievements of women.

Nixon-West also participated in award-related interviews with the local television station in Montero.

Etta Projects was founded in 2002 to honor the life of Etta Turner, a Rotary exchange student from Port Orchard who lost her life in a bus accident in the mountains of Bolivia.

Etta Projects has been operating two comedors, or dining halls, in both a rural and urban neighborhood in Montero.

In 2007, over 240 children received preventative health care and nutritious meals at the comedors, and 120 school-aged children participated in afterschool tutoring and activities.

Their mothers participate in job skills and literacy training, sanitation and nutrition training, and business skills in order to help boost their families out of poverty.

Etta Projects is currently collaborating with Rotary and Engineers without Borders to bring clean water to 100 Bolivian families in the Pampa de la Madre neighborhood of Montero and will bring a team of dentists to Montero this summer to provide preventative and restorative care to up to 300 children.

In addition, Etta Projects is assessing needs in other rural villages. For more information about Etta Projects or to make a contribution, contact Pennye Nixon-West at (360) 876-7487 or visit www.ettaprojects.org.