Last edited: 1 Dec 2009

CHARITABLE DONATIONS NEEDED

Two of the groups served by Amizade in Bolivia have been adversely affected by the current economic events.  Millennium, the orphanage for 0-5 year-olds, has lost its US financial backing and is in danger of closing.  Amizade’s construction projects have exceeded the organization’s ability to purchase roofs for its buildings.  Through Amizade you may help build a roof on a Viloma classroom or contribute to the operating costs at Millennium.  After deducting the costs associated with transferring the money to Bolivia, Amizade will apply 90% or more of your donation just as you direct.  Read on for more details.

Roofs for Viloma School

When volunteers go to Cochabamba to work on construction projects, a hefty portion of their fees goes toward construction materials such as bricks, cement, rebar, etc.  For reasons of safety, Amizade volunteers may not work on roofs.  Without a group assigned to building roofs there is no income for roofs.  The cost and construction of a roof is shared with the village.  The community provides the wood, straw and some unskilled labor while Amizade provides the Duralite corrugated panels and professional labor.  When work started on Viloma School, a roof was about $800 and the unspent balance from the group fees were accumulated for roofing.  In 2007 roofs went for about $1100 and in 2009 they have jumped to over $1500.  Since Amizade has remained price competitive, that is, by not raising fees, there is no longer an unspent balance.

Volunteers have built 8 classrooms over the past five or six years, but only five have roofs.  It makes no sense to stucco and paint a room only to have it sit exposed to the elements and subsequently deteriorate.  Each classroom must have a roof before the interior work begins. Directing your donation toward the roofs at Viloma School will get the vacant classrooms completed and filled with students.

When the Viloma School project is completed, the need for roofs will continue as Amizade’s next project begins.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

All cash contributions, whether one-time lump sum, or regular on-going contributions, can be made through Amizade.  Because Amizade is a 501(c)(3) organization, your contributions are tax-deductible.  Donations are accepted through Amizade’s secure online giving portal at http://amizade.org/store/donations.html. If you would like your donation to go toward a roof for the school children in Viloma, please indicate that in the “comments” section that is provided on the credit card billing information page. If giving by check or money order, please specify in the memo line that you would like your donation to go directly toward “Roofs at Viloma”. Checks, payable to Amizade, should be sent to:

200 Robinson Street, Suite #2
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Those who have an interest in volunteering should contact Amizade directly:

          Phone:  (304) 293-6049                Website:  www.amizade.org                Email:  volunteer@amizade.org

MILLENNIUM Cradle House (Casa Cuna)

THE BABIES AND CHILDREN AT CRADLE HOUSE NEED YOUR HELP!

Cradle House (Casa Cuna in Spanish) is an orphanage in Cochabamba, Bolivia that cares for babies and children from birth to five years of age.  Bolivia is the poorest country in South America, and an average of six newborn and older babies per day are abandoned in the streets, rivers, even garbage dumps because their parents cannot afford to raise them.  The Bolivian government places them in orphanages like Cradle House, but only provides three Bolivianos per day (approximately 43 cents U.S.) for their care.

Cradle House has been operating for over ten years, accepting and nurturing orphaned and abandoned babies and children.  Their mission is to improve the children’s quality of life by providing a safe, loving, healthy environment.

Cradle House was established and funded by a Bolivian private, non-profit organization called the Millennium Foundation.  However, the Millennium Foundation no longer has funds available, so Cradle House has been struggling since the fall of 2008 to find enough money to meet its operating costs. 

Currently there are 22 babies and children at Cradle House.  Cradle House rents a large home in a residential neighborhood, and it is here that all the children live and sleep in three bedrooms.  There is a small, walled-in patio and yard area where the children can play and get fresh air.

Staffing at Cradle House currently consists of a coordinator, who also cooks and washes laundry, since there is no way to pay additional staff, and four nurses (only two work at a time), who are required by the Bolivian government. 

A social worker and a psychologist make periodic visits.  Cradle House welcomes volunteers who can play with the children and provide extra nurturance and stimulation.  Amizade, a US-based 501(c)(3) organization, has provided Millennium over two dozen volunteers during the last six years, among hundreds of Amizade volunteers involved in other important projects in the Cochabamba area.

Cradle House has been able to find sources of food and clothing for its children from members of the Cochabamba community.  But there are many more needs which must be met to keep Cradle House from shutting its doors.

Currently the babies are limited to only two diapers a day.  If they soil a diaper early on, they must still wear that diaper until it is time to be changed, which could be eight or more hours later.  There simply is not enough money to buy an adequate supply of diapers.

Other financial needs, besides diapers, are for rent, electricity, water, gas, telephone, and salaries for the coordinator, nurses, and ideally, a cleaning and laundry worker.  The Bolivian government provides for none of this.  The monthly budget needs not currently being met are listed in the chart below.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

All cash contributions, whether one-time lump sum, or regular on-going contributions, can be made through Amizade.  Because Amizade is a 501(c)(3) organization, your contributions are tax-deductible.  Donations are accepted through Amizade’s secure online giving portal at http://amizade.org/store/donations.html. Be sure to check the box marked “Bolivia – Millennium Cradle House.” If giving by check or money order, please specify in the memo line that you would like your donation to go directly toward “Cradle House”. Checks, payable to Amizade, should be sent to:

200 Robinson Street, Suite #2
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Those who have an interest in volunteering at Cradle House should contact Amizade directly:

Phone:  (304) 293-6049                Website:  www.amizade.org                Email:  volunteer@amizade.org