2008 achievements
In 2008 staff and clients continued to show their support for our charities and we raised an amazing total of £4269.50. Here are some of the ways we did it:
- £3118 raised from the sale of office furniture, old computers etc.
- £331 raised in a fundraising pub quiz.
- £365 raised by a member of staff taking part in the 'Hell down South' fitness challenge!
Que Rico!
Keen to volunteer whilst travelling through Bolivia in 2004, Nick Marsh and Madalyn Bielfeld spent time in the Burns Unit, Cochabamba. Upon return to the UK they set up Que Rico! a registered charity dedicated to support the centre which treats badly burned children. As a state-run hospital in Bolivia, one of the world's poorest countries, there are dire needs for equipment and staffing. Que Rico! raise much needed funds to employ needed nurses, doctors and physiotherapists, as well as essential basic materials such as new bandages, nappies and pyjamas.
"2008 has been an incredible year for Que Rico! and one made possible by JLA’s wonderful support. The newly opened burns rehabilitation centre has provided a safe, comfortable environment for the children recovering from their burn injuries. The children benefit from 24hr nursing care, psychiatry, private education, and nutritious food and through JLA’s funding a brand new physio room. The addition of the Que Rico! tour in the 2009 brochure is incredible and we are excited to show clients the difference JLA’s support has made to our children. Thank you for all your help and support!" Madeleine Bielfed, founder of Que Rico!
You can visit Que Rico! and spend 2 days learning about the centre and helping out on our 3 week Group Tour of Bolivia. £200 per person on this tour is donated to the charity.
Click to donate to the children at Que Rico
Dental Project Peru
Dental Project Peru provides emergency dental care and education to the most impoverished and rural areas of Peru. The charity's initial efforts are focused in the Apurimac region, which is situated in the high Andes of Peru, has a population of roughly 50,000 people, and is at present serviced by only 2 Peruvian dentists, who are generally non-mobile, poorly equipped, under funded and inaccessible to most residents. Thus, the majority of the population has never seen a dentist, received dental treatment or education and therefore pain and infection goes untreated. Amazingly, this area is only a few hours drive away from the tourist hub of South America, Cusco, and the Incan ruins of Machu Picchu.
“For more than a year now Journey Latin America has been a generous supporter of Dental Project Peru. And at the beginning of 2008 they launched an endeavor to involve their clients in the distribution of much needed toothbrushes in Peru. By sending a toothbrush to each of their clients and asking them to deliver it to Cusco where it would be collected by a member of the Dental Project Peru team, they have managed to provide toothbrushes to hundreds of our patients who live in the most rural parts of the country. We are extremely grateful to the clients of Journey Latin America for being part of our project”. Jacqueline Kotula, Founder - Director.
Click to donate to Dental Project Peru
Safe Passage
Safe Passage was founded by American Hanley Denning in 1999. Safe Passage works with children that live within Guatemala city's rubbish dump. They offer hope to the most desperate of Guatemala's poor primarily through education. In Guatemala, education is not free and many of the poorest can not afford the enrollment fees, books and uniforms. Since Safe Passage was founded, they have built a school within the rubbish dump grounds and teach children the school curriculum as well as valuable lifeskills such as sports, music and nutrition. Safe Passage now educates 500 children, and offers extra assistance with medical health and vocational training. They continually need support to fund the venture and to build upon their long-term development goals for Guatemala's poorest.
A team of filmmakers based in Austin, Texas, have started to create a new film about Safe Passage and the families, mothers and children that make up its community. Greg Kwedar and Jake Hamilton, co-founders of One Spark Films, are chronicling the whole filmmaking process through an online blog which you can visit by clicking here.
Click to sponsor a child at Safe Passage
CREA - Conservation Research Education Action
Jose is a farmer in Panama who earns up to £10 a month for him and his family of 5. He knows nothing of farming methods other than cutting and burning rainforest to plant maize and cassava. The soil, he knows, will only last one year and he will soon have to open up another patch of forest to plant more food. But the forest is running out and this year he has no-where to go. CREA, a UK environmental charity, trains poor farmers like Jose to use better farming methodology that produces more and avoids the need for deforestation. These are the real issues that are causing the burning of thousands of sq. miles of rainforest each year, contributing to global warming, biodiversity loss and poverty. If you would like more information on the work of CREA or to adopt an acre of rainforest visit their website.
"JLA’s support of CREA consistently helps us to fulfil our mission which is to restore and protect Panama’s ecosystems while nurturing the development needs of local communities." Anita Roy, Director of Development
Click to become a CREA Rainforest Guardian
New Life Mexico
New Life Mexico (NLM) works with children in Mexico who have been physically or sexually abused, who have come out of the child sex industry and with child drug addicts and dealers. Here is just one story:
Alex is 5 years old, he does not know his full name or where his parents are, he thinks his mother might be in prison but he does not know. He was found on the streets with his brother Hernesto, who is aged 8 and has special needs. Alex was responsible for keeping Hernesto safe and finding food for them both, somewhere to sleep as well as avoiding the drug dealers, gangs and other dangers facing them on a daily basis. Fortunately both Alex and Hernesto are now in the street kid centre, and have a chance of a better future due to NLM's support. Alex started primary school in August which he was very excited about and could not wait to have his first school uniform, bag and pencil case. Both children have multiple physical and medical issues that need addressing due to their lives on the street and neglect.
NLM passionately believes that education is the most powerful tool available for a happy and fulfilling future. The rehabilitation of these street children is therefore focused on providing them with an education and related supplies. NLM’s funding also provides for health and medical care which the children would otherwise not receive. The confidence the children find in schooling and the new feeling of dignity is an immeasurable benefit.
Click to donate to New Life Mexico