Angels Newsletter #33
Dear Friends of Angels of the Amazon,
We open our 33rd newsletter with a call for donations as a result of a very damaging flood season. Because the flood season is very high this year, the locals are losing their agricultural harvest; their production of crops that carries them for months is being damaged by the flood season. Angels of the Amazon (AoA) will be providing assistance this month to several families that have been affected, especially in the communities of Huaisi and Charo.
Education
The new school year has begun in the jungle. Thanks to your
donations the students have each received a recyclable bag of educational supplies needed for this school year. Education in rural Amazon faces unique challenges, with limited resources, inadequate infrastructure including modern technology and has difficulty attracting and retaining qualified teachers. AoA works every year to improve what our Tahuayo students need to succeed.
In addition to the distribution of school supplies, last month AoA teamed up with the non-profit organization Kick It Forward, founded by a mother and daughter who are former travelers with Amazonia. They were inspired during their stay to get involved in the work of AoA. This year they purchased 2 new computers, a printer, some books and more. For the first time some of our students had
an opportunity to use a real desk-top computer set.
This year the government granted El Chino’s Jane Gordon Cook School 10 teachers and a new principal. Principal Margarita was happily impressed with the beautiful facilities built by AoA’s partners, Be The Change Volunteers (BTCV). She impressed us in her enthusiasm and plans for the coming school year. Our partners from BTCV will start on the construction of a new classroom for the 6th grade in the Tahuayo community of Esperanza next month.
For our Tahuayo secondary school graduates who are pursuing advanced career education in universities, institutes and academies of higher learning in Iquitos and Lima, we especially thank our AoA Sponsors for their very generous donations. Finally we are proud to announce that we have received the RetoRuralia Award, one of three given this year, for our contribution to rural educational opportunities in Peru.
Healthcare
The AoA Hospital on the Tahuayo River continues to thrive with the professionalism in which the staff operates. It is a leading rural health care facility in Peru’s Amazon region. This year the flood season and heavy rain resulted in many respiratory infections, skin problems and digestive illnesses. Because many were unable to seek help because of the high seasonal flood, the medical staff is doing outreach clinics in many communities, including vaccinations for newborns home births.
June and July is time for our annual hospital fundraiser and this year is especially critical to restock supplies. The BJ Montgomery Discovery Foundation has generously offered $5000 in matching funds for donations earmarked for the AoA Hospital.
Economics
We got a good start on constructing the infrastructure for the chicken coops. Because the finishing touches require supplies now difficult to acquire because of the flood emergency in many communities close to Iquitos, we have paused this project until July. The women of Manos Amazónicas continue working together and are looking for more markets. If you know of anyone who loves to support or has a business related to artisanias or native crafts, please let them know that we can help and that they can contact me. All donations to AoA go to programs that help people in need; our overhead, fundraising and administrative salaries for AoA are covered by Amazonia Expeditions.
Your Donation
We thank you for your donations to support the AoA Hospital and the students of the Tahuayo River basin. All donations, 100%, go to fund our programs. Administrative salaries and overhead are paid by Amazonia Expeditions travel company. Donations can be made online via our website or sent by check. You can also help the women of Manos Amazonicas by buying their artesanias.
Thank you for your support! One child at a time!
Hope Lives!
Dolly
The Jungle’s Daughter
