Angels Newsletter #30
Dear Friends of Angels of the Amazon,
We are pleased to communicate about the good progress on projects for the people of the Tahuayo River basin.
Education
The second classroom of the elementary school was completed in September. Our partners from Be The Change Volunteers (BTCV) worked alongside community members during hot and humid weather to complete this beautiful classroom. A couple of years ago the parents asked if a new elementary school could be built on the same campus as the high school, to replace the small and dilapidated government elementary school that was built decades ago. The old elementary school was on ground level and subject to annual floods. The school campus infrastructure now consists of: 5 high school classrooms, 2 elementary school classrooms, a set of restrooms with septic system, and a power house storage. The entire school is powered with solar panels to provide lighting and electricity for the cable televisions we installed during the pandemic.
Healthcare
Angels of the Amazon Hospital had a 4-year anniversary celebration in October. The hospital replaced the Angels of the Amazon Clinic as the main source of health care for the people of the Tahuayo River basin. For injuries or illnesses that cannot be treated by our staff, AoA provides assistance for treatment in hospitals in Iquitos city, or on occasion in Lima or elsewhere. Improvements made to the hospital this year include new plumbing, expanded solar power and internet access. Grants from BJ Montgomery Discovery have helped to fund these upgrades. Thanks to internet access, the healthcare staff can now communicate in a timely manner with hospitals and medical professionals in the cities.
For the anniversary celebration, the hospital promoted medical clinics to the communities and vaccines to the children. Many people from outside of the Tahuayo also came; of course, everyone is cared for with the same interest and kindness even if they aren’t from the Tahuayo area. Our team of 5 people at the hospital (4 paid by AoA general donations) is doing a great job, the hospital is open 7 days a week, 24 hours every day for emergencies, year-round
Economics
The Association Manos Amazonicas has done a great job creating new decorative crafts. The items are not only for decoration, but they can also be useful. This past summer the women worked together creating new designs in earrings and colors to add to their pallet for baskets. With time and hard work they have become better and better artisans, their creativity and community love have made their organization stronger and productive. The income that they earn has been useful to provide their families with their daily needs.
AoA will be partnering during the school break in the jungle to provide workshops in weaving to teach the students and single moms who are interested in learning the technique and become part of the group if they wish. A few of the women artisans feel that they are getting older and wish to preserve their culture and tradition of weaving. We share the same belief that the new generation needs to learn how to preserve and work with sustainable practices, support conservation, and protect their environment at the same time as earning a living.
Your Donation
We request your help for the following: scholarships for high school graduates to continue their education in institutes of higher learning in Iquitos, school supplies for 2024, hospital staff salaries and Christmas gifts for the children of the Tahuayo. All donations (100%) will go directly to fund these programs; no donations go to administrative overhead, which is provided for by Amazonia Expeditions and no administrative salaries are paid from donations. Donations can be made online from the website or sent by check. We are also selling Manos Amazonica products to support the women’s cooperative directly online. These make perfect, sustainable, gifts for the holiday season. See our current inventory on our website “Artisania Store.”
Thank you for your support! One child at a time!
Hope Lives!
Dolly
The Jungle’s Daughter
